Rich Man, Poor Man (1976) s01e06 Episode Script

Part VI: Chapter 8

Last on RICH MAN, POOR MAN: You liked showing to my father what a young ego go-getter you were.
You're just another phony in a Brooks Brothers suit shoving his way to the top.
I'll get you! I hope to think your brain is knocked out next Friday, showboat.
You ought to pay me for boxing lessons, you bum! Listen, Rudy - No, you listen.
You and I are gonna be married one of these days.
There's no question about it.
It's ordained.
Get naked.
- You and my wife You mean just because I've been shacking up with her? Why? I didn't think you'd mind.
You don't know the kind of trouble you're in! - What do you mean? I'm talking about The Syndicate.
All right, I better get the hell out of here.
You better get out of here right now.
If I was you, I'd go right now and I'd go to the ocean.
And when I got to the ocean, I'd cross that ocean and I wouldn't go back to this country for 10 years.
What do you mean 10 years? What about my wife and kid? If you wanna live, forget them.
Hello? Mrs.
Abbott? Is that Mr.
Jordache calling again.
I'll speak to him.
Rudy? - Don't tell me you've actually gotten back.
I haven't been gone.
- No? It's a long story.
I've being trying to get my life in a some sort of shape so I could bear it.
Any luck? Hey, listen.
Billy is going on some sort of all-day view with his class today and maybe if you're not doing anything, we could goof around.
I'll arrange not to be doing anything.
I hear the sound of cymbals and trumpets.
- Stop trying to sound educated.
I'll see you here.
Give me an hour, okay? - One hour.
Don't play with your food.
- You're not supposed to scold me.
Where does it say that? - Everybody says it.
It's in the books.
Kid's are not supposed to be scolded anymore.
Maybe you'd rather got a "clubbed of the year".
- You're not supposed to punished me either.
Where are you getting all this? - Conrad Franklin's father.
Come on, sport.
Let's get on the ball.
The thing is, why do I have to go on this dumb field trip, anyway? Are you kidding? It's gonna be wild.
You get to collect sea shells.
It will be a clambake with corn on the cob.
Don't you and daddy like each other anymore? Sure we do.
Then why can't we all be together like we used to be? We just can't, that's all.
Sometimes grown ups They find out that they can't live together anymore.
But why? I don't know.
Come on, you got exactly 20 minutes.
Here, I fixed you some nice canned pears.
You finish it up, like a change.
What if I don't? Then you don't.
Ernest McMillan has a new father.
A real creep.
You're right on time.
Give or take 13 years.
You ready? Yep.
Well, what would you like to do? - I don't know, Marty.
What do you wanna do? I wanna be the girl.
Now, you decide.
Like when we were 18.
You know, when I look at you, it's hard for me to realize that you're not.
Well, I won't tell anybody if you don't.
You know what Strega reminds me of? Perry Street.
That place you and Willy had.
It's right.
You came down there once.
- The night I graduated from Whitby.
It's weird.
- What? The human brain.
The way it works.
Specifically mine.
You know why I came down there for, don't you? - No.
I was going to marry you.
- You didn't know I was married? No, Teddy Boylan told me you've been living with some guy, but he thought you'd broken up.
What else did Teddy Boylan tell you about me? Nothing.
Just about you and this guy.
And that was enough, thank you.
But, nevertheless, I was prepared to forgive you, no matter how low you had fallen.
It was quite a shock walking in on that happy domestic scene.
You, Willie, the baby.
Well, I have to say this for your shabby man nice come back.
I'd say you managed your parolable pretty well.
- What are you talking about? Gloria Hartley, my friend? You must remember.
You took her back to her place.
Jumped into the cab with her.
She told you that? - She called me the next day, couldn't wait.
And? And what? - What did she say? What are you waiting for? The reviews? - No, I just thought she'd tell you that Men, I mean you really are something.
- What brought this on? - Nothing.
It's 9:00.
Did you get the check? - Yes, are we going someplace? I better be sure Billy gets to bed all right.
I thought the maid was gonna take care of that.
I wanna see him to get to bed clamoring.
Julie Julie, what's the matter? - I told you, nothing.
I just have to get home.
Wait a minute.
Wait a minute! Look, haven't you enjoyed yourself? I mean, you've had a nice day.
It's been a lovely day.
One of the best I've ever had, Charlie Chaplin and everything, but Who are we kidding? I am a grown up lady with a 10 year old son.
We can't go back.
We changed.
Not that much.
