Other People's Money (1991) - full transcript
A corporate raider threatens a hostile take-over of a "mom and pop" company. The patriarch of the company enlists the help of his wife's daughter, who is a lawyer, to try and protect the company. The raider is enamoured of her, and enjoys the thrust and parry of legal manoeuvring as he tries to win her heart.
I love money.
I love money more
than I love the things it can buy.
Does that surprise you?
Money. It don't care
whether I'm good or not.
It don't care whether
I snore or not.
It don't care which God I pray to.
There are only three things
in this world
with that kind of
unconditional acceptance...
dogs...
Doughnuts...
And money.
Only money is better.
You know why?
Because it don't make you fat
and it don't poop all over
the living room floor.
There's only one thing
I like better...
Other people's money.
All right, now,
squeeze in over here.
I want to see all your faces.
Now face the camera.
Get up on the floor, sir.
Happy Thanksgiving!
How you doing, tom?
Happy Thanksgiving, jorgy!
Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!
Happy Thanksgiving.
Smile, everybody!
Take a good one, Elton.
The stock is up another
point and a half!
Somebody's
up to something, jorgy.
Good news. Stock is up.
Don't worry about it.
Gus, you got your teeth in?
Ready now!
Cheeks up!
New england wire and cable!
New england wire and cable!
Yes! All right!
Up two points.
Wire and cable, up two points.
¶ Up two points,
up two points ¶
¶ wire and cable,
up two points ¶
¶ up two points ¶
¶ up two points ¶
¶ wire and cable,
up two points ¶
¶ up two points,
up two points ¶
¶ wire and cable,
up two points ¶
¶ up two points,
up two points ¶
¶ wire and cable ¶
¶ up two points,
up two points ¶
morning, Mr. Garfield.
Morning, Arthur.
Say good morning to Carmen.
She's very happy today.
Aren't you, my sweet?
Good morning, Carmen.
Cranberry juice is
fresh today, boss.
Oh, good.
You never let me down, Arthur.
You never let me down.
Good morning, sir.
Samuels.
Good morning, Mr. Garfield.
Good morning, Mr. Garfield.
Good morning, Mr. Garfield.
Good morning, Mr. Garfield.
Good morning.
Morning.
Good morning, Mr. Garfield.
Morning.
Good morning, Mr. Garfield.
Good morning, Mr. Garfield.
Work, work!
Good morning, Mr. Garfield.
Good morning.
Good morning, Mr. Garfield.
Yeah!
Good morning, Mr. Garfield.
You look very nice today.
I'm not paying you to be polite.
What's happening?
Good morning, Mr. Garfield.
Morning.
Morning.
Mr. Holt wants to see you
for dinner if you can.
The overly brothers will fly
you to Texas or come here...
your choice.
When I die, Harriet,
put on my gravestone...
"he never went to Texas."
I'll call the engraver.
Where's the cinnamon?
Out of cinnamon.
If I can't count on dunkin'
donuts, who do I count on?
On me, sir.
Hah! Granger. Trundel canning.
Tell me.
Trundel's being sued
by the townspeople, sir.
Failed to comply with
environmental restrictions.
Hmm...
And there are claims of
illness from the citizenry.
Good.
Just before they're
sent to jail, bid.
Yes, sir.
Angeli.
Yo?
Eastern motels.
Outstanding shares?
Uh...6 million, Mr. Garfield.
Slate owns 21/2 million.
Mr. Morganstern
wants to talk to you.
I'd rather talk to my mother.
Pfeiffer! Yeah?
What about this new
england wire and cable?
It's too beautiful.
Is it booby-trapped?
I, uh...
I, uh...
I, uh...
I...
Can't seem to find
any problems...
Mr. Garfield.
Neither can I.
Richardson.
Yes, sir.
Let's talk to these people.
Call the man in charge,
whoever he is.
Yes, sir.
New england wire and cable.
Good morning.
The general manager, please.
That'd be Mr. Coles.
Who shall I say is calling?
Lawrence Garfield.
Just one moment, please.
What'd he want?
To come up and see us.
Look the place over, he said.
What's wrong with that?
He's a shareholder.
It's not that simple.
What this man does
is no secret.
Bill, you got the jitters.
Wall street's in the liquidation
business these days, jorgy.
My father founded
this company 81 years ago.
I took over 26 years ago.
I control this company, and
nobody's going to liquidate us.
What a shit pit.
Ohh... Look at this.
Look at this.
I haven't seen a place
this classy
since I left the Bronx.
Welcome to new england
wire and cable.
I'm bea Sullivan,
Mr. Jorgenson's assistant.
How do you do?
I do good.
Would you like to invite your
chauffeur in to keep warm?
He's a yard chauffeur, honey.
Bring him inside,
you spoil him.
Is there a dunkin'
donuts in this town?
Dunkin' donuts?
No, I don't think so.
Crispy cremes, something?
I'm afraid not.
But we have coffee,
and Emma might have
a breakfast roll.
A breakfast roll?
Do you have an elevator?
I'm embarrassed. It's out of order.
You know elevators.
Any oxygen?
Should have warned me, I'd
have brought a paramedic.
Is it much further?
I'd like to get
there before dark.
Jorgy, this is Mr. Garfield.
Mr. Garfield, Andrew
jorgenson, our chairman.
Call me jorgy.
Everybody else does.
Sorry about the elevator.
Mr. Coles, our president
and general manager.
Emma, bring in the coffee!
Last limousine
we saw here was in '48
when Harry Truman was
running for president.
He stood out there on those
stairs, exactly where you were.
Is that so?
That was the golden age.
Rebuilding America
and all that.
Old Harry made
a great speech that day.
Is that so?
Oh, yes. He was
very impressive.
He's the only democrat
bea and I ever voted for.
You know much about
the wire and cable business?
I know if the cable's
out of whack,
the elevator don't go up.
I'm thinking about
the doughnuts.
Mr. Garfield was
wondering if we had any.
Uh, bill, do we have doughnuts?
I don't think so.
How's that coffee coming along?
Here we are, Mr. Garfield.
Thank you.
Sugar and cream?
Sugar. I'll take care of it.
I could have Emma
get some doughnuts.
No, no. Why don't we
get down to business?
What's the matter? You're not
interested in doughnuts?
Would you like me to
get some doughnuts?
No. Never mind, Emma.
You're right.
Let's talk business.
Good idea. What business
are we talking about?
Good coffee.
Well, let's put it this way.
Back in New York,
I got a computer.
Her name is Carmen.
Every morning, right
after I brush my teeth,
I punch out, "Carmen,
computer on the wall,
who's the fairest of them all?"
Now, most mornings
she spits out,
"Garfield, you're the fairest."
But three weeks ago, she said,
"Garfield, Garfield,
scratch your balls.
"New england"... pardon me...
"new england wire and cable
is the fairest of them all."
New england wire and cable?
I said, "what's it worth?"
So she showed me the numbers.
You got equipment here
that cost $120 million.
Even at salvage,
it's worth 30, 35 million.
Can I use that blackboard
over there?
Go ahead.
Thank you. Come with me.
Carmen will educate us.
Going to erase this stuff here.
Here.
Let's... let's put down
30 million.
How many acres you got?
110. 110.
Carmen and I figure
even as farmland, grazing
land, it's worth 10 million.
Is that fair?
Yeah.
Let's lay the 10 under the 30.
That makes 40 million.
And you bought other
companies, right, bill?
