All language subtitles for lkj

Good morning, Miss Lanier.

This early, you'll
have to take the local.

All right, though.

40th floor executive,
Miss Lanier.

Thank you, Bill.

Good morning, Miss Lanier.

Good morning, Martha.

I couldn't find a cab anywhere.

Such a lovely day, though.

40th floor executive,
Ramsey and Co.

Miss Stevens.

I'm sorry, sir, our switch
board doesn't open until 9.

You should be able to reach
him shortly there after.

And... that's correct, sir.

Mr. Staples begins
with the company today.

I'll leave your
message on his desk.

Ann, would you put this on
Mr. Staple's desk, please?

Yes, ma'am.

Mr. Staples will be in
Mr. Quinn's old office,

executive corridor.

Yes, I know.

I said deliver it, not read it.

Yes, ma'am.

Executive 40th
floor, Miss Stevens.

Hi.

Good morning, madame.

Wonder if Marge is going
to go to work next door?

Oh, no.

Well, I'm glad I don't.

Not there.

Maybe.

They really fixed up the
new exec's office for him,

didn't they?

Very nice.

A new man right next
door to your boss,

and awfully close to Mr. Ramsey.

So happens the new
man... what's his name?

Mhm.

Will be working with Mr Briggs.

That's why they have
adjoining offices.

Audrey, baby, you're
awfully defensive.

I guess that's 'cause you're
worried about your Mr. Briggs.

Run along, will you?

May I have some
more cream, please?

Next car, please.

Next car.

Next car, please.

OK.

Harry, Charlie, Joe?

Express down.

No stops for jam.

Next car, next car.

Next car, please.

Next car.

Next car.

Good morning, Mr. Ramsey.

Next car, please.

All right.

Thank you, Lenny.

Yes, sir.

Miss Lenier?

Miss Stevens.

He's here.

Thank you, Martha.

Chief operator, please.

Miss Phillips, you can put this
morning's three long distance

calls through to Mr. Ramsey...
Portland, Dallas, St. Louis

Good morning, Mr. Ramsey.

Good morning, Miss Lanier.

Any messages?

You have calls placed for our
Portland, Dallas, and St. Louis

offices.

Nothing else important, sir.

Martin Tooland you
said you'd wire again.

Yes, you'll find a
copy in my briefcase.

You're right as usual.

Nothing important.

I have the Portland
report in my briefcase.

I want it teletyped
this morning to Seattle.

Have someone there
drive over to Portland

and get it to
Johnson before lunch,

then run off 20 copies
confidential mimeographic

and have them ready in
time for the board meeting.

I want it on the agenda.

Has Mr. Staples arrived yet?

Not yet, sir.

Delay that meeting
until 10:00 this morning

to give you time to get the
report mimeod and distributed.

I want it read and carefully.

Get word underground
of their secretaries

that no one is to count on
making any early luncheon

appointments.

And make a note... Staples is to
sit one down from Vandeventer

on my left.

Yes, sir.

Let me know as soon
as Mr. Staples arrives.

Yes, Mr. Ramsey.

Well, Red, here we are.

Ah, here we are.

A little different than
Mansfield, isn't it?

Now I know what a mother
feels like when a child goes

to school for the first time.

I'll be fine, Mother.

Definitely looks
big, doesn't it?

Well, give me a chance, honey.

Maybe I can cut it
down to my size.

I'm running a little late.

Shall I call you when I...

No, no, no.

You, uh, go on home after
you finish shopping, and find

a garage somewhere on
Midtown to park the car.

Uh, I call you on what
train I'll be on, huh?

Buh-bye.

Goodbye, darling!

Ramsey and Co.

The board said...

Executive or administrator?

Uh, the executive, Mr. Ramsey.

40th floor, sir.

Thank you.

Good morning.

Oh, uh, you want the tower, sir.

The tower elevator, sir?

It'll be down in a minute.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Thank you.

My pleasure, sir.

Good morning, Ed.

Good morning.

Good morning, good morning.

Morning, Jamie.

Good morning, Bill.

Good morning, Marge.

How was the weekend?

Your letters are on your
desk and the coffee pot

will be here in a minute.

I can use some coffee.

Didn't you get any rest at all?

Couldn't even take my
kid to the doubleheader.

Aw, what a shame.

That planning report's going
to be a real job, Marge.

This will be a big week for
you, too, with that thing.

I believe we'll try
a rough first draft.

No longer than the
telephone directory.

Phew!

Marge, has Mr. Staples
come in, yet, Marge?

No, sir.

Mr. Staples?

Yes.

I'm Margaret Lanier,
Mr. Ramsey's secretary.

Oh, how do you do?

Mr. Ramsey would of course be
here to welcome you himself,

but you caught him on
a long distance call.

May I take you back
to your office?

Well, thank you very much.

And on our way,
I might show you

some of our other departments.

Have you met Miss Stevens?

I introduced
myself, Miss Lanier.

Fine.

And may I bid you my
own personal welcome.

We're very glad to see you.

Well, that's very nice of you.

Now if you'll just come
with me, Mr. Staples.

Miss Stevens.

Marketing and sales
are below here.

We have our own research
department on the 40th floor.

Perhaps you'd like
to see that later.

This is the executive corridor.

Mr. Ramsey's office is
that one down at the end,

then Mr. Jameson,
head of purchasing.

Mr. Biggs... you'll be working
closely with Mr. Briggs.

Mr. Vanderbenter,
chief engineer.

And this is your office.

Isn't it nice?

I hope you like it.

Mr. Ramsey was told by
someone in your old office

that you were especially
fond of this period.

Wasn't your office in Mansfield
furnished in early American?

My
furniture consisted

of two filing cabinets
and a surplus metal

desk off of a destroyer escort.

No, it... it's really
very attractive, very.

I appreciate it
very much indeed.

Excuse me, Miss Lanier.

Ann said you wanted to see me?

Oh, yes, Marge.

Mr. Staples, this
is Mrs. Fleming.

How do you do?

Marge, will you
see that Mr. Staples

has everything he needs in
the way of office equipment?

They've arranged
for it this morning

at Mr. Briggs' suggestion.

Oh, fine.

I must rush now, Mr. Staples.

Again, a most cordial welcome.

Thank you very much.

And, uh, Marge, will you
stop by at my desk when

you finish here, please?

Yes, Miss Lanier.

I think I better explain the
phone system, Mr. Staples.

There are four lines.

One is your private
line direct to outside,

two is for conference calls,
three is for inter office,

and four, this button
is for your secretary.

Oh, I'm sorry.

May I?

Oh, yes, thank you.

Yes, I think I have
that... let's see.

Outside, inter office,
conference, and... yes,

that's fine.

Thank heavens this
isn't early American.

Busy?

No, no, not at all.