Well, I'm not exactly 18 anymore.
Well, you're not exactly Madame Ouspenskaya either.
All right, but we're both a little beyond the "run into the high grads hand in hand" stage.
You really wanna know what's bugging you? - Nothing is bugging me.
Everything was fine until we started talking about Gloria Hartley.
Don't be ridiculous.
What time is it? It's early.
- How early? It's not even midnight.
- I better be going home.
Hey, listen.
I wanna talk to you.
- About what? About making an honest man out of me.
- It's a subject I rarely discuss in the nude.
Okay, we'll change the subject.
- Come on.
I have to be going home.
Hey, listen.
I've got an idea.
Why don't we go ride the Staten Island ferry? Now? - Why not? I don't even think it's running.
It's gotta be.
People still have to get to Staten Island, don't they? I doubt it.
Besides, that's something you do after the senior prom.
We got an awful lot of time to make up for.
What's the matter? I don't think is particularly manly of you to hide my shoe.
Help is on the way.
I detest petty theft abuse.
If you wanted me to stay, you should just have said so.
I want you to stay.
I want you to stay with me.
Tonight and tomorrow and as long as we live, forever.
Don't.
- Don't what? I don't even wanna think about anything serious right now.
I've waited a long while.
When is the right time? - I don't know.
To tell you the truth, I don't even know if marriage is right for me.
It makes me feel I don't know trapped.
You gotta have someone around to help to find you shoes.
Help me find a taxi instead, okay? Okay if you answer one question.
- What? - What's your position on weekends in the country? What country? - I don't know.
We'll find one.
I'll pick you up on Saturday around one, okay? Okay.
Mommy, mommy, guess what! - What are you doing up at this hour? Daddy is home.
Daddy is home and he's gonna stay! What I thought was champagne.
We're going to the baseball game tomorrow.
- Hey, yard bird, Pack 2.
Now how do we say to our mother may we please go to the baseball game tomorrow? Can I please go to the baseball game with Daddy tomorrow? We'll see.
- Does that mean yes? What that means is you get your skinny little fanny into the sac and we'll see.
Okay.
- What was that? Okay, sir.
All right.
Dismissed! What's all this? What? - "Pack 2" and "dismiss"? I was just telling him about the air corps.
- And who's been telling you? Well, kids love that jazz, you know.
A little bubbling? I thought you were in New Orleans? - Well, I just got back.
Haven't even unpacked yet.
You wouldn't have a warm corner for an old soldier? Would you, mama? Listen Willie.
This may come as a shock to you, but I have a piece of paper that says we're not married anymore.
What's a piece of paper between friends? Haven't we We go back a long way.
Willie, please? Willie, please I'm sorry, I Don't it's all right.
You wouldn't have a bit of Kleenex for old soldier, would you? Here.
- Thank you.
Excuse me for falling apart.
It's just that gumbo and that chicory, you know.
Turns a man to mush.
What happened to the job? New Orleans has to be one of your hokier cities.
All that ironwork.
Keeps expecting Vivien Leigh to come out.
You want something to eat? - No.
I wanna come home.
We can't just keep trying again and again.
It doesn't work.
Never really did.
- I can't make it without you.
Look Willy, you're tired and I'm tired.
- All I'm asking is a chance.
We'll talk about it later.
Do that mean I can stay tonight? No, you're gonna have to find you a room some place.
I'm broke.
Julie, I You're sure you want me to go? After all, we were married.
Willie, please.
Maybe tomorrow.
Come in.
Matusik, how are you? What are you doing here? How I say, there's nothing like a nice warm welcome.
Look, I don't want you get me wrong, kid.
But I don't want your business.
What are you talking about? - It's English.
Yeah, I know what language it is.
What are you talking about? What do you want it in, Mayan dialect? I don't want your business! Matusik, if it's about the Alsino for your friend.
I'm sorry about that.
Forget about the Alsino.
Just take off.
All right, what are you talking about? What's wrong? Don't you know? - No, come on.
How long you've been in town? - I just got off the bus.
You've come right here? - I just got to telling you that.
Did you run at anybody on the way? - What the hell is this? There's some people looking for you, kid.
- Yeah? What people? Look, I don't mean any hard feelings, but the kind of trouble you're in I don't need at all.
Joey Quales' in, huh? - Yeah.
They were in here.
Three of them.
Six hundred pounds of butcher.
Shoving me around.
- How'd they how to hit on you? It was that phone call to Vegas.
They traced it back.
