The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939) Movie Script

It's me miss McGregor.
Joe Elliott
Come in.
Well, what is it? -Amy
wanted I should come over
to tell you she can't do the clothes
this week. She stove up with cold.
And she sent you ten
miles just to tell me the that.
You know Amy. Once she's got
something to say she's gonna say it now.
Besides it only took about
two hours the way I came
Good night.
- Good night, Joe.
Kelly to take a hot
lemonade and sweat it out.
I will, thank you.
Good night. -Good night.
that lies to my breasts
at one cherishing word
that lols is one big
Xander dreaming of light
and Canberra she's very
light oh look he's hiding
Dominick's is holy
like going to the theater for nothing
what do you say folks if
we organize the quartet right here
Mr. calhoune will be
the baritone, I'll carry the lead,
Tom will be the tenor
all we need is bass.
how about you went through why he
couldn't carry a tune in a bucket
perhaps our new
boarder Mr. Bell might do.
Who, the professor?
- Our young genius.
Bells all right just different.
but do you suppose he really believes
he can teach that deaf and
dumb child he brought here to talk,
All I can say is if the Lord intended
dumb people to talk, he'd have taken care of it.
oh excuse me
- oh come in Mr. Bell.
miss McGregor do you have
any copper wire in the house?
a big picture wire I'll do.
copper wire? - yes I I need about
17 feet for one of my experiments
and all the shops are
closed at this hour.
why the idea of expecting
to find 17 feet of
wire at this time of night
well I never heard
of such a thing Mr. Bell.
well I'm sorry if I bothered
you. Good night.
Just a moment, professor.
don't figure an impertinence and
we've just been wondering if it's true
you can teach dumb people to talk.
I hope to someday. you see mr. Darcy
the reason deaf mutes can't speak
is that they have bad ears
and not not bad vocal cords.
never having heard
speech they can't imitate it.
so if we can find a way
to to visualize sound for them
and there's no reason why they
shouldn't speak as well as any one of us.
Isn't it?
- No, I guess not.
no of course not
would you stay and show
us some of your tricks Mr. Bell?
Tricks? - yes it
would be such fun.
I've heard you make the piano
play by just talking to it
oh well I'll be glad to but
they're they're not tricks.
please.
they're very simple manifestations
of the of the nature of sound
and of vibrations in the air.
now first I push down the sustaining pedal
then I depress the key
do... do...
re... me... fa...
sol... - Mart's positively spooky.
- oh no no not at all mrs. McGregor
sound is nothing
but air in motion
when I sing the scales I set
up certain vibrations
which fall on the strings
of the piano
just as they fall on
the membranes of our ears
thus producing corresponding
vibrations or sounds
Is that clear?
- No.
Mr. Bell the little boy's father's here
to see you with
another gentleman.
Mr. Sanders. thank you.
excuse me please.
Mr. Bell
that's a dandy act I bet you
could do something with that.
Thank you Mr. Darcy.
I expect to.
And alali. -Hello, mr. Sanders.
- How is he? just fine.
I want you to meet my friend
Mr. Gardner Hubbarda. Alexander Grehem Bell.
Mr. Hubbard
of course I know you by my reputation
your your interest in
the Clark School for the deaf.
I've been
hearing about you too
and your work with Sanders boy.
would you like to go
out and see George?
That's way we came for.
- please
that's the multiple
telegraph Bell is working on.
if it works, and I'm sure
my theory is right,
I ought to be able to
send as many as 50
messages at a time over one wire.
get him interested Alec
and your financial worries are over.
he's the best organizer in Boston
he's the man who
brought gets to this towns
well I'll be delighted to
explain it to you sir. you see...
when I press this letter... -Some
other time Mr. Bell. Some other time.
right now I'm more interested in
what you're doing for Sanders boy
than I am in any newfangled invention
Oh yes. We'll go right in.
Excuse me. This way, please.
May we see George?
- He's asleep but I'm
sure he'd want to see his father
Go ahead sir.
Shall I speak to him?
I told him to shake hands
with you. -And he understood you?
You saw what he did.
Now I'm asking you if I
should tell you how our glove works.
We began by teaching
him to spell...
simple words like C-A-T and
then showing him a cat.
Now by touching the letters
or... or rather combination of letters
I can talk to him as
rapidly as I can to you.
But I understood you were
teaching him to actually speak.
Watch this?
Have you ever succeeded in teaching
a child it was born deaf to speak?
No, and as far as I
know, nobody else has.
But I have great hopes
and they'll still young.
But he's had some mighty
interesting experiences
with sound and
speech tell about the melody.
Well... I crumble family
that that has made
a professional study on mechanism of
speech for two generations before me.
My grandfather,
Alexander Bell
and my father Alexander
Melville Bell were elocutionist
who devoted their entire lives to
the correction of defects of speech.
Perhaps you've read some
of their books on the subject.
Well, from earliest childhood
I was trained to become
a teacher of speech.
That, and the fact that
my mother was deaf,
led me to my present
interest in deaf mutes.
And, well... mute wires like the telegraph.
Mr. Bell I have a little girl of my
own that I want you to work with.
She had scarlet feve
when she was 4 years old
it had left her stone deaf. I've had
her in Germany learning lip-reading.
Well I'm sorry sir but when
I'm not working with George,
I spend all my time
working on my telegraph.
Come over to supper to
Saturday night and we'll talk it over.
Well I hope you like
beans, Boston baked beans.
No not much and besides... -You
like the kind my cook prepares.
Come on Sanders it's 2 and
a half minutes past 9:00.
Nevermind Ellie, you'll have
a fine chance to tell him
about your telegraph
instrument Saturday night.
M-y-s-o-n.
it's kind of slippery isn't it?
Young lady, may I suggest
the sidewalk is no place for sleds.
The sidewalk is very narrow,
the ice makes one's
footing very uncertain
you might have ruined the most
important piece of electrical
equipment the city of Boston.
oh I can excuse such
behavior in children,
but I but I don't, well...
- what did you say?
I said you are no longer
a child and that I think...
I'm sorry, would you mind
speaking a little more distinctly?
Young lady I come from a
long line of elocution teachers.
My grandfather, my father
wrote text books on the subject.
I think I know what I'm
speaking distinctly. Good night!
I'm sorry but you see I...
The essential parts of both my
transmitter and my receiver
are these tune reads made
of flattened steel clock Springs.
one end of which is attached to
poles of these electromagnets,
while the other end is free to
vibrate over the other poles like this
Interesting, isn't
it, dear? - 6:26 mother.
Yes dear, but I'm sure
separate would be aankhon.
The transmitter has maken
breakpoints. - Ah, come in, my dear, come in.
Mr. Bell this is my little girl Gertrude.
Your little... oh
but but I thought...
How do you do miss Hubbard?
- Very well, thank you.
And these are my three other
little girls. Berta, Mabel and Grace.
Mr. Bell.
Good evening, my dear.
How are you?
- Papa. -Mr. Bell,
this is the little girl I
was telling you about.
Mr. Bell and I have
already met I believe. -Met?
What do you mean
met? He just got here.