Well, you must be...

Bill Briggs, your
next door neighbor.

Yes, of course.

Well, I'm certainly
glad to meet you, sir.

I think, uh, Mr. Ramsey told
me you'd been sick, didn't he?

Oh, did he?

Actually, it's just a...
just a pesky stomach

that's been acting up on me.

You just came from Mansfield?

Yes, they took a house...
oh, uh, sit down, Mr. Briggs.

Settled already?

Good.

I'm not trying to set myself
up as a real New Yorker.

Altoona, Pennsylvania,
that's where I came from.

My first trip home
I was wearing spats.

I remember my father not
being able to get over it.

He says Bill... Bill, he
says... you went to New York

to see the sights and instead
you become one of them.

Well, we just got
here Friday afternoon,

so this morning Nancy
insisted... my wife...

she insisted on driving me
to work the first morning.

You know the way women are.

Yeah, you come out of a
small town and plants,

you feel a little lost
in a place like this.

I was saying, you know,
we walked into our house

Friday afternoon.

We've never laid eyes on
the place before, you know?

And there it was,
furnished like a magazine.

Milk in the icebox, bourbon on
the shelves, and I don't know.

You got to hand it to them the
way they do things around here.

Yes.

Miss Lanier handles all that.

Does a fine job.

That feeling that I got driving
into town this morning... well,

I've got to admit,
it's just... it's just

a little overwhelming.

Yes, and it's a
pretty wonderful thing

to be as young as
you are and see it

all spread out in front of you
like a... like a Christmas tree.

You know, you think of...
you think of big business,

you always think of it as being
very impersonal, you know?

But, uh, that's certainly not
true with your Mr. Ramsey.

I know what you mean.

How much time did you
put in in Mansfield?

Almost six years.

You must have blown a bugle
in Ramsey's ear out in Ohio.

He brought you here in a hurry.

Well, actually, I
wasn't at all sure

I wanted to come to New
York, but this Ramsey

is a pretty dynamic man.

Yes, I know.

So you've been with the firm
some time now, haven't you?

Oh, maybe 40 years or so.

I seem to recall Mr.
Ramsey's talking about you

as a production man.

You're an engineer, aren't you?

Yes, but from
what he told me, I

guess I'll be a
little of everything

around here, mostly in
industrial relations.

Industrial relations?

Matter of fact, it's been
one of my specialties.

We... we oughta get along
pretty well together.

I'm sure we will.

Excuse me.

Mr. Ramsey's called a
meeting in the conference

room, Mr. Briggs.

Oh?

Well, Fred, it's been a
real pleasure meeting you.

Thank you.

Mr. Ramsey's expecting
Mr. Staples, too.

Oh.

Well, then, I'll... I'll go in
with you, if you don't mind.

Not at all.

I just hope Mr. Ramsey
remembers hiring me.

Mr. Ramsey rarely
forgets anything.

After you.

Thank you.

Staples?

Yes.

Hello.

Fred, this is Harvey
Jameson, head of purchasing.

Oh, how are you?

So they finally finished it?

What?

Oh, Fred, your office.

On Friday, the painters and
all... it was a madhouse.

Say, Bill, are you taking
along Ramsey's breakdown?

Well, no, I forgot that.

There are a couple of
other things I forgot, too.

Jamie, would you and
Fred go along together?

I'll be in in a few minutes.

Fine.

I suppose Lanier's giving
you the cook's tour.

Oh, yes.

Did she show
you the conference room?

Oh, yes.

On the other side, yes.

Mr. Briggs?

What is it, Marge?

I don't know.

Mr. Briggs, I think
I ought to resign.

Resign?

What are you talking about?

What happened?

What is it, Marge?

Mr. Briggs, I've
just been ordered

to go to Mr. Staples
as his new secretary.

Temporarily.

No, I don't think so.

Who gave this order?

Miss Lanier.

When?

About five minutes ago.

I'm supposed to break
in your new secretary.

They picked a new
secretary for me?

Yes, I think so.

It's out of the question
for you to resign, Marge.

To even think of resigning.

You're a fine, wonderful
woman and a great secretary.

That's the reason they
want you over with Staples.

He'll need someone like
you because he's new here

and they want him to
get into harness fast.

Who can tell, Marge?

One of these days,
that stomach of mine's

a pretty perverse
organ and I'm tired.

And you know, as
it must to all men.

Mr. Briggs.

Have you any idea
who your successor is?

Yes, they've chosen
Sylvia Trammel.

Miss Trammel?

It is so ordained.

So be it.

She's new, but she's supposed
to be very good at dictation.

Well, we'll give her
a chance to prove it.

Mr. Briggs, If I
could only tell you

what this job has meant to
me, what working with you

has meant to me...

All right, kid.

Wash up, get your money,
and get out of here,

and give Mr. Staples all
the best you've got in you.

I know you will.

That's the only way you operate.

I like the guy.

I have a feeling he's going to
carve out a career around here.

Yes, sir.

Everybody seems to think so.

I'm sorry to keep you
waiting, gentlemen.

Mr. Ramsey will be
with us in a moment.

Been away, have you?

Oh, sorry, Fred.

I was held up for a few minutes.

See you later, Fred.

Now where are we
going to sit you?

Oh, here's an empty chair.

I guess you can sit right here.

Oh, uh, Mr. Staples, will
you sit over there, please?

Right next to Mr. Vandeventer.

One down from Mr.
Ramsey, please?

Welcome back, Bill.

Feeling better?

Much, thank you.

A little stomach...

Good.

I'm glad it's cleared up.

John, don't forget
that contract.

Can we get it through tomorrow?

I think so.

First, gentlemen, I'd
like you to look over

the mimeod sheet on top.

Haverford Mutual
had some doctors

look into the matter
of executive diets.

They finally showed
incredible deficiencies

and gotten up some food tables.

I've had them mimeod.

I'd like you to look them over.

As you know, it's
been my feeling

that a healthy executive
is an efficient one.

I think it not amiss now to
introduce the newest member

of our team, Mr. Fred Staples.

He's from Mansfield, Ohio.

As you all know, he was general
manager of Queen City Tour

and Dine until we took it over.

His record there
was a brilliant one.

He's a production
engineer by training

and industrial relations
man by instinct.

I expect good things from him.

Well, you've probably
met everyone, but just

for the record, reading from
left to right, Mr. Jameson,

head of purchasing.

Yes, we've met.

Mr. Grannigan, controller.

Mr. Gordon, head of sales.

How are you?

Mr. Lathan, head of service.

Nice to see you.

Mr. Portier from operations.

Nice to know you.

And Mr.
Vandeventer, chief engineer.

How are you?

Nice to see you.

Pleasure.

Oh, and, of
course, you've met Mr. Briggs.