What'd they want? - I told you.
They were looking for you! Do you know how hot you really are? - All right.
Sit down, sit down! You wanna get rid of me? - I would like that very much.
There is a guy in the 23rd Precint that knows some about my wife.
Pete Tierney, yeah.
- Right, "Tier".
You tell Tierney to get on the apple.
'cause I'll get what I want, I'm gone.
- Fine, but I'm out.
I don't wanna take part of you, kid.
You call Pete Tierney if you want to at the 23rd Precint, but leave me out.
Okay? Okay, Matusik, okay.
And kid Every two-bit hustler, every crooked cop, every street corner punk in town is looking at turn you up.
Yeah? - They call you Pappy? I know you? You know a man named George Smith? Smitty? He called me.
Let me take you upstairs.
- Okay.
Better safe than sorry.
How much did Smitty tell you? - I know all I wanna know.
Can you get me a ship? - Things are pretty slow right now, but I'll see.
First you're gonna need a passport and a seaman's ticket.
How much of a problem is that? - Five hundred.
Can you handle it or what? - I got some family up at Whitby.
Well, are you just gonna sit there? Yes? - Is this the Jordache's residence? - Deliver is round back.
Wait, I'm looking for Rudolph Jordache.
- He's down in New York.
Wait What about Mary Jordache? What do you want with her? - Lady, that's my business.
- Martha, who is it? - I don't know.
He won't say who he is or what he wants.
Hi, Ma.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph! I'll say one thing.
You're living pretty well these days.
- It's nice.
It's so big and lonesome.
Sometimes I swear I almost wish I was back at the bakery in Port Phillip.
With the nice smell of fresh baked bread coming up from the basement.
Oh, makes me sad to think of it.
Well, here's something to cheer you up.
Here.
- Thank you.
Rudy hasn't got a shot marrying yet, has he? He's still a young man.
Plenty of time to get himself tied down.
I always had a notion he'd ended up with that Julie Prescott.
Abbott, I think her name is now.
Well, it's got more sense into do a thing like that.
I just can't get over the idea of you, appearing like that out of the blue.
After all these years, it's a shock to my system.
That's what it was.
Matter of fact, I still feel a little faint.
Maybe another little drink would help.
- Well, if you say so.
- Yeah.
When Rudy told me about bumping in to you that way down in New York city, I was hoping we might all get together again.
Yeah.
Well, I've been traveling around quite a bit.
- I understand you have a wife! And a little boy.
- Yeah, that's right.
A grandson I've never seen.
What's his name? Wesley.
Isn't that nice? Doesn't it have a ring to it? Wesley Jordache.
- Have you got a picture? - Yeah.
Yeah.
Here he is.
That's the first step here we're talking.
- Oh, the darling little thing.
He's really a tiger.
- When can I see him? I don't know, Ma.
I don't even know when I'm ever gonna see him again.
- I don't understand.
Well, it's a long story.
You see, there's some pretty rough people in the fight business.
I did something they didn't like.
So, I'm gonna have to leave the country for a while.
How long? - I don't know.
Just when I thought I got my son back.
What would you do? How would you live? I'm gonna be all right.
A guy I know is giving me a job on a ship.
What about your wife and baby? - Well, that's something else.
Teresa left me and she took the kid with her.
Tommy! Calm, Ma.
Hey, yeah? Ma, please, don't cry.
I'm gonna be alright.
If there's anything I can do.
Anything at all.
Yeah.
To tell the truth, Ma, I need some money.
I have a little nest egg set aside.
How much would you need? Six hundred even.
And this isn't going to get you in trouble with Rudy, is it? He's not gonna know anything about it.
The way he pinches pennies these days.
He'd kill me if he knew I had that kind of cash in the house.
Listen, Ma.
If you ever wanna get in touch with me Now, this is for you.
Not Rudy.
Nobody.
It's the "Aegean Hotel", New York city.
Now, can you remember that? "Aegean Hotel".
- Yeah.
Now, the manager is an alright guy.
His name is Papadakis.
He'll get in touch with me in case you need it.
Okay? Are you sure you won't come back inside and have something to eat? No, I gotta get going.
Next time I'll bring you something nice.
Tom.
- Yeah? I wish we had longer.
Yeah, hello? Hold on, just a minute.
It's the old man here.
All right.
Just a second.
What's your butter fat? It's 9,7%.
The lowest yet.
- What do you call it? We got a couple: "Wild Cherry" and "Cherry Jubilee" and "Cherry Surprise".