Uh I think I knocked him down.
And I'm awfully sorry if your...
whatever it was was ruined.
Oh no, not at all.
Mr. Bell makes things, dear.
He was just telling us about
his telegraph when you came in.
I beg your pardon
mama? -His telegraph.
Telegraph? That?
Oh, please go on.
Oh, yes please. -We do
have to hear about it.
Well, I was just saying when a spring
sends its electrical tone into the wire...
theoretically only its
mate and receiver should respond.
and if I set up a number
of sets of springs
tuned to different pitches...
then I could send a several
number of messages over the same wire.
I'm sorry if I said anything
out there to offend you.
But you didn't.
Of course not.
And... and do go on.
Well that's about all.
Except that it may not work.
Oh, but it will work.
I'm sure they.
Suffered a service of it.
- Thank you Nora.
Alright, this is a third successive
night suppose been late.
I'm sorry dear I'll
speak to cook. Go on, girls.
Mr. Bell, supper. -Mr. Bell,
I hope you like beans.
Of Boston baked beans.
Didn't you think you
had a very nice face?
Oh, papa. You know very
well I didn't mean, papa.
Oh, then you mean
Mr. Bell. -Yeah so good.
Mr. Bell. - why thought
he looked all right?
For playing man. Didn't
you think your nice nose?
it was awfully Roman or
something
Oh, yes nice eyes to. It blaze
so when he talks.
I think you're in love navel
Oh, Goody! -Navel
survived, navel survived.
Goody. - It was advertising father
for putting money in this telegraph
imagine Papa green
to pay for his experiment.
Mr. Bells is the first voice
I've ever really wanted to hear.
Oh darling of course
he's wonderful
He's a mom. - Do you
think he like me Gertie?
I mean even if I can...
- of course he will.
that'll make him like
you ten times as much
You won't feel sorry for me.
It won't be that, will it?
- Oh no, of course not.
Then I go to marry him.
- What? -I'm going to marry him.
I knew it the first time I saw
him. I just made up my mind like that.
But, papa. Oh,
what will papa say?
I don't care what papa will say.
I'll just close my eyes and
then it won't be able to hear him.
And besides, papa must
doesn't know yet.
Nobody must know yet. Only you.
Oh, but you know
how I am about secrets.
I'll just die if I can't tell it.
- But you won't tell this Gertie.
You promise me you won't tell.
Well I won't if you promise to tell
me everything he says he does.
Alright. Alright I
promise. -Shh, papa.
Gertrude? You and Mable
stop that foolish cheddar.
don't you know it's exactly...
11 minutes past 10:00.
Put out the lights
and go to bed.
Yes Papa. -What did he say?
- Is that to go to bed.
Alright, we go in to bed.
You know, if you had
married him I would.
Oh, Gerti.
Don't you love New England
in the spring Mr. Bell?
Spring? yes is very nice
we often come out here for picnics.
Mother and father and well all of us.
You do
I'm sorry Mr. Bell
but you'll have to look at mirror
I can't see what you're saying.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Ou. Ou.
Won't you tell me what's
wrong? - Wrong? - yes.
Yes, you've hardly spoken
a word to me since we started.
Have I said I've done
anything to offend you?
Oh, no certainly not.
it's just that... well I've been thinking.
Yes? - you see it may take years
before I get anywhere with the telegraph
and I was just wondering
whether or not I ought to go on with it.
Go on with it?
- Suppose I don't want to wait.
Suppose are things I want
to do now while I'm young...
things I might do if I gave all
my time to a regular position like
teaching at Boston University...
or something.
What sort of things do you
want, Mr. Bell?
Oh I don't know.
A wife... home.
finish your telegraph first
the wife will wait
She will?
- Oh yes, Mr. Bell.
I'm sure she will.
- Oh. Oh thank you.
But... that's all I wanted to know.
oh but but there's something
else I ought to tell you. - Yes?
I'm not as interested in
the telegraph as I used to be.
You're not? No, ever since I went
to Brantford to visit my family last Christmas
I'd had a new idea
rattling around in my head.
He did the biggest idea
I've ever had in my life.
all the craziest.
wouldn't you like to
tell me about it
well I have an idea but
if I could make a kind of
electricity vary in intensity
exactly as the air varies in
density when sound passes through it
then then I could transmit sound
even speech telegraphicly.
I'm sorry but... I don't understand.
I mean I could talk through a wire.
talk through a wire?
- yes I could send a human voice,
as... as far as wires could be strung.
hah but that doesn't seem possible
uh-huh I can't believe...
it it's talking through a wire?
I guess it's crazy
Oh when you going to
start work on it Mr. Bell?
Monday night.
- Oh.
Thomas Watson an electrician
who makes all my apparatus for me
is moving in with me to help me
oh then then you were really asking
me for my endorsement and not my advise.
Something like that.
- Oh, huh.
Mr. Bell if you spend all your
time working on this, how will you live?
Oh I'll manage somehow.
But, don't think I want to use the money your
father lends me for
anything but the telegraph.
Oh, no. - I'm gonna work on
this new idea in my spare time.
Oh, yes. Yes I understand.
But Mr. Bell if I were you I
wouldn't tell my father about this yet.
You see, he gets off the upset if people
don't finish what they started out to do.
Couldn't this be our
secret for a little while?
Perhaps that would
be. Why is he?
And safer.
- Much safer Mr. Bell.
Much.
Mother. Mother. Oh, mother.
- Mabel, we're you been?
Oh mother I've just been to the
most glorious drive in the world.
Oh, I'm so happy.
- hmm.
Mabel do you realize what time it is
you missed your supper.
Oh, please papa, don't scold me tonight.
Not tonight. - We've been
worrying about you for hours
something might have
happened to you child.
it's all right now garden
- it was all my fault Mr. Hubbart.
I talked so much neither
of us noticed the time
no and and finally we had to
stop under the streetlight so...
so I could see what he was saying.
but the time just
slipped by. -Yes.
Mother Alec get such
wonderful ideas. -Alec? -Alec?
Oh, I mean Mr. Bell.
- well please call me Alec.
All right.
- She call he Alec.
Mr. Bell won't you stay
and have something to eat?
Oh no, no. Not now.
I... I must be going.
Good night, Miss summer.
- Good night. -Good night mr. Hubbard.
Good night.
- Good night.
Good night.
- Good night.
Good night everybody.
come do you must be hungry
I couldn't eat a thing.
not tonight mother.
Good night.
Good night, papa.
Getrude! Getrude!
Oh, the most exciting
thing is just happened. Come on.
# Oh car keeps pining
for one kind word
# call me pet names dearest
call me Alec
# Pack, pack, the boys are packing
cheer up farmers they will come haha
Careful Watson, you'll break something.
Good then you'll have to
buy more stuff from our boss.
listen if it hadn't been for
your boss overcharging me,
we wouldn't been turned
out of here. - stop argue
you'll get turn out of better
places in this before you're through.
You needn't bother packing your things mr. Bell
nothing's leaving this
house until I get my rent.
You... you mean you're
going to hold my things?