He was our vice president
assistant general manager

in charge of everything
that everybody else

forgets to be in charge of.

Now, gentlemen, you
all have before you

a copy of the Williamston
Plant purchase prospectus.

Mr. Jameson, did you
attach our supplements?

It's right there, Mr. Ramsey.

Page 17-R under
process equipment.

And Mr. Grannigan, the stock
purchase plan I outlined.

I have your comments here?

You do, Mr. Ramsey.

Good.

Feasible, is it?

Very much so, in my opinion.

Good.

Well, that about winds
it up unless there are

any further points to be made.

I do think, Mr Ramsey, if
we could keep the transaction

under wraps for a bit, at
least during the preliminaries.

You know what'll happen
to the stock quotations

if it leaks out that we've
agreed to a purchase.

I've arranged it this way.

The stock quotation as
of yesterday morning...

you seem to be straining
at the leash, Mr. Briggs,

or am I mistaken?

You mentioned here that
probable time of purchase

would be sometime in June.

Are the plants to be in
receivership until then?

That seems to be what it says.

That means six months
with improper maintenance

Oh,
I doubt it, Bill.

I've had two of my best men out
there for the last six weeks.

We had a varying
voltage problem,

but that was taken care of.

Now maintenance wise, I
doubt if there will be

$1,000 worth of deterioration.

How about goodwill?

What about it?

The plant employs 900 men.

That's half the working
force of the village.

So?

So what do we do
with these men?

Cover them with cosmoline
and put them away in a drawer

until we get ready
to resume production?

I thought your concern
was for the plant?

And what good is the
plant without the men?

You chop a village payroll
in half for six months

and you might not have a
plant because you might not

have a village.

Mr. Briggs, if we
may be permitted

to disregard for the moment
the considerations that you

have brought up, what
about the rest of the plan?

I'd say it was adequate.

Adequate?

That, gentleman, is the
kiss of death, believe me.

I've known Mr. Briggs
for a long time.

When he says something is
adequate, what he means

is that it is
entirely inadequate.

I must admit to feeling
a concern over some 900

men suddenly deprived
of a livelihood.

Mr. Briggs, if you
would do me the goodness

to look at what I consider to
be a fairly elementary business

principle.

By putting 900 men out
of work temporarily,

we may ultimately employ twice
that number in the same town.

By cutting production
costs as a result,

we will then be able to compete
more favorably in the market,

thus we'll be able
to sell more goods.

We're not going to ruin that
town, we're going to make it.

I should think, Mr.
Briggs, that after 30 years

you'd be able to think beyond
the tongue-clucking stage

and come up with
something resembling

an analytical point of view.

I was under the impression
I'd given you a point of view.

I saw none!

I perceived what amounts to a
rather emotional little tidbit

that was decidedly more
charitable than cooperative

and by no means thought through.

I asked, I believe,
for an objective view

of a business venture.

From you I got, and I seem
constantly to be getting,

a very negative
response of any at all.

Adequate, I believe you said.

Well, Mr. Briggs,
this little move

will save us conservatively
half a million dollars,

which we'll be able to put
back into the business.

I must say you take a
liberal view of adequacy.

I didn't intend to make a
central issue out of this,

but I did feel it important
enough to air in this meeting.

Well, you have aired
it in this meeting.

And I think
it's a good thing you did,

but I think, Bill, we're pretty
much of one mind about it now.

And we may assume the matter
is closed now, Mr. Briggs?

How about you, Mr. Staples?

Do you have an opinion?

No.

No, I think not, Mr. Ramsey.

Why not?

Well, frankly, it's a little
out of my grasp at the moment.

I don't know anything about the
firm, its corporative setup,

reasons for bankruptcy, or
for that matter its product.

I'm afraid I'll have to pass.

Good answer.

I respect thoughtful
judgment, Mr. Staples.

Congratulations.

We'll adjourn now
until 2 o'clock.

I'm sorry we got started
so late this morning,

but I wanted this analysis
mimeod for your inspection.

After lunch, we'll take
up the Portland report

which you have before you.

Mr. Grannigan attended the
stockholders meeting there

on Tuesday and we'll begin our
discussion with his report.

That's all.

All right, sir.

Oh, Bill?

Why don't you come and
have some lunch, huh?

No, thank you.

Oh, uh, Bill, wasn't
there something

you wanted to speak
to me about before?

Nothing important.

Fine.

Tummy's all right, eh?

Cast iron.

Couldn't be better.

Good.

Keep it up.

Oh, uh, Staples.

Good to have you
with us, Staples.

Are the arrangements
satisfactory?

Oh, yes, just perfect.

I'm sure you'll be hearing from
my wife very soon about that.

It's a beautiful house.

And beautiful country up there.

I'm sure you'll love it.

Oh, uh, see you later, Bill?

Oh, Fred, Briggs is
working on a project now,

a comprehensive planning report.

The point is that it's very
important, most important

indeed for our future
program and it's

far too big of job for Briggs,
or for any one man to handle.

Now what I want you to do is
get your fingers in there.

Certainly.

What I mean is
more than just your fingers.

Yes, Mr. Ramsey.

You make that quite clear.

Oh, could I see you a
minute, Miss Fleming?

Yes, sir?

Oh, I wonder if you could
check for me, please, as to who

is to be my secretary?

I need some notes typed up.

I'm to be your
secretary, Mr. Staples.

But I thought Mr. Briggs...

It was arranged for just
before the meeting, Mr. Staples.

I take it you'd rather
remain with Mr. Briggs.

I was Mr. Briggs secretary
for seven years, Mr. Staples.

Well, in that case,
I see no reason

why I shouldn't be able
to get someone else.

It was Mr. Ramsey's idea.

Do you want to give
me those notes now?

No, uh, why don't you have
your lunch first, Miss Fleming.

We'll take care of these
when you come back.

Mr. Briggs, there are
some notes here that...

Later, Marge.

I'll do it later.

Darling, you didn't say
anything about my new hairdo.

Do you like it?

Yeah, it's lovely.

Wish you could see the
new dresses I bought.

They're just beautiful.

Where are they?

Ah, they're still at the
store having little things

done to them.

Come into the kitchen.

I'll fix you a drink.

Not the kitchen, the library.

I hope they have
the dresses ready.

I'll have them sent to
your office this afternoon.

I spoke to your secretary
about it when I called.

That's funny.

She didn't mention it.

They didn't get the
job done in time.

She had a nice voice,
what's she like?

Who?

Your secretary.

Oh, what you might expect.

What's her name?

Well, to tell you the
truth, I didn't get her name.

Only her dimensions.

Oh, right.

No, her name is Fleming.

So happens you don't
have a thing in the world

to worry about.

She doesn't like me worth a bit.

Why?

Well, I guess she prefers
working for her former boss.

Well then, why doesn't she?