You have a plumbing,
an electrical,
and some kind
of adhesive company.
Boring, but all
making a decent profit.
Carmen says they're
worth another 60 mil.
Let's put the 60 under the 40.
And you have working
capital of 25 million,
100f it in cash.
Let's put down
25 million, add them up,
and see what you got.
$125 million.
The only bad news is
that this wire
and cable division
isn't making a profit.
The other divisions
have to support you.
Now, as a stockholder,
that doesn't
make me very happy.
Are you finished, Mr. Garfield?
No, I'm not, bill.
Let's say Carmen was suffering
from premenstrual syndrome.
No offense. A little nuts.
Let's say she was
too optimistic.
Let's knock off 25 million.
Let's make it...
$100 million.
A nice round number.
I like nice round numbers.
Any debt?
No.
Any lawsuits?
Any environmental bullshit?
You throwing garbage
in the water?
Of course not.
What about pension liabilities?
Carmen says
you're fully funded.
You people are dreams.
I think this meeting is over.
No, no, wait.
Here's the fun part.
How many shares
outstanding you got?
4 million.
Divide that into 100 million.
25.
Good. That means each
share's worth $25.
But that was all foreplay.
Let's go for the real thing.
The stock was 10
when I woke up three weeks ago.
That's a 10 for a $25-item.
What a sale.
Something worth $25,
I can buy it for 10.
The company's not
for sale, Mr. Garfield.
I don't want your company.
I just want what
every stockholder wants...
to make money.
You are making money.
You bought the stock
at 10. It's now 14.
The stock is 14
because I'm buying it.
I'm doing my part,
now you do yours.
Get rid of this
wire and cable division.
It's a financial cancer.
I want to talk
to Mr. Garfield alone.
What the hell are you doing,
you son of a bitch?
You can't come into my town,
my plant, take my company.
You can't do that.
You live on Mars?
It's called
a corporate takeover.
I'm not going to let you do it.
It's simple.
I do it all the time.
Well, do it someplace else.
I'm not going
to commit suicide.
Don't think of it as suicide.
Yecchh.
Think of it as euthanasia.
Get out. Get out.
Get out before I throw you out.
Where are you going?
We're just doing business.
Business?
With you?
I got a company to run.
Yeah, well, that's my point.
I don't like the way
my company's being run!
Better get your elevator fixed!
There's a goddamn
fire raging here.
This industry's up in flames!
Call the fire department,
and who shows up?
Nobody.
Because they're all
in Japan and Singapore
and Malaysia
and Taiwan
and every other shit hole
where they're crazy
about pollution.
And while that
inferno is raging,
you're out in front
mowing the lawn,
tidying up,
playing with your
putz on my money!
You'd think I was
asking him for a loan.
Good day, Mr. Garfield.
I'm not a long-term player.
They give us trouble today?
They're not going to send us
back to the Bronx.
Don't scare me there.
Richardson, I want to buy up
new england wire and cable.
Buy everything you can.
File a 13-d.
I want to finish
this one quick.
We're on it.
Well, it's official.
Our friend Garfield's intent
is to take over the company.
He's filed his 13-d
with the s.E.C.
He now owns 12% of us.
What do you want to do?
I own 20%.
Jorgy, we've got
to protect ourselves.
We need legal advice.
We have lawyers.
They're not equipped
to handle this.
We need the best.
We want to call Kate.
Let me.
What makes you think
she'll come?
I'll tell her we need her.
We're family.
Flamboyant ls and Ms.
Loves to write
million, doesn't he?
We've never seen
a man like that.
He's like something
out of a comic book.
So they say.
Hello, Kate.
Jorgy.
Thanks for coming.
Doesn't she look splendid?
I have to be back by 5:00.
Mind if we get right to it?
You're in charge, Kate.
Now, given that
someone's interested
in moving in on you,
you've no choice but
to protect yourself.
You have some options.
For openers, I
recommend changing
your state of incorporation
from Rhode Island to Delaware.
Why Delaware?
That's a good idea.
Strong anti-takeover
legislation there.
That way we're not
playing dead.
Who the hell is playing dead?
You have to protect yourself.
By running away to Delaware?
Jorgy, it's only on paper.
This company was
founded in Rhode Island.
It will remain in Rhode Island.
I'm talking about Delaware,
not Nairobi.
Come on.
I own 20% of this company.
The board owns another 5,
the employees another 5%.
That's 30%.
How can this man get control?
What do you want,
for me to negotiate
a deal or not?
But there's no deal to be made.
He's knocking at your door.
Don't answer it,
and you're inviting him in.
Listen to her, jorgy.
There's no deal
to be made with predators.
You kill it or it kills you.
Well, what do you suggest?
Make it worth
his while to leave.
What do you mean?
Pay him off. Buy him out.
It's greenmail,
but it's done all the time.
It's terrorism,
and I won't do it!
Any other options?
You're going to lose
your company.
Like hell I am.
You, as they say in the street,
are in play.
Garfield put you there,
and now I'm here
as your lawyer.
Isn't that a hell of an irony?
Me trying to save your company.
Well, I can do it.
Yeah?
A miss Sullivan
from Hudson, Bradley,
and flint is here.
Granger wants to
discuss trundel canning,
and your suits
are ready for fitting.
Tell them not to send
the blind son of a bitch
with the pins.
And tell Granger
he'd better make
sense this time
or get on the
unemployment line.
Shall I use those exact words?
Send in Hudson,
Bradley, and flint.
Whew.
Wow.
Whew!
Know what kills me?
I've done seven,
eight deals like this,
and you know who
I negotiate with?
Skinny joggers
with contact lenses
all stinking from
the same aftershave.
I'm Kate Sullivan.
I know your name. Cigarette?
No, thank you.
Don't let me stop you.
Why would you stop me?
What are you, a fucking lawyer?
Depends on who I'm with.
Welcome to my life.
So, what's it going to be?
Sue, settle, defend?
I came to talk.
Boof! Oh, that's trouble.
Lawyers want to talk...
nothing but trouble.
How about a doughnut?
No, thanks.
You a health food freak?
No. Just not hungry.
You have to be hungry
to eat doughnuts?
You don't?
What, are you shitting me?
Have to be hungry. Why?
It don't taste better that way.
How would you know?
What do you want?
I need a month.
Get lost.
I need time
to get everybody's
act together.
My act is together.
If you give me some time,
I think we can work
something out.
Settle?
Work something out.
I only settle
when I'm in trouble.
Or when it makes sense.
It only makes sense
when I'm in trouble.
Well, if you prefer,
we'll go to court,
get an injunction,
have a fight.
All kinds of allegations.
Costs them, costs you,
and for what?
I live in court.
You got to do better than that.
I won't love you anymore.
Two weeks.
Standstill agreement.
Both sides.
No more buying. Two weeks.
Thank you.
Whoa, whoa!
We haven't talked about
what I want to talk about.
What's that?
You and me sweating
between satin sheets.
Garfield,
put your hand
between your legs.
Do it!
Good.
Look directly down
at that little guy,
and you say, "you
must behave yourself
when you're in the
presence of a lady."
If you don't
say that right now,
I'm resigning from this case.
You must behave yourself...
You must behave yourself...
When you're in the presence...
When you're in the presence
of a lady.
See? Not so hard.
See you in two weeks.
Wow! Did you see that, Carmen?
I love it, love it, love it.
Goodbye, miss Sullivan.