The long gives me that
right I certainly shall.
But Mrs. McGregor ah I told you I'd
send you your money as soon as I can.
There's no use to arguing. Out
you go, but your things stay here.
I won't leave them.
I can't. I've got to happen.
Oh, no. You don't know about.
Things stay right here.
No, not. Not that.
Not his vocal cords.
Vocal cords? -Yes those
belong to a Chinaman.
They've got pickled
over at Harvard.
Get it out of here. Get all this
junk out of here! -Junk?
Did you say junk? -Yes
don't get it out of my house.
I'm sick and tired of
seeing it around.
you've had this base
looking like a pigsty long enough
get it out before I throw it
out the window or burn it up.
Mrs. MacGregor at this
moment I can almost kiss you.
don't you dare lay
a hand on.
To fake that I
have so misjudged you.
In fact I'll even give you
the very shirt off of my back.
Remove uncommon
and I'll have you arrested.
Come on, before she
changes her mind. Get them.
Hi! Ou, Jenny.
Hello mr. Sanders.
- What's going on here?
I'm leaving. -Leaving? -Yes, I'm
taking George back to his grandmother's.
I don't understand Alec.
You've taken my money
you build up my hopes and
now you're walking out on my boy.
Oh I'm not walking out,
sir. I'm I'm being thrown out.
But you had money I
paid you only last thursday
and how... -Well I... I use
that for some new equipment
Then why didn't you
ask me for an advance?
Oh you... you don't understand
sir. I... I expect to be working nights
and... and where I'm going
isn't a suitable place for George
that's why I'm taking
him back to his grandmother's.
But that's in Salem.
What about you work with him?
Well, I expect to go to
Salem every other day. That's all.
I'm sorry Alec. I ought to
have known you better than that.
It's all right mrs. Sanders.
- Al, hurry, here she comes.
Mr. Bell, take
this awful thing.
Well, I will find you. On
the entire quarter and leave one
all-night party known as
Williams Electric Company.
Well, we're slow are
you gonna take with that.
I'm ready now.
We can try it again.
Honest I know penis
I'm just a plain ordinary man.
all right sweep like
a human being do.
And I oh I've got a
sitter day after day...
night after night... wasting away...
tapping a little piece of metal.
I do remember when I
used to know pretty girls
been in another world.
It's not mumble. Maybe on
the birth of great discovery.
Long as I can remember we
found the bird at great discovery.
Look here, I can
only find four new springs.
I thought I told you to get fired.
I'm sure I told you to get fired.
I remember now you had just enough money
to pay for the five new springs of 25 cents each.
Now where is that new springs?
I ate it. - You did what?
- I didn't mean to.
I was going along and I..
I saw that food in the window...
suddenly I got such a
craving I couldn't stand it.
I went by twice I
tried not to go in, but...
I couldn't help. But I was hungry.
I can't go on living forever
with.- So, you ate one of my springs?
You took the last 25 cents we
had to fill your miserable little stuff.
Yes I did! I told
you I'm no genius.
I'm through starving I'll go
out to the Indian territory
lived on buffalo steak, and
you or nobody else's stop me. - Wait!
All the paint off that you might
why money is yours. Show me! Show
me what would you do it.
Do? I didn't do anything but
you did something I saw it I heard it.
Moo, little spring stopped vibrating I just
plucked at, that all.- But I heard a sound.
a full musical note with
overtones through the wire.
Show me everything you did.
- Well, this this contact screw grad stack.
Make a pun on contact
with the spring? - Yes...
I just snapped it. - while the...
while the circuit remained unbroken?
I suppose so.
Then that strip a magnetized
steel was generating its own current.
Do it again. No, wait.
No, wait, wait, wait!
All right, do it now.
It worked. It works.
It works. I read it again.
Are you an Indian? - Sure,
the Six Nations tuck me in.
Well that makes it all right then.
Don't you understand?
We've accidentally found the
undulating current that I've been looking for,
for the first time in the history of
the world we've sent sound through a wire.
For the first time nothing. Well this
has happened in nearly every electrician.
What you mean is it's the first time
the right man is hurted know what it meant.
Is that true?
- Why certainly.
If you know anything about electricity
you hadn't paid any attention to it.
Well, anyhow I was there
that's the important thing
just think we started to
work on a telegraph,
and now we're on the trail of
the electric telephone.
Telephone instead? - It's an
apparatus for transmitting the voice.
It means sound from a far.
Here. Hold this. - Where you going?
Where I'm going? Going
to tell Mabel, of course.
Telephone.
Mr. Bell. - Where's miss Mable?
- She's upstairs, sir. I'll tell her you're here.
Oh well would you please
put the gas up in the parlour, sir
while I tell miss Mable you're here.
- Ask him hurry please it's awfully important.
Very good, sir.
Alec.
Mabel. - Hi, Alec. - Mabel,
I've just discovered the most...
Mabel, now we can get married.
What ? - Will
you marry me?
Hurry, tell me.
- Yes.- You will?
Who goes that Alec.
- Oh, thank you.
But I never had
any other intention.
Oh, no, no.
Not here.
Alec, don't you gotta
tell me you love me?
Oh please, I want
to hear you say.
I love you darling.
It's a dark in here I can't see.
Nothing.
- I love you.
Again.
- I love you.
Don't say a word, don't
move, don't even breathe.
I want to remember
this moment all my life.
Just as it is.
Oh!
- What is it?
I forgot what... what
I came here to tell you.
My telephone. I've got it. I've
found a way to talk through a wire.
How did you heaven? - That's
why I asked you to marry me.
You wait here. I've got to
tell your father. - No, no, no.
No Alec. He's... he's reading
and maybe a better wait.
Not me. You tell
your mom and the girls.
I'll handle him.
- No.
Mr. Hubbard. - Just
a moment, Mr. Bell
I always allow myself 30' with
the classics every evening.
In the past 40 years I dare say
I haven't missed three such evenings
except perhaps
on my honeymoon.
Habit. Habit Mr. Bell
is the important thing.
Setting a regular time for
everything and sticking to it.
Yes sir, but... - What lesson there are
young people today or in trying to postpone?
To shift, dodge and put
on. My father always said:
"People were prepared to make
any effort the day after tomorrow."
"But when it comes to
doing a thing today"
"that's another matter".
How about cigar? - No, no, thank you.
You I just want
on go and smoke it.
There's nothing like a good
cigar to help settle your stomach.
Now Mr. Bell...
you wanted to see me.
Yes, sir. Mable and
I get married now.
Sit down Mr. Bell.
This afternoon I made a
very valuable discovery.
I actually sent sound through
a wire without the use of battery.
You did what? - Before Lorna
I'll be able to send speech,
talk from any distance.
- Before how long?
I don't, know but I'm sure
I'll make a telephone some day.
Telephone, huh?
What about your telegraph?
oh I'm gonna give that up this
is much bigger and newer.
As my daughter
accepted you? - Yes, sir.
And she loves me too.
Mr. Bell, when I married the lady
you proposed to make your mother-in-law
I was owning 4,000
dollars a year.