I don't know.

Some kind of strategy
at the top, I guess.

That sounds funny.

Yeah.

Her ex-boss happens
to be only one

of the vice presidents...
my superior...

and a very nice guy to boot.

Could that perhaps
be a good sign?

You figure that left me
a little up in the air.

You know, Nancy,
running a plant in Ohio

is beginning to take
on all the aspects

of a nice, simple,
uncomplicated gravy train.

What happened today?

Oh, nothing, really.

Just an impression, I guess.

Sort of queer
undercurrents and tensions.

Good luck.

Mr. Ramsey.

Good morning, Mr. Ramsey.

Thanks, Jerry.

Can I see that breakdown again?

Oh, sure.

Miss Fleming, would you
step in for a minute, please?

Yes, Mr. Staples.

No, that's not the one.

Oh, sorry.

Let's see this.

Yeah.

Now this is the only one that
I have cross index for division

so don't let him keep it.

I want Billy to take my letter
from Henry Jacobson with him.

Oh, yes.

Now look, Billy.

Henry is a nice,
sincere guy, you know?

Made out of Bessemer steel.

He hadn't been off of his duff
since he learned how to walk.

He started out stoking coke
furnaces when he was 14,

was mill foreman when
he was 20, and then he

ended up buying the whole
plant for his own 40th birthday

present.

So you know what
I mean, watch out.

Now give him that report, and
then remember what he says.

Make stenographic
notes when you can,

and when you can't, put
it all down on paper

as soon as you get
out of the office.

No approximations.

I want to know how they
feel about every paragraph

of that thing.

I just hope they open up more
to you than they did to me.

I'll be down there sometime
next week for their decision.

OK

Mention that to them, will you?

Yes, I will.

Hello?

Uh... hold on, please.

Just a second.

Have a nice trip, Billy, and be
sure and call me Sunday night.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Yes, put him on.

Don't go away, Miss
Fleming, please.

Hello?

Judd.

Look, I'm sorry I meant
to call you right back.

It's about that Atlantic
States Nitric meeting set up

for October the third.

I'd like a delay on that.

Well, I want to walk in
there sure of my ground

and October is not going to
give me any ground at all.

Yeah, could you do that?

It'll be a help.

November 7th?

Fine.

Look, I'll see you
in the dining room.

OK, good.

Put that on my calendar, please.

Now then, did you
get those wires off?

Yes, sir.

Right after lunch,
I want you to set up

a conference call with
Ramsey, Jameson, myself,

with Frank Daring in Denver.

Got a minute, Fred?

Sorry, Marge, this is urgent.

It's about that NLRB
vote in Portland.

Ramsey's grumbling about it.

He thinks it's premature.

Premature?

What's he talking about?

He's had that plant running on
wishful thinking for 19 months

now.

We've got a labor problem
out there all primed

to explode in our face.

Now look, Bill, you
better walk in his office

with a great big neon sign...
strike, you know... and tell him

I've got a little
estimate worked out

that it'll cost us
conservatively $4,000 a day

if that plant goes out.

Oof, you know how
that'll hit him.

Yeah, well you go in
there and dig up the ground

and I'll follow you
with a bulldozer

and we'll plow him under.

No, we've got 800 big
lumberjacks out there,

and if they go, that'll
do it big, you know?

This won't be any
one-week picket.

This thing could go on for a
year with no strain at all.

You walk in there,
set the charge,

and I'll be in to
light the fuse, eh?

Fine.

I'll have to call your back.

Is 2:30 convenient for your
call to Denver, Mr. Staples?

Everything else on?

I've got another problem out
here if you can spare a minute.

Wow, Paul, how
are you, partner?

Mr. Staples, that gun.

Ah, you got it?

You try that yet?

Try it yet?

30 seconds from the time he
read "Winchester Double Barrel"

on the box, he was citing it.

Well, how about going out
for a little skeet shooting

on Saturday.

Give it a try, huh?

Wonderful.

Can I, Dad?

He's all yours, Fred.

He's a little too
strenuous for me.

Mr. Staples doesn't get
tired like you do, Dad.

I don't get tired.

He was an All-American.

Boy, it was just terrific, sir.

I had to stop by and thank you.

You forget it.

So long.

I'll see you outside.

Real thoughtful of you, Fred.

It was my pleasure, Bill.

Hello, Mr. Ramsey.

Hi, Paul.

Still taking your
vitamins, are you?

I guess so, sir.

Fine, fine.

Keep it up.

Excuse me, sir.

Oh, man, I am tired.

I made arrangements for your
call to Denver, Mr. Staples.

If I could go over
one paragraph...

No, I think I'll knock that off
after lunch if you don't mind,

All right, Mr. Staples.

No, drink it here.

Relax a minute.

Thank you.

I will.

Would you like some of mine?

Yes, thank you.

As a matter of fact, I would.

No, that's plenty.

Thank you

Where'd you play your
football, Mr. Staples?

Oh, Ohio State, but
don't ask me the years.

I won't tell you.

I won't ask you.

Anyway, I feel about
three times older

than when I first came here.

They kept you busy.

Yes, they sure have.

You've done very well.

You fit it in quickly.

Thank you.

You know, I think that's the
first out-and-out friendly

thing you've said to me.

I think you resent me a little
don't you, Miss Fleming?

I don't know why you should...

Well, it's just this
feeling that I've

gotten from time to time.

You work with a man for
a long time, a fine man.

You become part of him.

You identify yourself with
him, and along comes a new man.

I like Bill Briggs.

I like him a lot.

I have from the first.

If I had done or
said anything...

No, no, no, of course not.

Because I must say,
you've been very fair,

but seven years isn't a day.

I owe a lot to Mr Briggs.

Mr. Briggs is the last
of the original bunch

around here, the people who
really started this business.

That's not easy to be the
last of the original bunch.

I know.

He's not well.

He has a bad heart and an ulcer.

I guess that's just about
par for the executive course,

isn't it?

Well, I guess I've
always been a field man.

I haven't been an
executive long enough

to find that out for myself.

But you're a good one.

I think you're a
very good executive.

You admit mistakes.

You don't pass the buck.

You're a lot like
Mr. Briggs that way.

I take that as a
very nice compliment.

I mean it.

Mr. Briggs' only trouble
is that he could never

be a yes man, not even
to Mr Ramsey himself.

You always has to
speak his mind,

and Mr. Ramsey doesn't like
his judgment questioned.

You either go along
or you get off.

Bill Briggs never got off.

No, he never did, but maybe
he's about to be pushed.

He blew up at the next
round, but then Howard

went right by him with a 65.

65, I ask you?

Seven birdies and he sank an
82-foot putt on the last green

for a lead.

Oh, hello, my dear.

You know, that's some golf.

Yes, indeed.