Call it "Cherry Surprise".
The surprise is that it's 2/3 air.
Yes? - Is that you, Rudy? Do you want a market test on it? - No, no.
Go around with it.
What can I do for you? - You're coming up Whitby this weekend? No, sir.
I was gonna stay in town.
Do some work on the deal.
Well, forget that.
It may not be any deal the time we finish talking.
What? I expect you at my office tonight.
Eight sharp! I'll see you then.
Hello.
Hi, Martha.
-Hi, there.
Where's mother? - Hibernating.
Something wrong? - Why should today be an exception? Mom, are you okay? I brought an old friend to see you.
An old friend? - You remember Julie Prescott from Port Phillip? You brought her here.
- Yes.
She's gonna keep you company while I see what Mr.
Calderwood wants.
Finally came out, didn't it? - What? I guess it was just a matter of time.
- What are you talking about? Your father's blood.
"Bred in the bone comes out in the marrow", so they say.
Would you kindly tell me, what you're talking about? - You know well enough and too well.
Where are you going? - To my sitting room to watch TV.
Wait a minute.
I've got a friend downstairs.
You don't wanna leave her just sitting there, do you? Don't I? What's the matter with you? I know all about your friend downstairs.
I don't think I understand what's going on around here.
- I should think it was clear enough.
All I'm asking you to do is to be polite to my guest.
I know all about her brand new divorce.
And her 10 year old son she's neglecting while she carries on with you.
Who's been telling you this? Looking over the place before she decides to move in? And where do I go? Into the maid's room with Martha? - Who's been filling you full of this junk? I still have some friends.
Virginia Calderwood.
I don't wish to discuss it.
Now, listen to me.
- You listen to me, young man! I will not have that slot in my house! She is not a slot! And this is not your house! I'm going to my sitting room! You're going to go downstairs and you're going to be as nice and polite as I know you can be.
To an adulteress! Just what do I tell Monsignor Kinney? You tell him that you have learned the virtue of Christian compassion.
You have fun when you talk about Christian virtue? When was the last time you were in church? Look, I haven't got time to argue with you, Mama.
Calderwood is expecting me any minute now.
Now, why don't you go downstairs and have a nice glass of sherry with Julie? I'm staying right here.
- Okay, Mama.
Suit yourself.
But if you do, I'm cutting you off.
No more car, no more bridge parties, no more credit cards, no more charge accounts, no more beauty parlors, no more dinners for Monsignor Kinney.
Think about it.
Come in.
- Thank you.
You're a little late.
- I'm sorry.
Sit down.
Have a drink if you need it, but I'd be obliged if your wits are left to our conversation.
Certainly, Mr.
Calderwood.
- I suppose by now you've gathered that this is not a social occasion.
Beginning to get that feeling.
I want to meet with you as man to man.
Without Mrs.
Calderwood and Virginia.
I wanna be able to speak to you freely.
- I wish you would.
I'm surprised of your behavior.
Surprised and a little sicken to tell you the truth.
Remember the first time I met you.
At my home.
Virginia've been out skiing and she sprained her ankle.
And you, very kindly, gave up your day at the slopes to bring her home.
I liked the cut of your jib, so did Virginia.
It was a time when I hoped that you and she might get married.
And then welcome you as a suitor.
Open up the bus board.
That's why this situation is so repugnant to me.
What situation? - I'm talking about you and Virginia.
- What about us? But all her veneered sophistication, she's not very wordly-wise.
I don't suppose it took any great trick for you to turn her head.
Just a minute I know what's been going on between you two.
It's been nothing going on! - There is no point in lying.
I will not be lied to! I am not lying! Save me the righteous indignation.
I wasn't born yesterday.
Listen If you're accusing me of something, I have the right to find out exactly what the hell it is! I'm accusing you of seducing my daughter! And I expect you to do the right thing about it! Which is? - Marry her, of course.
I'm prepared to make you a full partner.
On my death, you're gonna get the bulk of my share.
Some full voting control.
Shares and voting control.
- The whole ball of wax.
You really wrap it up in a very pretty pink ribbon.
Don't you Mr.
Calderwood? Yes, I do.
Now, should we have a drink on it? No.
Let's not.
What is your say? - I am not in love with Virginia.
I am not having a affair with her.
And I am certainly not going to be blackmailed into marrying her.
Blackmailed? Now, here is what you do Mr.
Calderwood.
You take your shares and your voting control and your silly damned daughter.