Goodbye.
Tell Erickson
to arrange some money
through the royal bank.
Don't pay him
more than we did before.
Then tell hathaway
I want to make a tender offer
for new england wire and cable.
Don't use our name.
Use opm holdings.
What if she finds out
we broke the agreement?
Richardson, were
you born yesterday?
What do you think she's doing?
That kewpie doll's up
to no good. Do it.
I got us an extra two weeks.
We have to move fast.
Get the board to buy as
many shares as possible.
Use your own working capital.
But that's our safety net.
Then borrow the money.
No borrowing.
Andrew, listen to her.
She's making sense.
For every share you acquire,
it's one less for Garfield.
The more we buy,
the less for him.
The more it costs,
the less profit he makes.
Get the stock up.
Mom, buy it through
an out-of-state broker.
I don't want to borrow money.
We've been debt-free
since the depression.
But that's the trouble.
It's your gorgeous
balance sheet
that makes you so attractive.
Mom, get letters
to the shareholders.
Tell them
how great business is,
how wonderful the future looks.
I'll do it.
Great. I'll call you
tomorrow. Good night.
Mmm.
Mmm... Good morning, honey.
How you doing
this morning, huh?
Oh...
Ooh...
You got it up again.
Another point and a half.
Pfeiffer.
Good morning, Mr. Garfield.
Woody.
Good morning.
Harriet.
Miss Sullivan's going
to call tomorrow.
Tell her I'm not taking calls.
Then when she comes
and tries storming
into the office,
let her push past. Don't worry.
She's desperate but harmless.
Find out where she lives
and call the florist.
Florist?
Florist.
You have a good evening,
miss Sullivan.
Hello, Michael.
Oh, miss Sullivan. Uh...
Here. Somebody
brought these by for you.
Oh, thank you.
Good night.
Good night.
Good morning.
Good morning.
Oh!
You ruthless son of a bitch!
Excuse me?
Jeez, what's her problem?
Uhh!
All right, all right.
Sorry to get in your way.
May I help you?
I'm afraid
Mr. Garfield isn't in.
I don't care!
It's all right, Harriet.
It's not all right,
you hypocrite! You lied!
Oh. But babypoo...
we had an agreement.
We had a standstill!
No more buying!
You know nothing about opm?
Opm? Not much to know.
You broke the agreement!
You embarrassed me with my firm
and with my clients!
Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
Don't come on holier-than-thou.
What should I do
while you drive up the price?
I did no such thing.
You're full of shit.
All that buying coming
from Rhode Island.
You'd think you'd use
an out-of-state firm.
I know nothing about that.
Who am dealing with
here, mother Teresa?
You want to play the game,
learn to play it right.
Is that what you
call it, a game?
The best game in the world.
I'll teach you. It's easy.
Make as much as you can
as long as you can.
Then what?
Then what?
Whoever has the most
when he dies, wins.
Look. It's the American way.
I'm doing my job.
I'm a capitalist.
I'm simply following
the law of free enterprise.
What law is that?
Survival of the fittest.
Maybe some people
don't see it that way.
Maybe they see it
as survival of the fattest!
Why are you so hard on me?
'Cause you're not nice.
Why do you have to be
nice to be right?
You're not right.
You're what's happening.
Someday we'll pass some laws
and put you out of business.
They can pass
all the laws they want.
All they can do
is change the rules.
They can never stop the game.
I don't go away. I adapt.
In 10 years, you'll be studied
at the wharton school.
They'll call it
"the Garfield era"
and rinse their mouths out!
See you in court!
Don't leave. We haven't
talked about sex yet.
At least have a doughnut.
Stuff it!
Don't be a poor loser!
Lying to protect your client
is doing a good job!
I understand that!
You didn't ask what opm means?
Other people's money.
All right, come on!
Get... let's go!
Work, work, work!
Yes, sir!
Gotcha!
Oh, yes!
How do you have 'em?
Two years ago,
he tried to take over
westridge corporation.
He was put under indictment
for not disclosing
his 13-d. What's this?
Your Christmas list.
What happened to him?
The government dropped charges.
Nope. Investors get hurt?
If charges were dropped,
it's a technicality.
He was required to disclose.
Gerber's in prison, Richard.
Judge pollard
ain't going to give you
a restraining order
based on a technicality.
We are a nation
of laws, marcia.
Ultimately,
those laws come down
to technicalities.
Without those technicalities,
what do we have?
Anarchy.
Garfield.
Anarchy? That's
the basis for your brief?
Correct.
Honeybunch, you better
write a fantastic brief.
I intend to.
Want to send anything
to Garfield?
Yeah. A court order.
Oh, do the Japanese
celebrate Christmas?
No, but I hear
they're buying it.
Oh...
I had nothing to do
with any of this!
Pfeiffer comes...
shh!
Temporary restraining order.
Thank you very much.
Some crew I've got.
17 lawyers on retainer,
and you manage to work it out
so that in a free market,
a so-called free country,
I can't buy some shit-ass stock
every other asshole can buy.
Congratulations.
You're destroying
the capitalist system.
While everybody else in
the world is embracing it,
my boys and girls
are fucking it up!
You know what happens
when capitalism gets fucked up?
The communists come back.
They come out of the bushes.
Don't kid yourself.
They're waiting in there.
But maybe that's not so bad.
Because you know what happens
when the commies take over?
The first thing they do
is shoot all the lawyers!
And if they miss any of you,
I'll do it myself!
Let's see if we can get
this small-town judge
to change his fucking mind!
Come on!
It wasn't me! I was
in San Francisco!
It was pfeiffer!
Mr. Garfield,
a miss Sullivan is on the line.
Yes.
Hello, Lawrence.
We're here in the office
toasting
judge pollard's decision.
Stop gloating.
It doesn't become you.
Don't be a poor loser.
I got you on a technicality.
Not bad for some broad
wet behind the ears.
I'd like to talk.
I've no time for talk.
My days are full.
I'll buy you a doughnut.
I'm not hungry.
Since when do you
have to be hungry
to have a doughnut?
Aw, shut up.
Stop pouting.
I'll buy you dinner.
Name the place.
I have a proposition for you.
You're trying to seduce me.
Heh heh heh heh heh.
You have a nice laugh.
My house, 8:00.
How about lutece?
I want to talk to somebody,
I go to them.
You want to talk,
come to me. 8:00.
I'll come for 20 minutes.
That's all I need.
Strictly business.
20 minutes, my place, 8:00.
5:30.
5:30? Funerals are at 5:30.
7:00.
6:00.
I got to wash my face.
6:30.
Deal.
Deal.
Harriet!
Get me my barber.
Get me my manicurist.
Call Arthur.
She's coming to the house.
Ah, miss Sullivan.
That's me.
Come in. The boss
is expecting ya.
Thank you.
Mr. G.'Ll be right with ya.
Thank you.
Gloria Taylor.
Quarterback's girlfriend.
All that putz wanted to do
was take her pants off
in the backseat,
while I was ready to feed her,
protect her, put jewels
around her neck.
I sent her poetry.
Longfellow.
Can't go wrong with longfellow.
"Day by day, I gazed upon her.
"Day by day,
I sighed with passion.
"Day by day, my heart within me
grew more hot
with love and longing."
I gave her hiawatha.
All she wanted was a touchdown.
Yeah...
To the quarterback's
girlfriend.
To Gloria.
Drink, drink. It's the best.