It's wonderful.

The coffee will be ready
in just a little while.

Fine.

My father's recipe for coffee
was to make salt and chocolate

with the grounds.

Cook them all up together.

You'd never drink anything else.

Sounds wonderful.

They serve it at
a small downtown restaurant

I eat at occasionally.

I must remember to
mention it to Fred.

You said he was a
confirmed coffee drinker?

Dedicated.

Fine.

He's quite a young man,
this husband of yours.

Have you had a chance to
read much of the report?

Of course it isn't
finished yet...

Thank you for letting
me see this much.

Not according to Miss Post, I
suppose, at the dinner party,

but it makes me extremely
proud of my judgement.

I'm so happy.

He's been worried
about it, and...

Nancy?

If you'll excuse me.

Wonderful party, you two.

Makes me think I
should get married.

Oh, don't do anything
as drastic as that.

Wonderful having you, Ed.

Come again soon.

You try keeping me away.

I'll see you at the
office tomorrow, Fred.

Bright and early, Ed.

Good night.

Ah, Jamie, you
don't have to go.

You can stick around a while.

Of course I'd like
to stay all night.

However...

We're going home.

Can't get him out
of here, Nancy.

Usually he leaves
office parties as soon

as the canapes are past.

I thought everybody
behaved very well.

Is that so?

Gotta give him credit to that.

I was beginning to
like all of them.

Will you come over and see us?

Come over during the day?

Nowadays Jamie never
gets home at all.

I think we wives
ought to form a union.

You're right, we should.

Good night, dear.

Buh-bye.

I wonder what happened
to Bill Briggs tonight.

Oh, darling, I
forgot to tell you.

He phoned earlier.

He said he wanted to
come, but he just didn't...

Oh, Nancy, I wish you'd
have called me to the phone.

I wanted to talk to him anyway.

But darling, you were busy.

Well, I know, but
I... what about Ramsey?

Is he planning to
spend the night?

No.

He just gravitated towards the
library and made himself cozy.

Sounds a little like
artificial gravitation.

You didn't have anything
to do with it, of course.

Well, he's really
an amazing person.

You know, I expected
a real tycoon,

but he's so simple,
almost childlike.

Baby, I just hope by mistake
you never wander into a jungle.

Wonderful party.

Some interesting
reading matter here, Fred.

Very interesting reading.

I took the liberty of accepting
your wife's kind invitation

to look over your report.

Oh, really?

Good, heady stuff.

Good solid thinking, and some
of it is better than good.

Of course, I can't
say that I agree

with all your conclusions,
but I listen to arguments.

It will be good to hear
arguments for a change.

Good arguments.

Well, I can't tell you
what a relief that is.

We really sweat that one out.

Fred, I like a man
to show initiative.

I like a man who is not
afraid to think a new thought.

To take a different
kind of step on his own.

With your permission, I'll,
uh, borrow this extra copy

of your report just overnight.

But for now, I can say
I'm very impressed.

Well of course, we haven't
finished this thing yet,

but Bill and I feel
that another week...

Bill?

You mean Briggs?

Yes, sir.

Well, we work together on this.

Oh, come now, Staples.

I pride myself on
my sense of style.

I can link what
I see with what I

know to be peculiar to
a certain individual,

and I know Bill Briggs' work.

I've been exposed to it
since I was of voting age.

This... this isn't his style.

It isn't his brand of thinking.

Well, I don't know what
Nancy could have told you,

but Bill and I work...

Fred, learn to accept success.

It's tougher sometimes than
learning to accept failure.

Don't take half of
your accomplishment

and hand it out gratuitously
to the man on your left

who hasn't the stuff
to do it on his own.

That's charitable, humane,
and it makes you feel good,

but it's not business.

Mr. Ramsey, I'd like
to clear up one point.

There will be a meeting
on Tuesday, Fred.

We can discuss the report then.

I assure you I don't
want any undue credit.

I never extend undue credit.

Ask anybody.

Ask your friend, Briggs.

You think I'm tough
on him, don't you?

I am tough on him.

I think Bill is... I
think he's a good man.

He was,
and grandfather clocks

were good clocks and Stanley
Steamers were good automobiles,

but you can't run them
in competition today.

I must say that I like
some of his ideas very much.

Very much indeed.

So do I. Some of them.

Not many.

Still, a man with Bill's
experience and... I don't know,

I think he'd be very
hard to replace.

I'll see if that
coffee's ready yet.

Are you serious, Fred?

Briggs would be hard to replace?

Do you honestly think that?

And why do you think I brought
you out here from Mansfield

on such short notice?

Do you think that was a whim?

Is that what you think?

Fred, you're
Briggs' replacement.

I thought you understood that.

I'm expecting his resignation.

I don't like to
prolong these things.

They're unpleasant and personal
no matter what tack you use.

And under no
circumstances could I

or would I undertake
to fire him.

Coffee's in the living room.

I thought perhaps you'd
like to go in there.

It's quiet.

Look at the time.

I really must go.

It's been a wonderful evening.

Sorry you have
to leave so soon.

I really must.

My coat I think
is in the bedroom.

Oh, yes, of course.

I'll give it for you.

May I make a suggestion?

Mr. Ramsey, I don't
want to seem ungrateful.

I'm not looking for gratitude.

You can't run a business
on thank you notes.

That's Briggs' trouble,
and God forgive me

that was my father's
trouble, too.

This... this incredible
conception of a huge industry

being run like a soup kitchen.

Like a Welfare comfort station.

I know what the old
timers think of me.

I've grown up getting
stared at by a lot

of tongue-clucking old
fogeys who find me ruthless.

Kind of people who
represent everything

that might have kept our
business from growing

to anything like
its present size.

This, this stupid
black-and-white idea

that honesty and fair
profit are incompatible.

I just happen to feel that
the atmosphere of a large

corporation cannot be
constantly cathedral-like.

Thank you, Mr.
Staples, and again,

thanks for a wonderful evening.

I'll see you in
the morning, Fred.

You didn't steal that promotion.

You won it.

Remember that.

Goodnight, Mr. Ramsey.

I hope you come see us again.

Thank you, Nancy.

I hope I'll be able to.

Good night.

Good night.

What was that all about?

I'm Bill Briggs' replacement.

A vice president?

He must have
really spreaded him.

Listen, a little rare
roast beef and wifely pride

don't get you that
kind of a promotion.

Yeah, it takes
something a little more.

A little misrepresentation
for one thing.

A little switch in
authorship for another.

You told him I'd
written that report.

I did not!

I told him Bill had helped you.

But, Nancy, this is
Bill's basic idea.

Oh, the same set of ideas
that he's had for years.

I gathered that much.

You gave it life, you made it
work, you made it practical.

Even so, Nancy, I don't
want any part of it.