In addition I had certain
prospects for my father
which promised ample security
for my wife and children.
May I ask what prospects you have?
- Well I haven't any prospects.
Unless it's the telephone.
- Mr. Bell I'd like to call your attention
to a few peculiarities which
I've observed about your character.
Oh, I know I'm not worthy
ever, sir. - In the first place
I'd say you are
emotionally unstable.
You jump from one enthusiasm
to another with reckless abandon.
To begin with it was the multiple telegraph
that consumed your time and energies.
Now you tell me you're no longer
interested in the telegraph
but have gone skipping off in
pursuit of some new proposition.
you may waste your
own time if you please.
But, the sooner you stop
wasting my money, the better.
I won't give
this up. I can't.
In that case... disabuse your mind
of the idea of marrying my daughter.
But mr. Hubbard we...
we love each other.
Nevertheless you are not
to come here again Mr. Bell.
Or even attempt
to see my daughter.
Not so long as
you persist in this folly.
By them all if you propose to give up
possible profitable venture for an air castle
you needn't expect
any more support for me.
I wash my hands of the
whole business. - But Mr. Hubbard none...
12 after 8. I should have been
well past Harvard Square by now.
Would you like to accompany
me on my constitutional mr. Bell?
The night air is very refreshing.
No, thank you.
- Well, good night.
Now take this little egg.
I crack it I'd drop it
tenderly into the grease.
That quiver isn't is
still. Result: hunger.
But, take this same little egg...
I leave it to nestled tenderly
and lovingly under its mother's breast
snug and warm.
Soon it becomes flesh and feathers.
Then it too is dropped
tenderly into the grease...
again it Quivers... and
is still result... a feast
Listen to me, my fine friend.
So I'm gonna stand over
a hot stove night after night
you can't expect me
to live on half an a egg.
God fall apart I'm sick of me
I'm sick of the very thought of you.
Hey, that's what I think
of the hours the months
we've wasted
on that stupid idea.
You say you're tired.
You're hungry. Well, so am I.
don't look like other
men just as much as you do.
I want a decent bed to
sleep indeed decent food to eat.
But I'm in love.
I want to get married.
And I will. And if I
ever have a child
that... that so much as looks
at a piece of copper wire or
mentions electricity out...
What about all
your work your plans?
It's all done.
How much were you getting
up there Williams Electric Company?
Three dollars a day. Why?
Better see if a job is still open
Lee. I won't be needing you anymore.
You're quitting? - Yes I'm
going back to teaching the deaf.
if I ever decide to work on
the telegraph do it my spare time.
The telephone.
- Uh...
it was just on air kiss.
Does Mabel know about this?
No, I'm gonna
write her now.
You got any paper?
Where do we get any paper?
This'll do.
What's the date?
June 11.
June 11
Mother. - Yes, dear.
- Mother, I've got to see Alec.
I know, dear. I know what
you've been through this past month.
No I mean now
I've got to go to
him. Come on. - Mabel!
To his room? Have you gone out
of your... - Mother I can't help it.
I must see him. Now, today.
This minute. - Oh my child.
What would your father say?
- Mother, my eyes are closed.
I'm not listening to you.
Oh, please you got to
go with me I've got to see him.
But Alec, you can't give up your
telephone just because father says so.
That it'd be criminal.
I know what I want and I've
made up my mind to heaven.
Perhaps Alec is right, dear.
Oh mother, why do you say
that, you know he's not right.
But after all you two love
each other. In't that enough?
It is for me.
Well, that isn't to me.
Alec, if you give up
your telephone I... I...
promise I'll never marry
you. - Oh may... - I mean it Alec.
Child, child.
- It's up to Jean.
Mabel... I'll never
fail you again.
Never.
- Oh, Alec.
You wake?
- Mm-hmm.
What are you thinking about?
Mabel
- So was I.
I was thinking now I
got to make a telephone.
I've got to find a receiver.
Some way to get speech.
I'd all I'll be just as badly
off as I was before she came here.
Would it be wonderful if
we should invent the telephone?
Had turned out to be the very
thing that could make her hear.
You had any imagination and you anything
about sound you know that can't happen.
How do you know,
you aren't God.
I know because in the human ear when
vibrations strike against the eardrum...
they caused tiny bones
in the back of the head to oscillate.
But enables case the nerve
current and back of those bones...
has been permanently injured.
Even if sound waves
caused the bones to oscillate...
cause the bones to oscillate
oscillate
oscillate
Anjali
What? What? What?
I got it. I got it!
What's? St. Vitus day?
- No, no, the ear.
What ear? - This, this here,
come on, come on, get up.
We've got to get
an ear... a human ear.
And study it. It may give us just
what we need for our receiver.
You're crazy. Where are
you gonna get a human ear?
I'll sharpen my razor and you go out.
Never mind never mind we'll get in here somehow.
And maybe... maybe
this time... just think.
Out of Mabel's deafness
we make the whole world here.
Ya, know but on here a
human ear, you can't do that!
Well use the same
principle as the ear exactly.
Only we use gold beater
skin instead of membrane,
and and a small piece of metal in front of
an electromagnet instead of the bones.
And we'll use more batteries.
That's what we gotta have.
More batteries. - Yeah it's
gonna take a lot of money.
Gold beater skin batteries
acids. - We'll get them somehow.
Maybe you can get another
advance for mr. Sanders.
No, no. I gotta figure
some of the way.
I've had three advances from him
already for less and less work with George.
We... could both of us go
back to work for a little while.
Be nice to eat
again for change too.
No, no. That's...
that's not the way.
We've got to find
a cheaper place to live.
Cheaper than this?
Certainly. What? I wouldn't stay here
even even if they'd let us use the shop.
That it's too noisy,
too dangerous
there's there too
many people about.
We're not gonna tell
anybody what we're doing.
Yet.
- We'll starve.
Maybe you will,
but not me.
Until I've made it telephone.
Charming place, such atmosphere.
Boiled cabbage
and flat beer I'd say.
Oh, it's you. Well don't forget
Mr Bell, this is for lodgings only.
You think you got to get
any food without paying for it,
you got another
thing coming. Understand?
lady we only eat
at the Parker house.
You laugh 50 cents be alright?
Merry Christmas, sir.
- Merry Christmas.
Turkeys twelve and a half
cents a pound, extra fine.
I may come back for
one later on. - Yes, sir.
Right now I'll ever have fond of
cheese, and two apples. - Very good, sir.
Sure you don't want this?
No if at all I want.
Apples and cheese
cheese and appes, apples...
What's the matter?
I don't know. Everything
went black in front of me.
I feel so dizzy.
Maybe I'd better lie
down for a few minutes.
Were you lied, you haven't eaten.
I don't I... don't think I was hungry.
Now you stay on the bed, I'm
going out and get something to eat.
to find out back in 15',
you know I got caught.
You see anything
with an ear on it?
Bring it back please.
- How about a landlady?
Ah stomachs are funny things.
I know. I should growl like
a lion when you neglect him.
Fill him up again, they
settle down just like a kitten.
Sure nobody saw you?
- I saw him chasing the cat, so...