You look terrific.
Thank you.
How about some mushroom dip?
I thought this was
a business meeting.
What's wrong with a little dip?
I never met a person
so hard to feed.
Who are you mad at?
Come on, have some dip.
Swallow.
Mmm. Nice.
I think we should
talk business.
You have an exquisite neck.
I have to leave by 7:00.
I have another engagement.
Oh, right. I forgot.
You got a proposition.
Thank you.
Ahh...
Ahh...
Shoot.
What will it take
for you to go away?
Greenmail? You're
offering to buy me out?
Why so uptight?
It's not illegal.
It's immoral.
A distinction
that has no relevance
for lawyers,
but it matters to me.
Well, for someone
who has nothing nice to say
about lawyers,
you certainly have
plenty of them around.
They're like nuclear warheads.
They have theirs,
so I have mine.
Once you use them,
they fuck up everything.
Let me ask you.
Do you have authorization
to offer me greenmail?
Of course not.
It's a lawyer's scheme.
Everybody walks out happy.
I get paid off.
Yorgy keeps his company.
The employees keep their yobs.
The lawyer gets a big fat fee.
Everybody walks out.
Yumpin' yiminy.
Sounds pretty good to me.
Except for the stockholders.
Their stock crashes.
They don't know what hit them.
Now you're Albert schweitzer.
Not Albert schweitzer,
Robin hood.
I take from the rich
and give to the middle class.
Well, the upper middle class.
Care for some caviar?
The stock is 18.
Do you like music?
Let's be serious.
Let's change the subject.
Arthur!
The stock is 18.
We'll buy it back at 18.
First you laugh at me,
then you insult me.
Then name your number.
25.
The stock hasn't seen 25
in years.
The stock was once 60.
Take 20.
Such a high achiever.
If you're mad at somebody,
don't take it out on me.
25 and that's a favor.
I don't need to be analyzed.
Do we have a deal?
Let's discuss it over dinner.
Your 20 minutes are up.
I want to be friends.
Let's segue into some
soup and French bread.
Don't go away mad.
I didn't buy your proposition.
Come back with another one.
You're an emancipated
woman. Learn to lose.
I haven't lost.
Wait, wait! I've got
a proposition for you.
Hold on, you got to listen.
You come on back up.
We have a nice dinner.
We make passionate love
the rest of the night.
The first one who comes, loses.
Loses what?
The deal.
I come first,
I sell you back
my shares at cost.
You come first,
you buy 'em at 25.
I think you're serious.
So how do you suggest
we write this up?
Delicately.
Under the heading,
"easy come, easy go."
What do you got
to lose, your virginity?
I could lose millions.
So what happens
if we come together?
I never thought of that.
Well, think about it, honey.
I will. I will.
Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
Come on.
Don't go. I haven't
played my violin yet.
Yeah.
While the banks are
hemming and hawing
as customers borrow money...
mmm...
Oh, God.
Hello?
I just want to see
if you got home safe.
Thank you.
In your beddie-bye?
I am.
Did I wake you?
No.
No.
Heh heh.
Did you have dinner?
Yes.
With who?
None of your business.
Ha ha.
Ha ha.
Are you thinking about me?
No.
How could you manage that?
Oh, uh... Pills, whiskey,
self-help tapes.
Ha ha ha.
Ha ha ha ha ha.
Hah...
I got another
proposition for you.
Oh, yeah. I can't wait.
We swap.
Swap what, dirty jokes?
Ha ha.
No. I give you all my shares.
You give me the wire
and cable division.
Hello?
Hello? You like?
I'll ask them.
Good. All right, now wait.
Don't go away. Don't hang up.
Stay right where
you are. All right.
Ha ha ha ha.
Here comes the bridge.
¶ Why stop
to think of whether ¶
¶ this little dream
might fade? ¶
¶ let's put
our hearts together ¶
¶ now we are one ¶
¶ I'm not afraid ¶
Ha ha ha ha.
¶ But for the night forget it ¶
¶ I'm in the mood for love ¶
huh?
Ha ha.
That was very good.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
That was just for you.
Well, I appreciate it.
Sweet dreams.
O.K. Good night.
Bye-bye.
Oh, God.
Ohh...
Oh.
¶ I'm in the mood for love ¶
forget it.
Tell him to go to hell.
He spends $13 million
for this place,
then he sells it for 35,
my guys are out of work,
and he's made $22 million.
How do I live with that?
We eliminate a losing division.
The other divisions
don't have to support us.
I don't want to hear that.
You still control the company,
but without the cable division.
Why is it so difficult
to understand
I can't kill these people
and this town
to enrich some son of a bitch
who's trying to destroy me?
I can't play with him
in the courts forever.
He'll get the injunction lifted
and buy more shares.
Don't be a pigheaded fool!
He deserves
to lose this company.
Good night, Mr. Jorgenson.
Oh, good night, Gus.
Everything going along
o.K., Mr. Jorgenson?
Everything's moving
right along, Gus.
Everything's going to be
o.K., isn't it?
At the plant, I mean,
the plant and everything.
Everything's going to be
just fine.
We'll be making wire and cable
for a long time.
Yes, sir. Good night, sir.
Good night.
Jorgy.
Have you got a minute?
Sure, bill.
Do you mind if I speak
frankly to you, jorgy?
You always have, haven't you?
You know I'm trained to think
in contingency.
You know I've spent my life
managing businesses, and, uh...
And...
Bill, you're in a panic.
Well, you know
how it is with business, jorgy,
when things don't
work out quite right
and people have invested
their time,
their energy, themselves.
Management
takes care of its own.
It happens all the time.
And given the uncertainty
surrounding us these days
and... The fact that
you haven't set up
any financial guarantees
for us, jorgy...
Oh, lord, I hate... hate
giving this speech.
When I retire in two years,
I've told you you're
taking over the business.
I promised you that.
There won't be any business
in two years, jorgy.
There won't be any business
in one year.
You're holding onto a dream.
Go home, bill. Have a drink.
Give my best to Jeanette.
I don't want the rug
pulled out from under me
so close to the finish line.
Good night.
Jorgy, I've been here 15 years.
I have a family.
Something's due me.
I've worked my ass off
for 15 years,
and you're going to
let that man
take over the company.
It's not right.
I'm sorry, bill.
Up here we don't
plan the funeral
until the body is dead.
Sounds like everybody's hungry.
Well, let's eat.
Sit down, darling.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Thank thee, father,
for thy care,
for thy bounty everywhere.
For this and every other gift,
our grateful hearts
to thee we lift. Amen.
2nd down and 10.
Lions at their 49.
I don't know why
you watch this.
It's so stupid.
If you watch, you'll see.
Yes! Go! Go! Go!
I told you. My money
was on Detroit.
You have to admit
we still have fresh air
up here.
Feels good, all right.
I'm awfully glad
you came, Kate.
It means a hell of a lot
to your mother.
I love your mother.
I can't say I'm sorry for that,
but I am sorry
for whatever it is
it's done to you
in the last 21-odd years.
I'm o.K., jorgy.
Good.
Now let's talk
a little business.
Let's quit talking
about what I won't do.
Let's talk about
what I will do.
I have a problem.
I'm a good lawyer.
I'm a lousy mind reader.
I want to put it to a vote.
Annual meeting in four weeks.
Want to put it in the hands
of the stockholders.
It's too risky.
We could lose everything.
You're a fighter.