Oh, Fred, I happen to know
what you contributed to this.

I also know that you
can't stand winning

if you have even a nodding
acquaintance with a loser.

I don't like stepping
on another human being

to get into a capital
gains bracket.

Ramsey's stalking that
poor guy like an animal.

He'll rip him to death if he
has to to make him resign.

I didn't hear you tell Mr.
Ramsey that he was mistaken.

I didn't hear any clear
cut defense of Mr. Briggs.

If you don't want
to be successful,

go and tell Mr. Ramsey.

He'll give you a bone...

Will you please...

And you can check
in at 7 o'clock...

Now, look I don't want
to argue about it...

Neither do I!

I just want you to answer me.

Did you tell him that
your wife was mistaken?

Did you tell him that
you were taking part

in something you did not do?

No.

No, I didn't.

Why not, Fred?

Because I want the job.

Thank you for a straight
and honest answer.

Now I think we can
both sleep tonight.

Hi.

Good morning, Paul.

Where's Cora?

She's late, I guess.

Aren't you going to
be late for school?

It's only 8:10.

I've still got six minutes.

You've got it figured out
to a science, haven't you?

I just got it figured
to how far I have to go

and how long it's
going to take me.

Well, if you found that
out, you found out a lot.

Thanks for breakfast.

You worked late
again last night.

Yeah, no rest for the weary.

You haven't got it down to
a science yet, have you, Dad?

What?

How far you have to go and
how long it'll take you.

What's a matter, Paul?

Here's last night's
doubleheader.

The one we were going to see.

Oh, I forgot all
about it, Paul.

I'm... I'm sorry.

We didn't miss much.

I watched it on television.

Crummy doubleheader.

The Braves took both of them.

You're lucky.

The Yanks are playing
tonight, aren't they?

Yeah, they play the Red Sox.

Let's start all over again.

You meet me at the
office, we'll have dinner,

and then we'll go to
the game together.

Sounds good.

It's a date.

We're on.

So long, Dad.

Have a good day, and, uh, if
you can't make it tonight,

would you give me
a call at school?

I've raised the
world's worst pessimist.

At 8 o'clock in
the morning you're

figuring out the
worst possible thing

that could happen at
6 o'clock tonight.

Upstairs in my room I've
got a drawer full of tickets

to ballgames we've never
seen because of that stuff.

But call me if you can,
Dad, it's important.

I'll make it this time, son.

Can't you have
another glass of milk

and maybe tell me about
last night's doubleheader?

I'd be late.

Wish I could.

So long, Dad.

Take it easy.

Good evening, Mr. Staples.

Good evening, Sally.

Paul?

Hi, Bill.

Hi, Fred.

I thought it was my son.

He's going to pick me up.

Got time for a cigarette?

Sure.

What are you doing here?

I thought you were
going to the ballgame?

I've had a miserable
headache since dinner,

so I sent Paul out to
see the game alone.

He's going to pick me up.

How long you been here?

Couple of hours, I guess.

Can I get you an
aspirin or something?

Oh, no, no.

It's much better now.

Anyway, it gave me a chance
to look over the supplements

you did for the report.

I think Ramsey's right, Fred.

You may be an
engineer by diploma,

but you're a crackerjack
industrial planner

by instinct or something.

Coming from you, Bill,
that sounds real good.

No question about it.

Some of your suggestions
were great, Fred.

Really great.

I've incorporated them verbatim.

I like your approach, Fred.

You think of people in terms
of the human factor, not just

logistically.

Something I've never been able
to make Ramsey understand.

Anyway, now he can't
complain I turn

in the same report every year.

He won't be able to
say that this year.

Join me, Fred?

No thanks, Bill.

I've got to take Nancy out
for supper and that long drive

home, you know?

I don't know, maybe
I'm just getting old.

I used to be pretty tough.

Still tough, I guess.

Every now and then I get tired.

Tired of arguments,
tired of battling,

tired of the whole
bloody mess with all

this fancy organization
and super finagling.

Oh, I know it's legal
and modern and all that.

It's what they call
a trend, isn't it?

In the old days things
were a lot simpler.

Businesses grow, Bill.

This business didn't grow.

Not since old man
Ramsey passed on.

It's been added to.

That's not growth.

Just plain acquisition
of business,

of stock transfers
and bank loans,

manipulated by hired shysters
and their sharpshooting

accountants, and
organized and controlled

by a barracuda
like Walter Ramsay.

Sure you won't have
a snifter, Fred?

I wish you would.

Well, times change, Bill.

You know that.

But do they always
change for the better?

Old man Ramsey could walk
down a production line

and call every man
by his first name,

and get called by his
first name in return.

Now I know that
feeling, believe me.

He didn't need public
relations experts.

Honor was enough, character, and
he never sold a share of stock

in this company, either.

Not till the
depression came along

and he had to raise
cash or go under.

And do you know why?

Because he would not
lay off one single man.

That's the kind of
man Jim Ramsey was.

Now I sit in that
fancy conference

room with Jim Ramsey's son.

I sit there and I see all
the old man's principles.

All his beliefs.

Every single thing
wholly to him jobbed off

by this spindly little
financial wizard,

this wall-eyed,
ice-coated little rooster

who knows more about
debentures than he

does about the human heart.

I'm all right.

Take it easy.

I'm all right.

You'll begin to
work yourself up.

I'm all right.

Sit down, Fred.

Sit down quietly and be
a nice sympathetic friend

and associate.

I'm wondering if you are as
good a human being as you are

an industrial relations man.

He doesn't like you, does he?

No.

Bill, has it ever
occurred to you to resign?

Of course it has.

Thousands of times.

Why don't you?

What?

You can't take a chance of
letting this man fire you.

On our level you don't
get fired, you know that.

After 30 years of
productive work,

they can't say to a man like
me, all right, now get out.

They just can't do that.

So what do they do?

They create a situation.

A situation you can't work in
and finally you can't live in.

Where this tension, abuse,
small humiliations...

it all starts out on
a scale so subtle,

so microscopic that at first
you can't really believe it's

happening at all.

But gradually the thing
begins to take shape.

The pieces fit together,
all the little bits,

and it becomes unmistakable.

They chip away at your
pride, your security,

till you begin to have doubts.

Then fears.

Ramsey... he wants me to resign.

He wants me to get
my cross so full

that I'll be miserable
enough to do just that.

But you take it.

Yes, I take it.

Why?

The bigger the job, the more
desperately I try to hang on.

Why?

Why?

Why do you take it?

Why don't you quit?

Quit?

Yes, quit, get out of it.

Chuck it.

You've had your pension,
your peace of mind.

No!

You know Ramsey's
going to go on hounding you

until he makes you quit.

Never!

He'll never make me quit.

Bill, I... I wish
I could understand

why you'd go on taking it.

