Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II (1976) s01e07 Episode Script

Last on "Rich Man, Poor Man - Book ll": Tell me you don't feel anything.
(Diane) You mean you think I was coming on to him.
Mother, get off it.
Are we gonna have to go through that stuff again? I hope not, Diane.
I really hope not.
Get out.
Stay out.
The dumb schmutz is firing you for good! - I offered you a chance - You offered to buy me! All that money to look the other way, forget you exist.
I can't forget, not what you did to Calderwood, to DeeCee Enterprises, to my electronic shipments to Vietnam.
- What you're trying to do to my company.
- All right! You want it with the gloves off, that's the way you got it.
That strike will never end.
It will last until the army cancels every contract you've got.
Your company will be down the tubes.
Hey, Senator.
Senator! All right, break it up! All right, now! - Wes.
Wes.
- Wes! (siren) Senator! - How bad is it? - They can't tell till they get some x-rays.
The intern says it's probably a concussion.
It's possibly a fracture.
- He'll be all right? - They can't tell till they look at the x-rays.
I'm sorry about the boy.
You're sorry? What the hell did you expect? Once those goons came, it wasrt long till someone got his head busted.
- I didn't bring them in.
- They just showed up? They were sent by the national office.
You'll testify to that? Since you're so chummy with the national office, you can pass the word.
I am gonna nail them for this if it's the last thing I do.
Ramona! (woman over PA) Dr Adler wanted in surgery.
Dr Adler wanted in surgery.
- Did you get Dr Barod? - He's on his way.
He's ordered skull and cervical spine x-rays and will test for haemorrhaging.
- How long before we get some answers? - Dr Barod said he'd call when he knows.
- Thank you.
I'll be here.
- It may take some time.
- I'll wait.
- Dr Marcus, receiving room.
Dr Marcus.
This Midland merger, what do you wanna do? I'm not sure it has a future.
Do you think we can make it profitable? Charles? What's involved? A half a million dollars? Raymond, why are you bothering me with this? You decide.
You told me not to decide without checking what's on your mind.
The only thing that's on my mind right now is Jordache.
I have tried everything with that man - reason, money, even a shot at the presidency.
Still he hacks away at me.
That strike will keep him occupied for a while.
Ah, but it won't stop him, will it? I have never seen you so disturbed.
Well, if it was just business, I wouldn't let it get to me.
But if he digs up that other thing, we both know what that could do to Claire.
- That was 20 years ago.
- I know.
One chance in a million.
But there is a possibility he could find something that could destroy my wife.
And if he does, how do you stop him? I'm not sure, but maybe find somebody who has a hold on him - family, friend, old lover, mistress.
Somebody.
Everybody has a weak spot.
It's there.
Find it.
What's the hospital say? No change in his condition.
Wait a minute.
It's me, isn't it? I'm the one you hold responsible.
All right, so you didn't call those goons in.
Does that make it any better? You let them stay.
- I had my reasons.
- What? What? I'm telling ya, there was nothing I could do.
You could've gotten all of us behind you and kicked them out.
What happened to you? You brought me up teaching me to fight for what I believed in.
The stories about the old days when you risked your neck to carry a union card.
Telling me how you fought for the eight-hour day, and they brought in the National Guard and the tear gas, and the company thugs with their baseball bats.
You never ran.
You wouldn't run.
You never let them break you.
Used to be just them and us - the company against the working people.
It's not that simple any more.
Who are you? You're my father and I don't know you.
You always were a fighter.
Now you're just another man who compromises.
It's over, my being your sweet, obedient daughter.
"Yes, Daddy.
No, Daddy.
" Where are you going? - I don't want you to leave here! - I don't care! From now on, I make my own decisions - what I do, where I go, who I see.
And that means Wesley Jordache, if he comes out of this alive.
They brought him an hour ago, still unconscious.
We've got the results.
There was no haemorrhage.
Thank God for that.
It still leaves us with a number of other grim possibilities.
I wish I could be there with you and do something.
- (Diane clears her throat) - Anything.
Barod's with him now.
That's what drives you crazy - nothing you can do but wait.
Oops.
Would you excuse me a second? - Will you please do that in the bathroom? - Yes, Mother dear.
Rudy, look, I don't even know if this is the time to mention it, but you ought to know.
I had a call from Joe Galen, my friend on the Wall Street Journal.
He has something he wants to tell us about Charles Estep.
I told him we'd get back to him when everything's OK with Wesley.
Rudy? I didn't say "if', I said "when".
- Barod's coming out.
I've gotta go.
- I'll say a prayer.
- And he's really all right? - Conscious and talking.