I expect I'm saving up.
How that these cigars
were sort of a nice afterthought.
I had my heart set on a
plum pudding when I couldn't find it.
we should find a well done
battery with ear loosing all out of it.
Well, we can't
sit here all day.
Let's get to work.
On Christmas Eve? - What's
the matter with Christmas Eve?
Well Christmas may not mean
anything to you, but it does to me.
I'm not moving. I'm gonna sit
right here and belch till morning.
Whoa mr. Santa's
it's only you. Mome in.
Marry Christmas.
- Marry Christmas.
Marry Christmas. My slaves
downstairs get your coats on right away.
You're spending Christmas
at my place in Salem.
Christmas would you?
- That's right.
We've got a long ride
ahead of us, so hurry up.
Oh but we can't I planned
a lot of work for today. And I'm...
Sorry if you forget it it's just
what I needed. Come on, let's go.
If this isn't the devil.
- 365 days in the year
and are only two square
meals come on that same day.
Merry Christmas boys
Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas.
- I thought I heard you.
Oh. - Merry
Christmas, my son.
Merry Christmas, Mrs. Sayers.
- Merry Christmas Alec.
This is mr. Watson.
- Merry Christmas Mr. Watson.
And now don't bulk young man.
I'm going to kiss you too.
Sure Mrs. Sayers, I'm
sort of a flirt myself. - Mmm.
Alec, I have a surprise
for you. - For me?
Maple.
- Alec.
You couldn't come to see me
So Mr. Santa's arrange.
- The poppings we're in church, poor dear.
Maybe there is the
Santa Clause after all.
Alec. - Come in, come in
everybody and get warm.
Fine. I get some blackberry wine.
- Hey, my name is Ramiro.
Not happy just before supper
I can't wait another minute.
And this young lady. Came out here with our
arms loaded down with presents for everybody.
Especially you.
You shouldn't have done that.
I haven't anything
this year for anybody.
Oh, it's nothing.
Really, Alec.
That... let little fellow.
Looks... like George, doesn't he?
Can I see George, Fernand?
Yes, of course.
He'd be expecting you.
Christmas Eve
Merry Christmas, darling.
Merry Christmas, sweethardt.
good
Mayble I'm going to...
- You're going to do what?
You watch what we've been up to.
ah-ah-ah
Mr. Watson, won't you have a cookie?
Now, don't tell me
you have a bird's appetite.
Yes ma'am.
- mm-hmm. - Vultures.
Lily uh take some cookies
outside to the children.
Well, Alec you mustn't take
him out there. Not tonight.
Oh think of his presence
the tree in Santa Claus.
ah
huh
I don't understand this, Alec.
Fath-er.
Fath-er.
And you didn't have a
Christmas present for anyone?
Thanks mr. Sanders now
we have acids and batteries.
You want in the other room
listen while I do the talking.
Even if it worked you couldn't hear
me after Alec talking I'm down.
Ahoy Mr. Watson.
Are you there?
I now have water
in the transmitter cup.
Can you hear me?
Can you hear me?
Ahoy Mr. Watson.
Can you hear me now?
This is Alexander Bell speaking to you
from Five exeter place on March 10, 1876.
ahoy ahoy
Mr. Watson, come here.
I want you.
It talk. Mr. Bell. I heard
you, I heard you're voice!
Hurry I burn.
- But, I heard you.
Your voice through the wire
I could hear what you said.
What I say, tell me? - Yeah. you said
"Mr. Watson come here, I want you".
That's right.
- Oh, huh, what did you do?
I put two drops
of sulfuric acid in the water.
That made the water a conductor for
the electric current transmitting the voice.
Oh, my leg. - Stop hollering. You
can't do something about that burn.
Hold on. I've got to tell
Mabel first. - Oh no, you don't.
You sit down take
your britches on.
I get some large.
- But, I've got to tell Mabel.
I might have known so much does it
happen leaving a lot of acids around you.
Ladies and gentlemen...
now that the telephone
that is an accomplished fact
it gives me great
pleasure to... to demonstrate
its practical use in in
the social and business world.
In a moment my
associate mr. Thomas Watson...
will speak to you... from
the city of Boston... 20 miles away.
Uh for thee for the
benefit of the audience
additional receivers have been placed
at strategic points throughout the hall.
Ahoy mr. Watson. this is Alexander
Graham Bell, speaking to you from Salem.
Can you hear me?
- Ahoy, Mr. Bell.
Ahoy mr. Watson, the audience
is now applauding you.
Will you continue
your demonstration?
You're next.
Hail Columbia, happy land
where heroes heaven-born ban
who came to town the
other night to hit around
see a fighting hero Kyrgyz banjo
that so gently for me stealing
spider-like meets revealing
that I dearly love the
star-spangled banner along me
Yankee Doodle came to
town riding on a pony
stuck a feather in his cap and
called it sweet, gentle... (?)
Now begin obtained by a fallen soul.
Stop it I tell you.
Ahoy, Mr. Bell.
I have a special
treat for you tonight.
There is a lady president
is going to speak you.
The first woman's voice ever to
be heard publicly over the telephone.
Say something in here quick.
- All I've got to say is this:
How dare you? What right have you? Doing is
it's wonderful. - Well, I only laugh because I...
Thought leaders geez he's doubting an
ally well he better not be
And that that ladies and gentlemen
concludes our demonstration scene.
Anyone desiring further information will
kindly step up here and and leave his name.
What makes it talk father?
- It's just a plain hollow wire.
You talk it with it one end naturally
the voice comes out at the other.
Very amusing evening Mr. Bell
Imagine putting one of those things in
your home and expecting your wife to use it.
And would you really
think there's nothing to it?
Gardiner in my opinion the telephone
will never be anything more than a toy.
You would put any of your money
into it or advise your friends to do so?
I shall urge all my friends
they have nothing to do with it.
Thanks I just wanted
Mr. Bell to have your opinion.
Good night.
- Good night. - Good night.
Good night Mr. Hubbard.
- Good night Miss Hubbard.
Wasn't it all right Alec?
Well?
Mr. Hubbard is one
of my partners.
Will you see that the necessary papers are
drawn up for the
New England telephone company?
Did I understand you
to say partners Mr. Bell?
You and mr. Sanders put up
all the money for my experiments.
It's only fair that you
should share in the returns.
But I have no right in this.
I never put any
money in your telephone,
the money I gave you
was for your telegraph.
I'm not asking you
for any money, sir.
All you've got to do
is help me incorporate.
I've already talked to the Williams
company about manufacturing our telephones.
Watson and I can install them.
And I suppose the next
thing you'll be wanting us
to wire every house and
public building in the country.
We might have to
do that too eventually.
Mr. Bell, tomorrow morning Sanders
and I are going to have our heads examined.
Just for standing here
listening to such nonsense.
Good night.
Come on Sanders.
In the meanwhile we better
start looking over our assets.
It looks as if we're in
the telephone business now.
if he doesn't have
apoplexy before morning
he'll come along. If we
both don't have a apoplexy.
This must be pretty serious
your father calling me here.
I'm afraid it is.