Because I'm weak, I guess.

Because I'm 62 years
old and I don't think

I could get another job.

How's that strike you?

How do you think?

Once in a while,
I have a dream.

I dream I'm sitting in
that conference room

and he starts working me over.

Just smiling, see.

Perfectly calm
and I'm taking it.

I don't show the
slightest resentment.

And then, then without
any change of expression,

I get up out of my chair
and I walk over to him.

And I say Ramsey...

Bill.

Ramsey!

Bill.

Ramsey, I say, and
then I'll smash him.

And then I smash him again.

Get a hold of yourself.

And I hit him again.

And I hold him up.

And then Ramsey, I say,
I'm not through yet!

Bill!

It's the kid.

He's coming to pick me up.

Fred, I don't want
him to see me.

You're all right, Bill.

Just sit down now.

No, he can't see me like this.

Fred, help me.

Help me.

All right, I'll
take care of him.

You just lay low for a minute.

Tell him I left early
to get some pills.

Hey, Paul.

Oh, hi, Mr. Staples.

Man, what a place by night.

Where do they keep the caskets?

How you doing, partner?

Dad said I should drop
in and pick him up.

Oh, well, he went on home.

He needed a little rest.

Oh, good, he's under
orders not to work late.

Can't seem to keep away lately.

Always work, always worrying.

No wonder he's number two man.

Suppose I drop you off
at Grand Central, huh?

Swell, thanks, Mr. Staples.

Ever since I can remember he's
been married to this place.

Mom used to say the same thing.

They were great together,
Mr. Staples, Mom and Dad.

They used to yell and
argue and carry on.

More?

There's another
bundle on the truck.

Mr. Staples, you left your
hat in Mr. Briggs' office.

Oh, Fred, I have a
Stanley complex made up

if you'd like to
take a look at it.

Later, please.

Bad night.

Yes, Mr. Staples?

Now this is the
proposal's report.

Give that to Miss Lanier
for confidential memoing.

Tell her that Mr. Briggs
has the only carbon.

Is he in yet?

No, sir.

Mr. Staples?

It's not signed.

How would you like the name?

In what order?

First yours or first Mr. Briggs?

Oh, I don't care.

Makes no difference to me.

But in joint projects,
Mr. Staples...

I really don't think
it's too important.

Put Mr. Briggs' name
first if you like.

Just give it to Miss
Lanier right away.

I'd like this thing printed
by afternoon if possible.

That's all, Marge.

Yes, Mr. Staples.

Yes, Marge, dear?

The proposal's report.

Would you sign it so
it can be printed?

Oh, would you...

Just a moment, please.

Marge, would you please
take it in to Mr. Ramsey?

He has to see it first.

Hello?

Oh, yes, good morning.

Is that the report?

Miss Lanier said you
wanted to see it.

Yes, I do.

Who signed this?

I wrote the title page.

Mr. Staples suggested I sign it.

Print it.

I'm sure that if Mr. Staples...

Print it, Miss Fleming.

I can sign that
report now, Marge.

Now we meet with
Ramsey in 20 minutes...

Under the conditions and
in the time we got left,

it's the best one I can devise.

It's the only one ready, so you
fellas have got to go along.

There's nothing wrong...

Marge, I
can sign that report now.

Thank you, Marge.

The major projects
during the period

of aforementioned being, the
Huber petroleum refinery,

the Sterling Cast Airs Refinery,
the Chatham-Nickel Smelter

Company, the Henderson Valley
Dam, the Swing Carbon Steam

Plant, and the New England
Canadian Natural Gas Pipeline.

Good report, Dan.

Thank you.

I got a real feeling of
activity during your reading.

The next item of business is
the project's proposal report.

Clearly of the greatest single
importance on our docket

this morning.

I must say, and I'm sure
you all agree, that I am not

given to enthusiasms at
the drop of a submission,

but of this I feel
impelled to say

that it is unique in effort
and genius and thought.

To Mr. Fred Staples of our
organization goes my heartfelt

thanks and congratulations.

Besides being our
newest member, he

seems to be shaping up
as among our most astute.

This set of proposals is
ingenious, comprehensive,

and fresh.

Congratulations.

Your success is a reaffirmation
of my own judgment.

Mr. Ramsey...

Of my own good
judgment, I may add.

Mr. Ramsey.

I prefer not to be drenched
with modesty, Mr. Staples.

This is not modesty, just
the extension of credit

where it's due.

Bill here is as responsible...

Is your name about
to be used in vain?

I don't think Fred would
use my name in vain.

And it's refreshing to
find someone not suffering

from overmodesty.

What I was trying to say is
that we worked on this project

together.

It's a combined effort.

I'm sure it was.

Well as long
as that's understood.

Oh, it is, it is.

It's just that I feel
reasonably competent to assess

the individual performances
and to single out those

that I feel should
be singled out.

With all due regard
for Mr. Staples'

concern for his fellow man.

Now then, if Mr. Briggs' ego
has been sufficiently nourished.

I don't think Fred brought
this out to feed my ego.

Oh?

Well then, whatever it was that
prompted his precipitate dash

to your defense.

There was no dash
to my defense.

Why don't we drop
the thing, Mr. Briggs?

I hate becoming entangled
in absurd little personality

I'll put a star by your
name on the front cover

if that'll make you happy.

My name is no longer
on the front cover.

Mr. Briggs.

You're twisting
the entire thing

to make it appear as
if I were grubbing

for some sort of recognition.

Mr. Briggs.

I find it unfair, Mr. Ramsey.

We have a full agenda!

If you feel so bruised
that you must persist

in prolonging this discussion.

Mr. Ramsey!

Let me finish, Mr.
Staples, if I may!

We have only one
purpose here... to work.

We cannot hope to accomplish
this if we must be continually

subjected to these
singularly unbecoming strains

and tensions.

These childish claims
and counterclaims.

Mr. Briggs, I ask you
a simple question.

Is it or is it not
within my province

to credit a man with
a job well done?

Of course it is.

Then may we drop it now?

Only if it's clearly
understood that I

don't submit to any of these
calculator discolorations

of a man's worth.

As to a man's
worth, Mr. Briggs,

I think I've proven
myself a competent judge.

I ask you to recall that I built
this business from a scratch

pile of used lumber and a
few machines into a giant,

and I make few
mistakes in doing it.

Few mistakes in business and
few mistakes in judging men.

Well you've made one this time.

This report...

I refuse to engage
in a running fight

because a supposedly responsible
official of this company

persists in wasting time
haggling over credit.

That is not fair!

I was not haggling over credit!

This is a joint report
that we worked on!

Don't
tell me what's true

and what is not true!

What am I, some kind of
idiot that I can't recognize

another man's thinking?