28 years in medicine, it never ceases to amaze me - the resilience of a healthy young body.
- What about future complications? - I don't expect any.
I'm taking no chances.
I'm holding him here for a while to keep an eye on him.
Thank you, Doctor.
Go on.
Wes.
Hi.
Hi.
You OK? Am I OK?! How do you feel? Like there's a road crew working inside my head with a jackhammer.
I just kept saying to myself, "He's going to be OK.
He's going to be OK.
" You were thinking I might not make it? Yes.
I couldn't help thinking about death.
How it can take people who've done nothing to deserve it.
Well, don't worry about me dying.
I've got other ideas.
Look, I don't want to tire you out.
You gotta get your rest.
I'm gonna go home, take a shower and change my clothes, and I'll be back in a couple of hours.
OK.
You know that girl you're always talking about Ramona? Yeah.
Did you see her dive in and go after those guys like a wildcat? Did she? Say, uh, I called.
They told me the boy's off the critical list.
Look, uh, I'd like to propose to the membership, uh, that the union pays all his medical bills.
That's not necessary, but, uh thank you.
Senator.
You want somebody to testify that those gorillas were sent by Jake Logan and the national office I'll testify.
You mean that? I don't know if I could've kicked their butts out of town, but I should've tried.
- Why didn't you? - Because there was a guy running local out in Denver.
Same kind of situation.
The guy says, "To hell with you, Logan.
" Ended up at the bottom of the Colorado River.
- Did they threaten to do that to you? - If it was just myself, I'd take my chances.
But I've got a daughter.
All right, look, we'll see that she's protected.
About the strike the cost-of-living business.
- Wanna talk? - I always have.
OK, then.
Let's talk.
Oh I'm sorry.
I didn't wanna disturb you.
There's not supposed to be visitors, but I've got a friend who's a student nurse.
She let me through.
Told her all I wanted was to peek in and look at you.
- Come in.
- I don't think No.
No, no.
Come in.
Thanks for helping out when those dudes started beating on me.
- It was horrible.
- How do I look? Romantic? When I was a kid, the first time I ever took a real live girl out on a date we went to this, uh World War II movie.
And the hero got wounded.
He had this bandage on his head.
Now, she said it looked romantic.
I like you better without it.
Yeah? How much better? If you make it won'th my while, I'll take it off.
Listen, uh, I'm sorry about that day on the picket line Forget it.
Um - Does Billy know what happened? - Probably not.
He's in New York.
Oh, then you haven't talked to him lately? Uh-uh.
Why? No reason.
Just wondering.
What do you think about him? I don't know.
He mixes me up.
I don't know what I feel and feelings are what I go by.
How about me? Got any feelings about me? - Yes.
- Strong ones? Yes.
I saw those men hitting you and I realised I can't stand to see you hurt.
That's how I feel about you.
Come here.
Um - I was just leaving.
- (chuckles) I'll tell you what, we'll give you the same cost-of-living clause as the auto workers.
That's a pretty good one.
I don't know how we'll manage it, but that's our problem.
That's fair.
If we can't afford it, we shouldn't be in business.
Oh, boy, it'll feel good to finally give it to those fellas.
Scotty, let's take them on together.
Ah I must be getting old to find myself starting to like a boss.
Time to retire.
Scotty, how long have you been a union man? That's the year everything finally hit the skids.
We ended up working 12-hour shifts for a dollar a day.
My father owned a little bakery.
12 hours a day was nothing to what he worked.
Well, he should've joined a union.
He always thought of himself as an independent businessman.
Never quite lost the dream that God or somebody would make him rich.
Oh, no.
Let me get this.
(gunshot) (gunshots continue) - Here, you take it.
I can't do that.
- No, come on.
Give it another crack.
Excuse me.
Hold your breath when you fire.
And you don't pull the trigger, you just squeeze it gently.
Squeeze it.
Come on, try.
OK.
Squeeze gently.
I hit it! I really hit it! Well, that's not close enough to win a cigar, but it's not bad for a starter.
- Hey, thanks.
- Another round.
Come on, honey.
If the strike keeps going on, you'll have to save that money.
Are you talking about the strike up at the Westco plant? Yeah, I read about it in the papers.
Are you people involved in that? Yeah, both of us.
And I came to town looking for work - That's some great timing, isn't it? - What a break.
They had a little bit of excitement on the picket line, huh? - (man) Big fight.
- That kid got hurt.
Yeah, nephew of the boss - Senator Jordache.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, Jordache.
- Boy got racked up.
He's in the hospital.
- Yeah.