Didn't need any second.
Oh, Mr. Bell come in.
Sit down.
- Thank you, sir.
Good evening miss
Summer. - Good evening.
Mr. Bell I have here an
itemized account of the expenses
I've incurred in connection with
your telephone during the past year.
To my amazement I
find that I'm involved
to the extent of 7070 $
against which has assets.
I can count only 207
telephone installations
at a net rental loss of 621 $.
Now what I want to know is,
what are you going to do about it?
I have it all figured out, sir.
I'm going to England. - England?
yes sir I've had a letter
from Sir William Thompson.
One of the greatest
scientists in England.
You know, the man who made
the transatlantic cable possible.
he says he's heard
about the telephone
that there's a great deal of
interest in it over there.
If I go over there, he feels sure he can
arrange a demonstration before Queen Victoria.
Queen Victoria.
- Yes, darling.
He says the Queen will install
telephones in the palace,
then the whole world
will follow suit.
Just as they copy your hats.
- Right Alec, that's a splendid idea.
Of course they will. - May I ask
who's going to pay for this pilgrimage?
Well sir I felt that as
long as you and mr. Sanders
already have so much money involved,
you will be... - Mr.Bell, I used to call you
a fool. I apologize,
you're a genius.
I'm the fool. - But... - Young man,
you have a blissful disregard for money.
That may be an end ruble as set to a
genius but not to a business partner.
Hubbart. - Father I'm sure
we could manage somehow.
Did you say we? - Mabel?
- Oh... - Mabel? - Yes, papa.
I'm going with him.
- You're what?
Help. I can't let you go
3.000 miles away from me. - Mabel.
Father we've waited long enough.
If Alec goes to England,
I'm going with him.
You will take me
with you won't you?
You don't think I'd
go without you, do you?
Oh, darling. - Mabel.
- Father my eyes are closed.
Mr. Bell, will you stop this.
- Gardener, she's right.
You kept these young
people apart long enough.
Mother.
- Oh, my goodness.
Oh what have I said.
Boom tongue.
Alec, hey darling let
me do it for you.
I don't know why I
must be so clumsy.
Oh, oh you're you're choking me
they'll hang it for that. This is England.
they hang you over here
even for killing a mere husband.
Dear darling, I think
that looks alright.
You know Victoria may be
queen of the British Empire
an island it anywhere
else she chooses.
But she's also a woman.
And what's more she's a widow.
- But a rich widow, don't forget that.
Uh-huh. She has
ladies-in-waiting too.
In waiting for handsome
young men like me?
Well Hallie guy, I'm
just warning you.
Can't even wink
at her just once? - Oh, darling.
I don't care if
the Queen kisses you.
Just as long as she
puts telephones in her palace.
Perhaps she will.
Tonight is our night.
And we can be all of your x-men
ladies all the money you owe them.
And Watson could
even self into the count.
Mr. Bell can have all the time he
wants to make love to his wife.
There isn't that much time.
Oh great heavens what...
what am I thinking about.
I mustn't keep
the Queen waiting. - Alec.
Good luck.
- Thank you dear.
Oh, please let
Victoria install telephone.
From my Alec.
Sir William Thompson tells us
that your telephone is a
marvelous instrument Mr. Bell.
Sir Williams is very
kind, Your majesty.
Is this the device?
- yes, ma'am.
There's a similar instrument Osborn
cottage where Sir Thomas bit off is
waiting to hear your Majesty's voice.
You expect me
to speak into that?
If your majesty would be so gracious.
I think you had
better speak into it.
After all one does
not converse with a wire.
Beatrice, major Phipps, come closer.
Listen. - If you please
ma'am we're ready to begin.
You may proceed.
- Sir Thomas, bit off.
That is the Thomas's voice.
Ask him the time.
Sir Thomas Her Majesty
wishes to know the time.
I think I will
speak into it after all.
Sir Thomas, your watch
is two minutes slow. Set it.
Sir William you were right.
This is a marvelous invention.
General, we will have Mr. Bell's
telephone installed in Buckingham Palace.
Yes, Your majesty.
It will be an honor, ma'am.
The Americans are
a very inventive people.
Mr. bill was born in
Edinburgh, Your majesty.
He went to Canada several
years ago and then to America.
The Scots are very
inventive too.
Now have it say
something else Mr. Bell.
Hey Mable. She likes it. She
wants telephones at Buckingham Palace.
Yes, darling I knew she.
- Tomorrow the court caliber carry the news
of that to the whole world
that court will to talk to a wire.
Alec, wait a minute, this just
came tonight from father. - What is it?
What is this?
- Yeah I read it to you.
Dear child, your mother and I hesitate
to cast a cloud on your happiness,
but no longer can we hide renew
the terrible things that are going on here.
Ever since your marriage
there's been nothing but trouble,
a new telephone company, known as
the American speaking telephone company,
has been organized with a
Western Union company... begging,
and has entered the field
against us with their own instrument,
which they advertise as the
product of the original inventors
meaning Doe bear gray and others...
they boasted their telephone
is infinitely superior to Alex...
they've got everybody afraid him
to deal with us cancellations are pouring in...
we'd hope to spare you this at
least until Alec at seeing the Queen,
but there isn't...
but that is no longer possible.
Unless a miracle happens to say
this Sanders and I stand to lose all,
our homes, our credit everything.
You're loving but sparing father.
What are you
going to do? - Do?
I fight them, of course.
Fight them tooth and nail...
with... with everything we've got.
Of course you will,
darling. Of course.
Superior is it.
Superior to mine, hmm?
We've go home
on the first boat.
Will show them!
Maybe we are poor...
maybe my telephone is
still... crippled and... and lane...
maybe... maybe it
is still... still in want...
but it's part of my
blood and brains.
It's mine, all mine!
And they'll never
take it away from me!
It's my child!
Did your other child like, Alec.
Well...
Just one thing after another.
Ahoy! Can that
speak louder, please?
Mrs. Croll like to
speak Mr. Blackford.
Just a moment, please.
Go ahead.
Clears 17.
Well? - Sorry, no more
credit from the banks.
They gave me back the telephone
stock I put up for that last loan.
Said they prefers
my personal note.
The Williams company say they
can't manufacture another telephone,
unless they get
older some money.
At the rate cancellations are
coming in we won't need him.
What's worrying me is, how are
we gonna meet this week's payroll.
I forgot to tell you, we've hired Theodore
Vail as our general manager. - What?
And Francis Blake's working on a
transmitter that'll stand up well there's anyway.
Mr. Hubbard thinks Vail is the
best man in the country for the job.
It was really your idea. - Well,
I must say you've got nerve.
And another thing,
tomorrow we'll bring him soon against
the American speaking telephone company
charging infringement on our patents.
We're going to fight a 40
million-dollar concern the Western Union?
We're gonna fight every company in
the country infringing on our patents.
What else can we do?
- But look at the odds against us.
They've got the best
lawyers money can buy.
If we lose the court
costs alone will wipe us out.
Well, that's a chance
we'll have to take.
Well... there's an old saying, sell
all you have and give to the poor.