Whatever your abilities
in the past, Mr. Briggs,

your work hasn't shown this
stamp of originality and talent

in 10 years.

A man slips, clutches.

He loses his grip.

He tries to hang on
by someone else's.

You have no right to say that.

Bill, will you please speak up?

Go, by
all means, Mr. Briggs.

You think I'm mistaken, do you?

Shall I go through 150 pages and
point out to you line by line

where another man has
taken over for you?

Has had to take over for you?

And I can point out
sections of this report

that I never had to touch.

Had to, Mr. Staples?

Of course you can.

Let me show them to you.

I've seen them submitted
year after year.

Principles and precepts
for better business.

Mr. Briggs' yearly platitudes.

But you translated his
unworkable, well-intentioned

philosophy into tough
business procedure.

You make it work.

Ramsey!

Mr. Briggs, I will
not tolerate insubordination

on any level, and if anyone
else finds that intolerable,

he has the God-given right
to offer his resignation.

Bill?

Please.

Mr. Ramsey, I had no intention
of seeming insubordinate.

Meeting is adjourned.

Mr. Briggs?

Mr. Briggs?

Bill?

Bill, can you hear me?

Just a little... a
little bottle of pills.

Coat pocket.

Get some water.

Yes.

Grannigan, get an ambulance.

I'll call Dr. Blake.

Don't move him.

Fred, is
still... still giving orders?

Do me a favor, Fred.

What, Bill?

Tell him... tell him...

Hello?

Thank you, Mr. Staples.

Five minutes ago.

Just heard word
from the hospital.

He died five minutes ago.

Thank you, Mr. Vannigan.

Nancy?

What are you doing here?

I called your office, and
there wasn't any train,

so I drove here.

How did you know
where to find me?

They told me at the hospital.

Does Paul know?

Yes, he's with Bill's sister.

He's all right.

Care for something, Miss?

Have you had anything to eat?

Hm?

Have you eaten anything?

Fred, what happened?

Nothing.

Not a thing, except a murder.

There were witnesses, too.

Plenty of us.

And no one lifted a
finger to stop it.

Oh, Fred.

Nancy, I know.

I didn't lift a finger.

You don't know.

I'm not going to have you going
around in sack cloth and ashes

to something that
you did everything

in your power to stop.

You begged him to
resign, you know that.

What more could you have done?

What more could
anyone have done?

Nancy, I think
you'd better go home.

Would you take this, please?

Are you coming?

Nope.

Then I won't go.

I want you to go home
and start packing.

Where are we going?

I don't know.

Somewhere, anywhere.

Just away.

There's an awful
stink in this town

and we're going to
get away from it.

Come on, I'll put
you in the car.

No, I'm not going
to leave you alone.

Nancy, I want you
to go home, please.

No, I'm not going tonight.

Tomorrow I'll do
anything you ask.

I'll pack, I'll go anywhere
you ask, but not tonight.

Not in the state you're in.

Now look, there's
something I've got to do.

Fine, then we'll
do it together.

Bill was supposed to
go to Lansing tomorrow

morning for a meeting
with Phillips.

You'll have to take his place.

I believe I've already
mentioned that.

Yeah, you mentioned it.

You leave on flight number
116, 8:32 from LaGuardia.

Miss Lanier will meet you at the
airport with your reservation

and all the memoranda
and correspondence

pertaining to the negotiation.

You'll have three
uninterrupted hours

in the air to familiarize
yourself with all the details.

I have no interest whatever
in the Phillips matter.

What was that?

I'm telling you that
I don't want the job.

I'm through, I'm quitting.

I resign as of now.

Why?

Because I hate your guts.

You used Bill Briggs
for a whipping boy.

You made him knuckle under and
then you beat him to death.

You wouldn't try anything
like that with me

because I'd kill you first.

I'm not a nice human being.

What else?

You're
nothing but a freak!

You'll drive your people into
peak efficiency if they can

make it or a grave
if they can't.

Because Bill Briggs

lacked the strength to
stand up!

He was second in command.

He had a lot of
responsibility to hold

and he cracked under it.

It was his business, too!

It's no one's business!

It belongs only to the best.

To those who can control
it, sustain it, nurture it,

keep it going.

Right now it belongs to us
because we're producing.

But in the future it belongs
to whoever has the brains

and the skill to
take it away from us.

Well they can
have my share of it

right now because I don't
want any part of it.

What do you want from me?

Apologies?

I don't apologize!

What else?

A nice, unsullied conscience?

You walk out of here with a halo
because you spoke your mind?

What do you do then?

Go to work for some
nickel-and-dime outfit run

by nice people who won't
challenge you and prod

you and goad you, and drive
you to a height you never even

dreamed of?

A company where there's
nothing to fight

for because you're the best
and there's no competition?

When everything is
handed to you and nothing

is worth fighting for?

I want you to stay!

I don't think you
understand, Ramsey.

I don't like you.

I don't like anything about you.

I didn't
hire you to like me.

All right, I'm not a
nice person in your eyes.

But whatever I am, you'll
learn more, grow more,

and do more here with me
than anywhere else on Earth.

I want you to stay because
I need help on my level

and you're the only one who
is able to function there.

Be a conscience
for me if you want.

Be anything you like.

And if it's something
I don't like,

you will know about
it soon enough.

I think you're strong
enough to take it,

and if not I think you're
strong enough to get out.

Name your terms.

All terms are negotiable.

I don't think so.

Not mine.

All right.

I just assume not waste
any time doing trading.

As of now, your
salary is doubled.

Your stock option is
doubled right down the line.

Your expense account is
whatever you make it.

Add to that a new
title, vice president.

I want a lot more than that.

You're not going to take
me on as just another vice

president you can push around.

You take me as someone who hates
you down to the bare nerve.

Nothing in the world
will ever change that.

I'll argue with you,
contradict you, fight you

in every way I know how.

I'll do everything in
my power to push you

out and take your place myself.

Go ahead and try.

Mr. Staples, you
have yourself a deal.

Have it drawn up.

No reservations now?

Yes, one.

Bill had one
pitiful little dream

that someday he'd walk in
here and break your jaw.

I reserve the right to
have that wish for myself.

I'll have it drawn into the
contract with a little rider

giving me the same privilege.

Oh, uh, Staples, you'll
be pleased to know

that Bill Brigg's boy
is being taken care of.

Will that let you
sleep better tonight?

It begins, huh?

It begins.

Fair enough?

Do we pack?

No, we stay.

On who's term?

Mine and his.

Are you satisfied?

Yes.

Oh, Fred.

You know, it's easy
enough to check something

you think is wrong, but I
don't know, this way maybe

there's a chance.

Fred, I'm so happy.

Well, we'll see.

I've got to go to Lansing.

Morning train.

When will you be back?

Tomorrow night.

I'll be late.

Aren't you always?