Look, I know you guys are on the other side, but I always thought Senator Jordache was a very nice guy.
I mean, what you read about him in the newspapers.
Well I voted for him.
- You're not from around here? - Upstate.
- Wow! That was really fantastic! - Thank you.
Right.
I think you owe me something.
How about the elephant? - For the lady.
- For me? - Yeah.
- Thanks.
That's sweet.
- You guys have a good evening.
- Thanks.
You, too.
- Bye.
- Bye.
(woman) Wait till my mother sees this.
(target pings) (man) That's what I like to see, a man trying to get himself educated.
Roy Roy Dwyer! Hey.
Oh, man.
Incredible! What are you doing in Whitby? I saw the story on the news.
I figured I better get up here and check you out.
I expected to see you all mangled up like hamburger.
You look terrific.
So do you.
I (both laugh) Incredible! Yeah.
Well, come on.
What's happening? Where you been? Oh, I've been shipping out.
Hong Kong, Mozambique - You name it.
- You seen Kate? Yeah, about six months ago, when this bucket I was on was in San Francisco.
- How is she? - She's fine.
Real good.
She's not planning on marrying again? It's kinda hard on a lady after having your dad as a husband.
Not too many guys gonna fill Tom's shoes.
Hey, hey.
I haven't told you the real big news.
What? I stashed away my share of the dough we got when we sold your dad's boat, and I've been putting a little away for the past five years and, uh - What? - I'm getting a boat of my own.
Hey, that's beautiful! Well, I'm gonna gonna need somebody to crew for me.
What do you say? If you knew how many times I've dreamed about being back on the water If Kate decides to come back east, we just might be able to talk her into signing up.
It'd be like the old days.
Only, uh Only what? Rudy's got kind of a rough situation on his hands.
Yeah.
You kinda dig him, huh? - He's done a lot for me.
- Is that the only reason? Well, there's a girl.
There's always been a girl.
- Serious? - Oh, it hasn't gone that far yet.
Yeah, but you'd like it to, huh? Well, OK.
Looks like, uh I suppose I'll have to make this an open invitation.
If the situation changes and you feel like cutting out, you know you got yourself a boat waiting.
- Thanks.
- You give me a call, right? You come and see the boat and bring your lady.
(Roy chuckles) Hey.
What? I'm just trying to decide whether or not to lay something on you.
I guess I should, unless Rudy's already told you.
- About what? - Falconetti.
What about him? He's out of jail and back in the country.
You're telling me something.
What are you telling me? Just to bear it in mind, that's all.
I ran into an old shipmate who saw him and said that the way Falconetti figures, he never set up killing your dad.
It's like, uh he was the victim.
- He was the vic?! - He's sick, man.
I mean, really twisted.
Now, I know the cat.
He's never gonna forget who it was got him put away, and he'll never quit trying to get even.
With Rudy? Just keep it in mind, right? Take care.
What can we do? There's got to be something we can do, Roy.
Mm-hm.
That's my department.
Did you see that? Meet her at her charity balls, you'd never believe it was the same Claire Estep.
She's astonishing on a horse.
She's astonishing, period.
What's this I hear about her taking up flying? That does seem to be the next thing on the agenda.
- I have to find someone to teach her.
- Someone who flies company planes? No.
She says the best is some fellow in Houston.
Get his name from Claire and put him under exclusive contract for six months.
I want him available whenever she feels like going up.
Most financiers I know, the women in their lives come second to their business.
- I never get that from you and Claire.
- It's quite simple - I adore her.
Sir, it's Mr Franklin.
He says it's urgent.
Thank you.
Yes, John? She what? You fool.
No.
You stay out of it.
You've done enough damage.
Just get back to New York.
- That moron! - Franklin? You assigned him to take care of the Sarah Hunt situation, didn't you? She's in a sanitarium in Connecticut.
- She slipped away ten days ago.
- Ten?! - Ten days.
- And he didn't tell us? He panicked.
He was afraid of what I'd do to him if I found out.
Thought that he was pretty sure he could track her down himself - put some private-detective friend of his on the case.
With Senator Jordache digging into our personal business affairs, it is the last thing that we need right now.
Ten days.
She could be anywhere.
No.
I don't think so.
Not anywhere, not in her state.
She has a mother lives in Salt Lake City.
I'll check it out.
Raymond I want her found.
You do what you have to do, you spend what you have to spend.
- But you find her.
- (Claire) Find who? - Well, that's a secret.
- Charles, you know I don't like mysteries.
Tell me.
- Come on, tell me.
- All right.
Have it your own way.
It's a she.
And it's, uh not a lady.
It's a mare.