I'm a fighter.
Too dangerous.
There's no other choice
that I can live with.
This 30%, this faithful 30%.
Can you absolutely
count on them?
They haven't let me down
so far.
Awful lot of ozzies
on our side.
Don't trust ozzie.
He's a banker.
I have to trust
my friends, Kate.
This is going to be tough.
I have to get Garfield
to buy this.
He won't want to.
It's not to his advantage.
Talk nice.
Give him your best smile.
Come on, Kate.
Let's take on
the little son of a bitch.
Let's kick his ass
all the way back
to wall street.
Yeah.
It's a quiet place.
I thought it would be
a good idea
if we calmed down a bit.
Do you like Japanese?
I'd like to have Sony.
Could you bring me
a knife and fork, please?
Hai.
So, what do you say?
A proxy fight?
I... I'd have to be nuts.
I could sit on my ass, wait
for the injunction to lift,
buy all the shares I need.
Anybody else,
I wouldn't even come to lunch.
You look very nice today.
But if you win, Lawrence,
it speeds up the process.
You get what you want
in three months
instead of a year, maybe two.
I love it
when you call me Lawrence.
Say it again.
There's a lot can stand
in your way, Lawrence.
Anti-takeover legislation's
in the works.
Drexel's gone under.
Milken's in jail.
Trump's waiting tables.
Don't threaten me.
And just maybe
you're overleveraged
and you can't afford to wait.
Thank you. You got any bread?
No bread.
No bread.
They got no bread.
They want to run the world,
they got no bread.
In three weeks, you
present your own slate.
If you win, you
buy everybody out at 20.
If you lose, you sell us
back your shares at 15.
Worst case scenario...
you still make
a couple million.
Amazing people, the Japanese.
We blow the hell out of them.
They go back to school,
learn English,
and start to run the world.
What do we do?
We get bigheaded,
start living the good life,
forget about schools.
People can't read.
People can't write.
Country's full of dropouts.
Education.
Who needs education
as long as you can
blow up the world?
Meanwhile, I got
everybody in my office
learning Japanese.
I've never seen
such a beautiful lawyer.
Come on, Lawrence.
This is your game.
Winner takes all.
Rumor has it you got balls.
I been trying
to show you for weeks.
Well, here's your opportunity.
All right.
I can always use
a good proxy bloodbath.
After all, I want to
give you a fighting chance.
I love ya.
Of course you do...
Because we're the same.
We are not the same, Lawrence.
Now, don't go
spreading that around.
You know what makes us
the same,
what sets us apart?
We care more about the game
than we do the players.
Oh, is that so?
Yeah...
That's so.
I'm going to nail you,
Lawrence,
and everybody on wall street's
going to know how
some broad did you in.
Ooh...
You're so perfect for me.
I have to go.
Don't go.
Lunch is on me, babypoo.
Where you going?
I have to go back
to the office.
Don't go back to the office.
Come and work for me.
Lady said to say
we have no doughnuts.
Here's your coffee, boss.
You make me feel
like a "doity" crook.
Sneaking off to Jersey
is not my style.
Can we speak frankly?
No. Lie to me.
Tell me how thrilled
you are to know me.
I always speak frankly.
I hate people who say,
"can we speak frankly?"
It means they're bullshitting
the rest of the time.
I'm listening.
Now... As you know,
I had 60,000 shares
of new england stock
when we first met.
What am I getting,
a history lesson here?
Get to the point.
Since...
Becoming aware
of your... Investments,
I bought an additional
40,000 shares.
I now have 100,000 shares.
Congratulations.
I'm prepared...
To sell you the right...
To vote those shares
at the annual meeting.
How much?
A million.
Too much.
You need a million shares
more than you already own.
Now I can get you 10%
of the way there
in one transaction.
Better still, it's votes
they're counting on
for themselves.
They lose 10%, you gain 10%.
If you make a difference,
if I win by less than
100,000 votes,
you got your million.
Otherwise...
I don't need them,
I won't vote them.
I'm not selling you an option.
I'm selling the right
to vote the shares.
If they make a difference,
you got a million.
If they don't, half a million.
I've prepared the papers.
Left the numbers blank.
You can have your lawyers
look at them.
Everybody looks out
for their own self-interest,
don't they?
"What's in it for me?"
Isn't that what it's
finally all about?
Yes. Very good. Very good.
When do we run in the times?
Tomorrow, sir.
Times, barrons, Forbes...
Boston herald.
Next week, major cities
in new england.
Take this copy
and slide it all over
to the right.
Up in the corner,
put that picture of me.
You look good in that shot.
Oh, God. Look at him.
He's trying to look
like Desmond tutu.
All right, Richard,
get our ad agency.
Call barbaro. Call pinelli.
Barbaro, pinelli.
Where's that call from Tokyo?
Taxi! Taxi!
Thanks, Ron.
Mr. Garfield's office.
I expect him back at 5:30.
Thanks, Connie.
I'll ask him to phone you.
Bye-bye.
Look, I found it.
Mrs. Sullivan. She insisted
on waiting for you.
I would appreciate
a few moments of your time.
Certainly. Hey,
come on in the office.
Hold my calls.
Will do.
Come on in. Have a seat.
Did your daughter send you?
'Cause she's full
of clever moves, you know.
No, she didn't.
She'd be upset with me
if she knew.
I like Kate. She's
quite the tomato.
She must take after you, huh?
You're very kind.
I would hope this meeting
will be held in confidence.
Everybody's looking for
confidence these days.
You want a cup of coffee?
Cup of tea? Glass of water?
You needn't be sociable,
Mr. Garfield.
Harriet, I'll have
a cup of coffee.
Yes, sir.
You mind if I smoke?
I'd like to tell you
why I'm here.
Good. Shoot.
I'm here to plead
for our company.
I want to talk to you
about hopes and dreams...
Traditions.
Would you care for a doughnut,
Mrs. Sullivan?
We've worked so hard
to build this company.
We're debt-free,
and we don't deserve
to lose it.
I want you to call off
your fight with us.
There's a trust fund in my name
with $1 million in it.
I'll turn it over to you
if you go away.
You don't want to do that.
We'll buy back
your shares at cost,
plus you'll have
$1 million profit.
Interesting.
I know $1 million
isn't much money to you,
but if I had more,
I'd give it to you.
Who are you doing it for?
Money's not
that important to me.
Well, it is to me.
Then accept my offer.
You'll have more money
than most people make
in a lifetime.
$1 million.
It's not enough.
Go home, Mrs. Sullivan.
I'd hoped to appeal
to your sense of decency.
I'm sorry.
I don't take money
from widows or orphans.
I make them money.
Before or after
you put them out of business?
Whew! What a woman.
Harriet, why do I
always bring out
the best in people?
Hello.
Hello.
Oh, please.
Arthur! Get the car.
Arthur.
I'm sorry, sir.
There's no answer
in miss Sullivan's apartment.
Well, try it again.
Maybe you dialed it wrong.
No!
It was...
um... um, excuse me, Bart.
What are you doing here?
Who's Bart?
I'm on my way out.
You should have called.
I need to talk to you.
I'm late.
I need to talk to you now.
You look beautiful.
Who's this guy?
Excuse me, Lawrence.
Call tomorrow.
I can't talk tomorrow.
It won't keep.
I want you to marry me.
Let me put it another way.
I want to marry you.
You thinking it over?
What are you talking about?
What do you mean?