If you think it is any
application in this case,
I still have an old farm up in Maine
that... - I knew I could count on you.
I was too young for the Civil War
but this looks like as
good a fight as any to me.
Thanks Tom.
We'll probably see plenty of action.
- Just what are you going to fight with?
The truth.
Well son, has always
been a pretty good weapon.
Perhaps more people
ought to use it.
BELL SUES AMERICAN SPEAKING
TELEPHONE COMPANY
IN FIGHT OVER
TELEPHONE PATENTS
Peter A. Dowd, Agent of Western
Union, Named in Suit b Bell
New York City Scene
of Telephone Trial
Proceed.
Your Honor, it has
not been the intention
of my clients to burn this
court with wordy debates.
We have endeavored to
confine ourselves to the facts.
First, that Alexander Bell was
not the first to invent the telephone.
Second, that the patents under
which the New England Bell Telephone Company
have been operating were
fraudulently obtained... and fair...
we have defied the plaintiff to show
that Mr. Bell been working on the
undulating current feature of the telephone
prior to February 14, 1876...
at which time by strange coincidence both
he and Mr. Gray informed the Patent Office
simultaneously of their
work on the telephone.
Very well, counsel may proceed.
Mr. Bell, what is your occupation?
I'm a teacher the deaf.
- Are you an American citizen?
Yes, sir, an American
citizen by choice.
I see.
Now Mr. Bell, have you any proof
to give us that you were working on the...
underlit or a feature of
the telephone prior to February 1876?
Only my word, and
the word of my friends.
Not a notebook, not
a little scrap of paper?
Not even a pencil mark
on a wall, nothing? - No sir.
I didn't have time to record my
findings. - It seems to me very convenient.
You have heard, of course...
that not one but five other men
were working along similar lines
prior to February 1876.
- That's what I've been told in this courtroom.
Oh come, come Mr. Bell.
Are you trying to
impeach our witnesses?
Have you any proof that
they were not so engaged?
No sir. But I repeat... I was
working on my system early in 1875.
And that I first produce
sound through a wire...
on June 2nd of that same year.
And that on March 10th... 1876...
a human voice... mine... was heard
through a wire for the first time in history.
Mr. Bell I have here a
certain sheets of paper...
which you have identified as rough
drafts of your patents application.
please correspond with
your final patent applications.
No, sir.
- Why not?
I wrote and rewrote those
specifications a great many times.
Those sheets are... mere
fragmentary remains...
that happen to be...
accidentally preserved. - Hmm.
Well, I don't see any mention
of the undulating... current in this...
rough draft as you call it.
- Those statements were...
added as I completed
and redraft my application.
Mr. Bell, could those specifications
have been added after
you had fire your application?
Certainly not.
I mean could you have gained
illegal access to the Patents office
and copied into your
application certain paragraphs...
from a paper or a chariot had been filed
the same day as your patent application?
Your question is insulting
I refuse to hear it. - Answer me, sir!
Did you connive to steal the
basic principle of your telephone?
Yes, or no!
I have only contempt
for such a question.
Thank you Mr. Bell.
Your honnor, I protest against
the tactics of some of our opponents...
in the name of
decency and fair play
I protest against
Mr. Bell's foul and insinuations.
Your honor, I'm sorry that my
learned colleague is so thin-skinned.
All we ask of Mr. Bell is that he
produced one single bit of legal proof...
one memorandum one scrap of
paper proving his contentions of priority.
But, will he?
No. Can he? No.
And why not? Because, Your
honor, he hasn't any proof! Non exists!
Mr. Bell,
this court desires to afford you every
opportunity to establish your claims.
If you have any proof, I shall expect
you to have it here monday morning.
Until then, this
Court stands adjourned.
Court adjourned.
Alec, are you sure you have
no papers, no sketches, nothing?
Nothing. But I know.
- What are you going to do?
I've done all I can do.
I'm going home.
- Home? You can't do that.
I've heard all of
this I want to hear.
I'm gonna be with Mable
when our baby is born.
But Alec, may be weeks yet. You
can't be certain about the first baby.
I'm sorry, I'm going. - At least let me
telegraph and find out when you'll be.
Alec, stay. - If you leave
now I can promise you, you'll lose.
Mother and I
leaving immediately.
Don't dare leave trial.
Is that alright?
- Yes, that's fine, dear.
Ah, ah.
Would you send
this for me, please?
Would you care to
add the word love, madam?
That'll make it
exactly ten words.
Yes. Yes, make it love, Mable.
Shades of glory, is this man to be
allowed to control a great public benefaction?
Permitted to foist an
inferior article on the public.
Just to gratify his egotism.
Your honor I, submit
that the only invention
to which our friend
is undeniably entitled...
is the invention of the story,
that he was working on the under
the torrid current prior to February 1876.
Order! - He said nice
water to... - Order in the court!
Take your seats, please.
Mable, what are
you doing here?
I couldn't bear the thought
of your leaving, I had to come.
At a time like
this, it's dangerous.
No, darling, I'm all right.
And Alec... Alec
I found this.
It might be the very evidence
you're looking for. - Evidence?
Evidence? - Yes.
Do you remember this?
It's a letter that you
wrote to me in June 1875.
And now that
you say in this letter,
that you're going to give up your
work on a telephone. - Let me see it.
Silence in the court, please.
Your honnor, Mrs. Bella just brought
us the proof the defense has been asking for.
Documentary evidence that Alexander
Bell discovered the undulating current
on which his telephone
is based, prior to June 1875.
Very well, Mr. Smith. If you
have such evidence, presented it.
I beg Your honors and
dozens for just one moment.
I'd rather that
letter weren't presented.
Alec. - Letter is something
between you and me.
It's part of our personal lives.
- But Alec, that's your proof.
I'm sure there's nothing
in this letter be ashamed of.
I'd rather not do it.
I regret to inform Your honor,
Mr. Bell declines to
submit the new evidence.
What did he say? - Alec
won't let him present the letter.
Alec... for the first,
and if I hope...
the only time in my life...
I'm going to disobey you.
It's my letter, and
I'm going to read it.
Mable. - I won't stand by and
see you called a liar and a thief.
But, fallen... - Alec,
my eyes are closed.
It's dated June the 11th 1875.
It was written to me
by Mr. Bell before our marriage.
Will you read it, please?
I beg you pardon?
- Will you read it, please?
My dearest one, I have loved
you with a passionate attachment
that you cannot understand.
That is to me
new and incompliant.
Ever since I held you
in my arms and kissed your lips,
I have known what
I want most in life.
Without you I am nothing.
Without you I'm incomplete.
Because this is so I have
decided to give up my telephone.
This is little enough
to do if it means
that I will have your
arms about me forever.
I may call you sweetheart
Why...
Go on, Mrs. Bell.
Please don't grieve at my decision.
The telephone will be
born someday, somehow
so far as I am concerned I do
not care one bit who gets the glory.
So long as the world
gets the benefit.
Though my heart... I am yours.
Thank You Mrs. Bell.
- Your honnor...
may I suggest that this Court has
not interested in the sentiments...
however tenderly expressed
that we've just heard.