It's a pure-blooded Arabian mare that a friend of mine from Damascus says is the finest piece of horse flesh that he's seen in his entire life.
And I'm gonna buy her and give her to you as a present.
Oh, fantastic! I haven't been able to round up either the horse or this gentleman.
I call Rome, he's gone to Paris.
I call Paris, he's gone to London.
But don't you worry about it.
You're gonna get your horse.
- Cos if I order Raymond to find her - I'll find her.
Of course you will.
Charles, we know you're terrifying.
Will you stay for dinner? Raymond's gonna have to rush off, but we'll give him a rain check.
My apologies.
- You hot? - Mm-hm.
- Want a drink? - Lovely.
After another kiss.
Hi.
Any luck? Switchboard at her office is closed.
There's no answer at her apartment.
- She's probably on her way.
- It's not like Maggie.
She's very punctual.
Known her long? Is that what you mean or "do I know her well"? - Both.
- All right.
The answers are I've known her two years and fairly well.
- She's a hell of a good lawyer.
- Hm, so I'm told.
That is not, however, the reason why I asked her to marry me.
Twice.
The second time, I think I caught a trace of hesitation before she said no.
I'm working up to a third proposal.
So, uh what's the mood in Washington now that Mr Nixon is on the verge of moving into the White House? You know the city? I used to work there for the Post before I came to the Wall Street Journal.
If you're talking about charming hostesses who collect White House names at parties, the mood is Apprehensive? The word is out Mr Nixon is not a swinger.
Doesrt like parties or people.
- It's clear he'll bring in his own guys.
- They're in already.
Bunch of characters from California? The palace guard, wheeling and dealing all over town, just waiting to take over.
Ah.
- I'm sorry.
- Something wrong? A little, uh personal matter.
Well, I see you two have met.
- Tell him anything yet? - Waiting for you.
The lady will have a vodka martini on the rocks, very dry, with a twist.
- Hi, Joe.
- Hi.
"Hello, Joe.
What do you know?" What do you know? That I got a strange message from a strange lady.
Sarah Hunt.
Name ring a bell? Charles Estep's personal secretary for nine years and, so the rumour goes, his mistress.
The message, what was it? She'd heard I was doing a series of articles on big money men, and she said she had information on Mr Estep she thought I'd be interested in.
- And she's where? - New Orleans.
- You said "a strange lady".
Strange how? - She sounded desperate.
I thought it might be won'th a shot so I flew down there.
- And? - Never got my foot inside the door.
All I met was her mother, another strange lady.
A Southern belle who stood barring my way and telling me Sarah was very sick, and seeing her was out of the question.
- Why? - Search me.
A woman might be able to get further.
If you'd like a shot, here's the address.
Thanks.
Well I've done my good deed for the day.
- You're not gonna have dinner with us? - No.
I never mix business with pleasure.
- Nice to meet you, Senator.
- You, too.
Thank you.
- So long, love.
- Thanks.
Good luck with Sarah.
- Nice fellow.
- I like him, yeah.
- Do you? - Yes.
- Should I be jealous? - If it makes you happy.
- I won't worry about him for a few days.
- Why not? - You'll be in New Orleans.
- New Orl Oh, Rudy, that's impossible.
I can't go to New Orleans.
I almost didn't make it here.
Why? Well, I left the office around five and went home to change to meet the two of you.
- My daughter was supposed to be there.
- And? Walk in, no Diane.
Mr first reaction was I don't know what I thought.
I thought kidnapped, mugged, runaway child.
Anything, you know? Then I thought, "Wait a minute, it's just Diane.
" I called the doorman.
He told me she'd left with a gentleman.
Well, did the doorman hear where they were going? Place on First Avenue.
Very big with the advertising boys.
- Arnold's Apple.
- Cute.
My instinct was just to go there and yank her out by her hair.
Come on.
- Where? - To follow your instinct.
(# instrumental of "1- 2-3", originally by Len Barry) Oh, thank you.
No table.
Stay here.
I'll handle it.
Excuse me.
I'm Senator Jordache, a friend of the lady's mother.
Hello, Diane.
Guess you forgot you were having dinner with me and your mother.
- I'm sorry, I have other plans.
- I'm afraid you'll have to cancel them.
Your mother's counting on you.
- I'm quite happy where I am.
- Come along.
- Look - Let go of me.
- Look, senator or no senator - Sit down and quit while you're ahead.
There's every reason, even a statute about contributing to the delinquency of minors.
You're kidding? All right, look.
The young lady looks 20, and acts 30, but she happens to be 16.