I want you to be my wife.
We belong together.
Katherine.
I'm going to the opera.
I got to go.
You're the last thought I have
when I fall asleep at night
and the first when I wake up
in the morning.
I want to be with you
forever and ever.
I want to have babies with you.
Babies?
Yeah.
You see, I got to do this now
because after I win,
I wonder maybe
you won't ever want to
speak to me again.
I know how important
it is to you,
but you're not going to win.
It's killing me.
I want you.
I need you. I love you.
I don't want to lose you.
Katherine.
Keep your pants on.
I've got to go.
The opera. LA traviata.
Don't miss the first act.
It sets up the whole thing.
It's a wonderful production.
Have a good time.
I'm going to lose her, Arthur.
¶ Good king wenceslaus
looked out ¶
¶ on the feast of Stephen ¶
¶ when the snow lay
'round about ¶
¶ deep and crisp and even ¶
¶ brightly shone the moon
that night ¶
¶ though the frost
was cruel... ¶
oh, I've been looking for you.
Anytime you're ready.
You o.K.?
Yeah.
Just going over in my mind
what I want to say.
They're putting
speakers outside.
I think every shareholder
within driving distance
is coming.
I feel as if
we're Harry and Bess
on election night.
Harry Truman
was a better man than me.
He slept on election night.
I haven't slept in days.
Talk to me. Tell me.
I'm scared.
I'm scared that...
Time has passed us by.
I'm scared I don't know
this new environment.
I'm scared that what I do know
doesn't count
for anything anymore.
Things have changed.
Whatever happened
to people serving each other?
I don't want this man to win.
I'm not scared.
I'm just proud.
I'm proud of the
business we've built.
I'm so proud of you.
And if what we are
counts for nothing anymore,
then that's their
failing, not ours.
It'll be all right.
Just go out and tell the truth.
Go out and give 'em
hell, Harry.
Good luck to us all
today, bill.
I feel we're going
to be just fine.
Looks like they've come
from everywhere...
New York, Boston.
There's ozzie.
Happening all over, isn't it?
Everybody looking out
for themselves.
So, did you get your
golden parachute, bill?
Did he finally promise
to take care of you?
Lord of the manor,
house on the hill.
Said he didn't want
to talk about a funeral
while there was no corpse.
Well, time to go.
Bill.
How are you going to vote?
Oh, boy. They're out
in droves, Arthur.
They got the kids here.
Why do they always
bring the kids?
That's right... hooray, hooray.
Down with Garfield.
O.K., TV crews.
Financial news network,
here we come.
Mr. Garfield!
What are your plans
for new england wire and cable?
Make the stockholders richer.
Will you liquidate
new england wire and cable?
What about the workers?
My obligation
is to the stockholders.
The board of directors
makes that decision.
Will they lose their jobs?
Come on, answer the question.
Come on, Mr. Garfield!
How do you feel about
the outcome of
today's proxy vote?
I feel confident
that the shareholders
will vote their consciences.
I'm confident in
this company's future.
Could I have
your attention, please?
Welcome to...
New england wire and cable's
annual stockholders' meeting.
I'm William j. Coles,
your president...
And I'm sure...
I'm sure everyone here realizes
the most important item
on the agenda is...
The election
of the board of directors.
Now, there are staff members
passing out the ballots.
Right now, I am very proud
to introduce to you a man
who could accurately
be characterized
as a legend in the wire
and cable industry.
The chairman of the board
of new england wire and cable,
Mr. Andrew jorgenson.
Give 'em hell, Andy!
It's good to see so many...
Familiar faces,
so many old friends.
Some of you
I haven't seen in years.
Thank you for coming.
Bill coles, our able president,
in the annual report
has told you of our year,
of what we accomplished,
of the need
for further improvements,
our business goals
for next year
and the years beyond.
I'd like to talk to you
about something else.
I want to share with you
some of my thoughts
concerning the vote
that you're going to make
in the company that you own.
This proud company,
which has survived
the death of its founder,
numerous recessions,
one major depression,
and two world wars,
is in imminent danger
of self-destructing...
On this day,
in the town of its birth.
There is the instrument
of our destruction.
I want you to look at him
in all his glory...
Larry the liquidator.
The entrepreneur of
post-industrial America
playing God
with other people's money.
The robber barons of old
at least left something
tangible in their wake...
a coal mine, a railroad, banks.
This man leaves nothing.
He creates nothing.
He builds nothing.
He runs nothing.
And in his wake lies nothing
but a blizzard of paper
to cover the pain.
Oh.
If he said,
"I know how to run your
business better than you,"
that would be something
worth talking about.
But he's not saying that.
He's saying,
"I'm going to kill you
"because at this particular
moment in time,
you're worth more
dead than alive."
Well...
Maybe that's true,
but it is also true
that one day
this industry will turn,
one day when the yen is weaker,
the dollar is stronger,
or when we've finally
begun to rebuild our roads,
our Bridges,
the infrastructure
of our country,
demand will skyrocket.
And when those things happen,
we will still be here,
stronger because of our ordeal,
stronger because
we have survived.
And the price of our stock
will make his offer
pale by comparison.
God save us
if we vote to take his
paltry few dollars and run.
God save this country
if that is truly
the wave of the future.
We will then
have become a nation
that makes nothing
but hamburgers,
creates nothing but lawyers,
and sells nothing
but tax shelters.
And if we are at that point
in this country
where we kill something
because at the moment
it's worth more
dead than alive,
well,
take a look around.
Look at your neighbor.
Look at your neighbor.
You won't kill him, will you?
No.
It's called murder,
and it's illegal.
Well, this, too, is murder
on a mass scale.
Only on wall street,
they call it
maximizing shareholder value.
And they call it legal.
And they substitute
dollar bills
where a conscience should be.
Damn it!
A business is worth more
than the price of its stock.
It's the place
where we earn our living,
where we meet our friends,
dream our dreams.
It is, in every sense,
the very fabric that
binds our society together.
So let us now, at this meeting,
say to every Garfield
in the land,
here we build things,
we don't destroy them.
Here we care about more
than the price of our stock.
Here...
We care about people.
Thank you.
And now I'd like to introduce.
Mr. Lawrence Garfield.
Excuse me... please.
Let's show a little courtesy,
ladies and gentlemen.
Mr. Garfield is the president
and the chairman
of the board of...
Garfield investments.
Mr. Garfield.
No! No! No!
Get out of here!
Amen.
And amen.
And amen.
You have to forgive me.
I'm not familiar
with the local custom.
Where I come from,
you always say amen
after you hear a prayer.
Because that's
what you just heard.
A prayer.
Where I come from...
That particular prayer
is called
the prayer for the dead.
You just heard
the prayer for the dead,
my fellow stockholders,
and you didn't say amen.
This company is dead.
I didn't kill it.
Don't blame me.
It was dead when I got here.
It's too late for prayers.
For even if
the prayers were answered
and a miracle occurred
and the yen did this
and the dollar did that
and the infrastructure
did the other thing,
we'd still be dead.
You know why?
Fiber optics.
New technologies.
Obsolescence.
We're dead, all right.
We're just not broke.
And do you know
the surest way to go broke?
Keep getting
an increasing share
of a shrinking market.
Down the tubes.
Slow but sure.
You know,
at one time,
there must have been
dozens of companies
making buggy whips.
And I'll bet
the last company around
was the one that made
the best goddamn buggy whip
you ever saw.