And you put them all together with that great ball of wax.
And you know what you can do with them.
- Now, Rudy I am sick and tired of dragging you into the 20th century with you fighting me every inch of the way! I quit, Mr.
Calderwood! Now, Rudy.
There is no reason for this.
- You let some other poor slob make you a rich man! I have had it! - Rudy, please-- There is nothing more to be said! - Yes, there is.
Obviously I made a misjudgement.
And obviously you've been telling me the truth about you and Virginia.
And I'm sorry I misjudged you.
And I do not accept your resignation.
I don't care what you do.
- Rudy, please, I'm apologizing.
Now look.
Why don't we have that drink? Please Let's discuss the merging.
Well, your mother couldn't be nicer.
I even got Martha's recipe for Boston Cream Pie.
How'd it go with Calderwood? - My problems are pretty much over.
Wish I could say the same.
- Willie? Yeah.
We were married, I didn't see him for weeks at at time, now I can't seem to get him out of the house.
Have you tried throwing him out? - Billy thinks he's terrific.
They do bits together.
"How's the broken leg? Keg Kick?" If I have to say it wailing.
Would you like me to take care of it for you? How? Don't worry about it.
Mr.
Abbott to see you, sir.
- Send him in.
Well Luck in luck.
You make me proud to be an American.
You want a drink or something? What I wanna know is: Could we get a longer table? Shuffleboard anyone? Okay, Willie.
You're unimpressed.
Now, how would you like to sit down and talk business? What kind of business? Your kind.
Public Relations.
I got a contract here.
What do you really want? - I want you out of New York.
And out of Julie's life.
And I'm willing to pay for it.
You think you can buy everything, don't you? You know, we've got a half-empty hotel in Santa Barbara.
It's a beautiful place, but nobody goes there.
What it needs is a little pizzazz, a new image.
Girls in bikinis, beautiful people.
If it's beyond your scope, say so.
What do you mean "beyond my scope"? The title is Publicity Director.
You'll have an office, a secretary and a suite in a hotel.
A thousand a month and an expense account.
What kind of expense account? I won't put any limits on that as long as you put us results.
And as long as you stay in California.
It's nice to be appreciated.
She doesn't wanna see you anymore, Willie.
Don't go back to 63rd Street.
- And what about my kid? Am I allowed to say goodbye to him? You can write him a nice letter.
The trouble with California is that if you don't have wheels, you're not placed.
What kind of wheels were you thinking about? - Little Corvettes are nice.
How much do you think you could pick one up for? - 33 or 34.
Say 36, with everything.
I am convinced that we are not facing a prolonged downswing inactivity.
Every indication is that March will commence the season start of a big upping job opportunity.
Yeah, who is it? - Me.
Yeah.
Just a second.
You gotta ship.
The "Quilliut Victory.
" And when do I ship out? - Midnight tonight.
What's that? Gear.
It belonged to some Swede used to stay here.
He kicked off.
Owed me some money.
Here's your passport and your seaman's ticket.
It's made out to Tom Jordan.
- Jordan Much bless, Pappy.
Maybe someday I'll do you a favor.
You do yourself a favor.
Stay out of trouble.
- Yeah, right.
The main thing is you mind your own business.
And don't fight.
They can always tell a pro by the way he throws a punch.
I've had it all with the fighting I want.
- You're going someplace? I thought I might take one last little around.
- Like press your luck.
Luck? I'm broke.
My wife's gone.
My kid's gone.
The Syndicate's chasing me out on my own country.
I'm standing here in some dead swede's clothes I don't even know.
I'm shipping out on a ship I don't even know where I'm going.
I ask you a question, Pappy.
How lucky can a guy get, huh? Pete Tierney.
Matusik said a hundred bucks.
- That's right.
I checked that again for you.
She works in a place on Christopher St.
asking drinks.
Uses her maiden name.
You got an address? - Yeah, yeah.
Over here, yeah.
You're going? - No, no.
I'll watch this movie.
You know what I like the most about you? No, what? - Everything.
Who the hell could that be? Who is it? What do you want? - Rudy, it's Eddie Heath.
I've been trying to get you all day.
You wouldn't get the call through.
- What's the matter? It's been an accident.
It's Willie.
He rode that new car of his.
Julie, I'm so sorry.
He's dead.
It's just one of those things.
Nobody's fault.
Where are you going? I've got to get to Billy's.
Somebody's got to tell Billy.
Julie.

Previous EpisodeNext Episode