What possible bearing
has a love-letter
on whether Bell invented
the telephone or did not invent it?
That he is mention of a telephone
does not mean that he made it telephone?
Mrs. Bell, what kind of
paper is that letter written on?
Why turn ordinary
wrapping paper.
What is that on the back of it?
Weights drawings if apparatus
Mr. Bell wanted for his telephone.
Together with a stamped acknowledgment
from the Williams Electric Company.
Acknowledging receipt of
the order on... June 30th, 1875.
What is that writing?
Mr. Wiggins scribbled a
note at the bottom the page
asking Mr. Bell to stop
in and verify his outline
of an apparatus to generate
an undulating current.
It is all? You may
step down, Mrs. Bell.
Thank you.
- Just a moment, Mrs. Bell.
Will you please tell us why
Mr. Bell sensual love letter
is on the back of
a sales memorandum?
Why didn't he use note paper?
As any young man in
love would be expected to do.
Mr. Bell was very poor man.
He had no other paper I wish to write.
Thank you Mrs. Bell.
You may step down.
I offer this letter in evidence as
exhibit 17 to the plaintiff.
Your Honor, I'm sure
we've all been touched
by this little
excursion into romance...
but now if we
may compose ourselves...
I'd like to ask why if such a letter
existed it wasn't produced days ago?
And more particularly,
why my learned colleague
hasn't produced the man Williams
in court to substantiate his signature?
Unfortunately, Mr. Williams is
no longer available as a witness.
Oh, really?
And why not?
Surely it would be worth
your while to bring mr. Williams here.
Let us have a look at.
- Mr. Williams is dead.
Oh, he's dead.
How very unfortunate, Mr. Bell.
Now very convenient.
Your honor...
without my knowledge,
and against my wishes
my wife came into this courtroom...
at a time like this...
to read to you a letter
intended for her eyes alone.
Have I committed some
offense by starving in an attic
by spending sleepless
nights at my work...
by being too poor to own
a decent scrap of paper...
on which to tell
her of my love?
I have sat here for days
and heard myself called liar...
thief... fraud and cheat.
I've seen my friends humiliated...
my invention belittled...
just as I have seen
my business destroyed
by methods which must
leave every honest man appalled.
Your honor, we protest
against this interruption.
Yes. - You happen we had
enough of this sentimental nonsense.
I demand that this man be
declared in contempt of court.
Mr. Barrows, we're all
here in the interest of truth.
And I don't think mr. Bell
do that any great injury.
Sit down, Mr. Barrows.
Gentlemen, I am no longer fighting
the battle of Alexander Graham Bell...
inventor of the telephone.
That man however
justice soon...
does not matter here...
the issue is bigger... bigger
than the millions involved...
and there are millions at stake.
Is your guilty cheeks already tell me...
- Your honor, we must protest protest.
Protest all you
like, gentlemen.
I mean to say
what I have to say.
The time is coming when the telephone
will be known in every home in the land...
in every shop and factory...
and beyond the seeds even
to the remotest ends of the Earth.
But that too is
not the issue.
The issue is simply this...
shall the lonely scientist...
the man who dreams...
and out of his dreams
benefits the world...
is he that often half starved...
lonely little man...
to be told the world has no need
of him the moment his work is done?
Your honnor. - Your is
he to be told in others.
Less gifted, but stronger.
Men with money and
power behind them...
are waiting to take the product
of his genius and turn it to their own uses...
leaving him with liar and thief
branded on his brows is only reward.
Do that and you stop
the clock of progress.
You smother the
spark of genius
that lies have you here and
there throughout the world.
Do that, and the world
stand still. - Your honor,
I demand that this man be
cited in contempt of court.
This case is under advisement.
- Mable, are you alright?
Alec. - We must get
her out of here quickly.
Get on it. Get an
ambulance quick.
Ambulance? Isn't one
within 20 blocks of here.
They got a telephone, though
if you know how to use it.
Telephone?
Hold on, mother.
Show me where this quiz with. (?)
Watson, come here I want you.
Go get an ambulance quick.
Ahoy, ahoy this is
Alexander Graham Bell speaking.
I want an ambulance. Hurry
Watson. This fool thing will never work.
Oh a heart.
A heart!
BELL SUIT STILL
UNDER ADVISEMEN Judge Rider Will Not Render Descision
on Telephone Patent Case Until End of Month
Yes she is.
Jenny has a picture.
Look, I think she knows me.
I'm sure she does, dear.
Would you like to hold it?
Who, me? Oh, you... you
know how clumsy I am.
Yes, I would.
There you are, my darling.
Be careful of her back.
You know, you haven't told me a
word about the trial since I came home.
Well, I still have it
under advisement.
Which probably means we've lost
Alec... would
you mind so terribly.
Can't work and struggle and not
care when it all goes for nothing.
Especially when
there others involved.
Your father, Mr. Sanders, Watson.
But... you know I've been
thinking about something else.
Alec, Mabel your father,
Mr. Sanderson ad Mr. Watson are here.
And someone else.
May the come in?
- Why, of course mama.
How's my little girl?
Alec, you know mr. Pollard?
I'm the president of the
Western Union. - How do you do?
My wife, and my daughter.
Mrs. Bell, we must apologize
for coming here like this,
but your father insisted.
- Go ahead. break it to them.
Well, Mr. Bell the Western
Union is ready to admit
that you and you alone
invented the telephone. - What?
We will retire from the field and
turn over to you the 56.000 telephones
we now have in operation.
Alec. - The fact is, we made the
mistake of accepting a false report
from one of our engineers.
After your wife read your letter in
court, we made a further investigation.
We found that this man braze will
not only intended to deny your rights,
but to injure us as well.
Mr. Bell were not only willing but
anxious to pay for that mistake.
Of course, if you
consider us... as partners,
we could offer our wires rights
away, improvements and other assets.
You could? - Or, shall
we say one-fifth interest?
Well I don't know what to say.
I ought to warn you you have probably
the most valuable single patent ever issued
Your stock we're selling in the New York
exchange this morning for a 1.000 $ a share.
1.000 $? Well, what
do you say Alec?
Well I'll have to ask my wife.
Alec you know I never
interfere with your business.
Gentlemen, I accept.
- Thank You Mr. Bell.
Yeah it's exactly 11 and
a half minutes past 11:00.
Time for this young lady's lunch.
Goodbye my dear. - Papa.
Come gentlemen. - It's
been a pleasure Mrs. Bell.
Goodbye Mrs. Bell.
- Goodbye.
Alec. Alec aren't you happy?
Everything you've
wanted and worked for...
and everything the
world has to offer you.
Yes darling.
What... I want...
I want to tell you...
I been thinking
about something else.
Yes? - The other day
I saw seagull... flying.
And there were... there was something
about... about the curve of its wings.
It just occurred to me that if
a bird that's heavier than air can fly...
a man might fly too.
What did you say? -Iif a bird
that's heavier than air can fly...
a man might fly too.
A man fly?
- Yes!
When are you going to
start work on him Mr. Bell?