Now, how would you have liked
to have been a stockholder
in that company?
You invested in a business,
and this business is dead.
Let's have the intelligence,
let's have the decency
to sign the death certificate,
collect the insurance,
and invest in something
with a future.
"Ahh, but we can't,"
goes the prayer.
We can't because
we have a responsibility,
a responsibility
to our employees,
to our community.
What will happen to them?
I got two words for that.
Who cares?
Care about them?
Why?
They didn't care about you.
They sucked you dry.
You have no
responsibility to them.
For the last 10 years,
this company bled your money.
Did this community ever say,
"we know times are tough...
we'll lower taxes,
reduce water and sewer"?
Check it out.
You're paying twice
what you did 10 years ago.
And our devoted employees
who've taken no increases
for the past three years
are still making twice
what they made 10 years ago.
And our stock...
1/6 what it was 10 years ago.
Who cares?
I'll tell you.
Me.
I'm not your best friend.
I'm your only friend.
I don't make anything?
I'm making you money.
And lest we forget,
that's the only reason
any of you
became stockholders
in the first place.
You want to make money.
You don't care
if they manufacture
wire and cable, fried chicken,
or grow tangerines!
You want to make money!
I'm the only friend you've got.
I'm making you money.
Take the money.
Invest it somewhere else.
Maybe...
Maybe you'll get lucky,
and it'll be used productively.
And if it is,
you'll create new jobs
and provide a service
for the economy
and, God forbid,
even make a few bucks
for yourselves.
And if anybody asks,
tell 'em you gave at the plant.
And by the way,
it pleases me that I am called.
Larry the liquidator.
You know why,
fellow stockholders?
Because at my funeral,
you'll leave with
a smile on your face
and a few bucks in your pocket.
Now, that's a funeral
worth having.
The ballots will be marked
and deposited
in the ballot boxes
at the rear of the hall.
Yeah.
Ladies and gentlemen, please.
May I have
your attention, please?
I will now read
the results of the balloting.
To retain the present board...
1,741,416.
For the opposition...
2,219,901.
Not voting...
176,111.
Mr. Garfield,
your slate is elected.
Congratulations, Mr. Garfield.
Congratulations, Lawrence.
You o.K., boss?
You want some chicken
soup or something?
Mmm.
Pie?
No.
How about some of that
carrot cake you like?
No.
Well, Carmen, we did it again.
I can always
count on you, can't I?
Another barrelful of money.
Not bad for a kid
from the Bronx.
I love money.
I love money.
Mr. Garfield,
Kate Sullivan is on the line.
Are you in or out,
Mr. Garfield?
Hello?
You're a greedy, arrogant,
self-absorbed,
overbearing...
avaricious?
I have a proposition for you.
Are you ready, Lawrence?
Ready.
Air bags.
Air bags?
Every car in America
is about to have one.
Did you know that air bags
are made from
stainless steel wire cloth?
Did you dump Bart?
The mitsushimi company of Japan
is ready to make
a long-term deal
with new england wire and cable
for the production of...
Air bags.
I love the sound of your voice.
Well, here comes
the best part, Lawrence.
You sell wire and cable
back to the employees,
they modernize
and re-equip the plant
and turn out air bags.
What's in it for me?
They'll pay 28 bucks a share.
You like?
They'll go to 30.
30? You think so?
Why not? We'll
discuss it at dinner...
see you in an hour.
Lunch. Tomorrow. 1:00.
You know where.
Strictly business.
Oh, yeah, yeah.
Strictly business.
Wow!
Did you hear that, Carmen?
Harriet! Call my manicurist,
call the barber,
call the florist,
tell Arthur I want
two tickets to the opera
tomorrow night. Puccini.
We're back in business!
Whoo-hoo!
It's money that I love.
Captioning made possible by
Warner bros., inc.
Captioning performed by the
national captioning institute, inc.
Captions copyright 1991
Warner bros., inc.
I love money more
than I love the things it can buy.
Does that surprise you?
Money. It don't care
whether I'm good or not.
It don't care whether
I snore or not.
It don't care which God I pray to.
There are only three things
in this world
with that kind of
unconditional acceptance...
dogs...
Doughnuts...
And money.
Only money is better.
You know why?
Because it don't make you fat
and it don't poop all over
the living room floor.
There's only one thing
I like better...
Other people's money.
All right, now,
squeeze in over here.
I want to see all your faces.
Now face the camera.
Get up on the floor, sir.
Happy Thanksgiving!
How you doing, tom?
Happy Thanksgiving, jorgy!
Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!
Happy Thanksgiving.
Smile, everybody!
Take a good one, Elton.
The stock is up another
point and a half!
Somebody's
up to something, jorgy.
Good news. Stock is up.
Don't worry about it.
Gus, you got your teeth in?
Ready now!
Cheeks up!
New england wire and cable!
New england wire and cable!
Yes! All right!
Up two points.
Wire and cable, up two points.
¶ Up two points,
up two points ¶
¶ wire and cable,
up two points ¶
¶ up two points ¶
¶ up two points ¶
¶ wire and cable,
up two points ¶
¶ up two points,
up two points ¶
¶ wire and cable,
up two points ¶
¶ up two points,
up two points ¶
¶ wire and cable ¶
¶ up two points,
up two points ¶
morning, Mr. Garfield.
Morning, Arthur.
Say good morning to Carmen.
She's very happy today.
Aren't you, my sweet?
Good morning, Carmen.
Cranberry juice is
fresh today, boss.
Oh, good.
You never let me down, Arthur.
You never let me down.
Good morning, sir.
Samuels.
Good morning, Mr. Garfield.
Good morning, Mr. Garfield.
Good morning, Mr. Garfield.
Good morning, Mr. Garfield.
Good morning.
Morning.
Good morning, Mr. Garfield.
Morning.
Good morning, Mr. Garfield.
Good morning, Mr. Garfield.
Work, work!
Good morning, Mr. Garfield.
Good morning.
Good morning, Mr. Garfield.
Yeah!
Good morning, Mr. Garfield.
You look very nice today.
I'm not paying you to be polite.
What's happening?
Good morning, Mr. Garfield.
Morning.
Morning.
Mr. Holt wants to see you
for dinner if you can.
The overly brothers will fly
you to Texas or come here...
your choice.
When I die, Harriet,
put on my gravestone...
"he never went to Texas."
I'll call the engraver.
Where's the cinnamon?
Out of cinnamon.
If I can't count on dunkin'
donuts, who do I count on?
On me, sir.
Hah! Granger. Trundel canning.
Tell me.
Trundel's being sued
by the townspeople, sir.
Failed to comply with
environmental restrictions.
Hmm...
And there are claims of
illness from the citizenry.
Good.
Just before they're
sent to jail, bid.
Yes, sir.
Angeli.
Yo?
Eastern motels.
Outstanding shares?
Uh...6 million, Mr. Garfield.
Slate owns 21/2 million.
Mr. Morganstern
wants to talk to you.
I'd rather talk to my mother.
Pfeiffer! Yeah?
What about this new
england wire and cable?
It's too beautiful.
Is it booby-trapped?
I, uh...
I, uh...
I, uh...
I...
Can't seem to find
any problems...
Mr. Garfield.
Neither can I.
Richardson.
Yes, sir.
Let's talk to these people.
Call the man in charge,
whoever he is.
Yes, sir.
New england wire and cable.
Good morning.
The general manager, please.