So if you'll excuse us Brought your handcuffs? How could you? I mean, how could you?! It was so humiliating! I can assure you, it was no pleasure jaunt for me, Diane.
- Then why did you do it? - Oh, come on.
You know damn well why.
Look, I don't want you going out with men that are twice your age.
Let's settle that.
Because I can't be a policeman and keep an eye on you every minute.
Really? Well, you sure made a good try at it.
What am I supposed to do? Sit home and suck my thumb? I'm trying to arrange for you to go to school as quickly as I can.
Oh, God.
Meanwhile, can't we try to act civilised and be a little decent with each other? It's boring sitting around this apartment.
I'm sorry.
But the way you just turned up, it didn't give me a chance to make plans.
I'll make my own plans if you'll just let me off the leash.
Diane, you're 16.
You're thinking about when you were young.
Nowadays, things are different.
There's 16 and there's 16.
Yes, I know.
You consider yourself a very worldly young woman.
- There are things you have yet to learn.
- Boring, boring, boring.
Are you bored? Well, then do something about it! Like what? Change the scene.
Your mother's arranging to go out of town on business.
Come visit us in Whitby.
And do what? Watch the grass grow? My nephew Wesley will be home from the hospital.
- 18.
- 18.
I can just see him.
Sneakers and acne.
Nowadays, there's 18 and there's 18.
I'll be there, and there's my stepson, Billy.
He works in New York, but he'll be home for the weekend.
Three men alone in the house and no women? A housekeeper.
Come and visit us.
I'll think about it.
Do I have permission to go to my room? Diane let's try.
Let's really try, OK? Good night.
- Good night.
- Ciao.
Oh God, give me strength! Hey, thank you.
Do you have any idea what you are letting yourself and those boys in for? Oh, we'll risk it.
Hey.
It's still early.
Why don't you offer me a glass of wine? Oh, listen, I'm not Diane.
I know all about you older men.
(faint rock music) I'll see you when you get back from New Orleans.
(faint music) - (woman) Who is it? - It's me, Billy.
Billy Abbott.
Know any other Billys? I was listening to the radio.
I guess I fell asleep.
- What time is it? - Two o'clock.
So what do you want? - Someone to hold my hand.
- Uh Look, be a nice boy and go away.
What are you doing here at this hour, anyway? I got tired of making the rounds of every beer joint in the village.
I'm down.
I'm really low.
- I'm kinda beat.
- I got fired! Yeah? Well, I'm sorry.
I'm gonna fall in bed now.
Just call me tomorrow, OK? Good night.
Ow! What was that routine you gave me? Like you're looking for somebody to count on.
It's two in the morning, you feel like jumping off a bridge, you need someone OK.
I get the message.
There's nobody home.
- So you got fired for cutting my demo? - Yeah.
So what happens now? I tried taking your song round other record companies.
They got tapes up to here.
Everybody in the world is cutting demos.
(Billy sighs) What's this? - A balalaika.
- You play it? It belonged to my mother.
She can play anything.
- That's where you get your music.
- That's where it started.
So what's gonna happen to my career? Tell you the truth, I don't know.
For the first time in my life, I can't figure my next move.
Well Listen, I'm gonna make you a cup of coffee and then you've gotta leave.
Hey, thanks.
A real pal.
What does that mean? I should sleep with you to raise your spirits? - Why not? - Because my body belongs to me.
I give it to whom I like and when I like, and not for charity.
(radio) This is the old pirate, Smiling Sam, coming at you like a thief in the night.
Yeah, your favourite underground station bringing the new sounds, best sounds, and the sounds nobody else has latched on to.
That's it! That's where we take it - your demo.
We get them to break it on the underground stations.
Forget that.
Get dressed.
For what? A visit to old Smiling Sam right now.
We're gonna lay your tape on him.
- Wait - There's thousands listening.
If they hear it, they're gonna go for it.
I'm telling you, it's gonna take off like a rocket.
- What should you wear? - Hey! Havert you got something cut down to here so you can give them a flash? - Then we sweet-talk them and - I don't believe we met.
My name is Annie Adams.
I write songs and I sing them.
I am not a two-bit hooker! Come off it.
What do you think you're doing when you're singing your songs? You want people to like them.
You're selling.
I am selling what's in my gut and what I feel, not my body.
Then to hell with it.
Keep your damn tape.
Cos I got nowhere else to go with it! Did I say I wasrt going? I'm going.
Only it's me and I decide what I wear.
Sure.
That's cool.
As long as it's sexy.
Freedom.
Man, this thing feels fine! Thank you very much.
Get you home, fatten you up a little.
- Farewell.
- OK.
(gunshot)