That'd be Mr. Coles.
Who shall I say is calling?
Lawrence Garfield.
Just one moment, please.
What'd he want?
To come up and see us.
Look the place over, he said.
What's wrong with that?
He's a shareholder.
It's not that simple.
What this man does
is no secret.
Bill, you got the jitters.
Wall street's in the liquidation
business these days, jorgy.
My father founded
this company 81 years ago.
I took over 26 years ago.
I control this company, and
nobody's going to liquidate us.
What a shit pit.
Ohh... Look at this.
Look at this.
I haven't seen a place
this classy
since I left the Bronx.
Welcome to new england
wire and cable.
I'm bea Sullivan,
Mr. Jorgenson's assistant.
How do you do?
I do good.
Would you like to invite your
chauffeur in to keep warm?
He's a yard chauffeur, honey.
Bring him inside,
you spoil him.
Is there a dunkin'
donuts in this town?
Dunkin' donuts?
No, I don't think so.
Crispy cremes, something?
I'm afraid not.
But we have coffee,
and Emma might have
a breakfast roll.
A breakfast roll?
Do you have an elevator?
I'm embarrassed. It's out of order.
You know elevators.
Any oxygen?
Should have warned me, I'd
have brought a paramedic.
Is it much further?
I'd like to get
there before dark.
Jorgy, this is Mr. Garfield.
Mr. Garfield, Andrew
jorgenson, our chairman.
Call me jorgy.
Everybody else does.
Sorry about the elevator.
Mr. Coles, our president
and general manager.
Emma, bring in the coffee!
Last limousine
we saw here was in '48
when Harry Truman was
running for president.
He stood out there on those
stairs, exactly where you were.
Is that so?
That was the golden age.
Rebuilding America
and all that.
Old Harry made
a great speech that day.
Is that so?
Oh, yes. He was
very impressive.
He's the only democrat
bea and I ever voted for.
You know much about
the wire and cable business?
I know if the cable's
out of whack,
the elevator don't go up.
I'm thinking about
the doughnuts.
Mr. Garfield was
wondering if we had any.
Uh, bill, do we have doughnuts?
I don't think so.
How's that coffee coming along?
Here we are, Mr. Garfield.
Thank you.
Sugar and cream?
Sugar. I'll take care of it.
I could have Emma
get some doughnuts.
No, no. Why don't we
get down to business?
What's the matter? You're not
interested in doughnuts?
Would you like me to
get some doughnuts?
No. Never mind, Emma.
You're right.
Let's talk business.
Good idea. What business
are we talking about?
Good coffee.
Well, let's put it this way.
Back in New York,
I got a computer.
Her name is Carmen.
Every morning, right
after I brush my teeth,
I punch out, "Carmen,
computer on the wall,
who's the fairest of them all?"
Now, most mornings
she spits out,
"Garfield, you're the fairest."
But three weeks ago, she said,
"Garfield, Garfield,
scratch your balls.
"New england"... pardon me...
"new england wire and cable
is the fairest of them all."
New england wire and cable?
I said, "what's it worth?"
So she showed me the numbers.
You got equipment here
that cost $120 million.
Even at salvage,
it's worth 30, 35 million.
Can I use that blackboard
over there?
Go ahead.
Thank you. Come with me.
Carmen will educate us.
Going to erase this stuff here.
Here.
Let's... let's put down
30 million.
How many acres you got?
110. 110.
Carmen and I figure
even as farmland, grazing
land, it's worth 10 million.
Is that fair?
Yeah.
Let's lay the 10 under the 30.
That makes 40 million.
And you bought other
companies, right, bill?
You have a plumbing,
an electrical,
and some kind
of adhesive company.
Boring, but all
making a decent profit.
Carmen says they're
worth another 60 mil.
Let's put the 60 under the 40.
And you have working
capital of 25 million,
100f it in cash.
Let's put down
25 million, add them up,
and see what you got.
$125 million.
The only bad news is
that this wire
and cable division
isn't making a profit.
The other divisions
have to support you.
Now, as a stockholder,
that doesn't
make me very happy.
Are you finished, Mr. Garfield?
No, I'm not, bill.
Let's say Carmen was suffering
from premenstrual syndrome.
No offense. A little nuts.
Let's say she was
too optimistic.
Let's knock off 25 million.
Let's make it...
$100 million.
A nice round number.
I like nice round numbers.
Any debt?
No.
Any lawsuits?
Any environmental bullshit?
You throwing garbage
in the water?
Of course not.
What about pension liabilities?
Carmen says
you're fully funded.
You people are dreams.
I think this meeting is over.
No, no, wait.
Here's the fun part.
How many shares
outstanding you got?
4 million.
Divide that into 100 million.
25.
Good. That means each
share's worth $25.
But that was all foreplay.
Let's go for the real thing.
The stock was 10
when I woke up three weeks ago.
That's a 10 for a $25-item.
What a sale.
Something worth $25,
I can buy it for 10.
The company's not
for sale, Mr. Garfield.
I don't want your company.
I just want what
every stockholder wants...
to make money.
You are making money.
You bought the stock
at 10. It's now 14.
The stock is 14
because I'm buying it.
I'm doing my part,
now you do yours.
Get rid of this
wire and cable division.
It's a financial cancer.
I want to talk
to Mr. Garfield alone.
What the hell are you doing,
you son of a bitch?
You can't come into my town,
my plant, take my company.
You can't do that.
You live on Mars?
It's called
a corporate takeover.
I'm not going to let you do it.
It's simple.
I do it all the time.
Well, do it someplace else.
I'm not going
to commit suicide.
Don't think of it as suicide.
Yecchh.
Think of it as euthanasia.
Get out. Get out.
Get out before I throw you out.
Where are you going?
We're just doing business.
Business?
With you?
I got a company to run.
Yeah, well, that's my point.
I don't like the way
my company's being run!
Better get your elevator fixed!
There's a goddamn
fire raging here.
This industry's up in flames!
Call the fire department,
and who shows up?
Nobody.
Because they're all
in Japan and Singapore
and Malaysia
and Taiwan
and every other shit hole
where they're crazy
about pollution.
And while that
inferno is raging,
you're out in front
mowing the lawn,
tidying up,
playing with your
putz on my money!
You'd think I was
asking him for a loan.
Good day, Mr. Garfield.
I'm not a long-term player.
They give us trouble today?
They're not going to send us
back to the Bronx.
Don't scare me there.
Richardson, I want to buy up
new england wire and cable.
Buy everything you can.
File a 13-d.
I want to finish
this one quick.
We're on it.
Well, it's official.
Our friend Garfield's intent
is to take over the company.
He's filed his 13-d
with the s.E.C.
He now owns 12% of us.
What do you want to do?
I own 20%.
Jorgy, we've got
to protect ourselves.
We need legal advice.
We have lawyers.
They're not equipped
to handle this.
We need the best.
We want to call Kate.
Let me.
What makes you think
she'll come?
I'll tell her we need her.
We're family.
Flamboyant ls and Ms.
Loves to write
million, doesn't he?
We've never seen
a man like that.
He's like something
out of a comic book.
So they say.
Hello, Kate.
Jorgy.
Thanks for coming.
Doesn't she look splendid?
I have to be back by 5:00.
Mind if we get right to it?
You're in charge, Kate.
Now, given that
someone's interested
in moving in on you,
you've no choice but
to protect yourself.
You have some options.
For openers, I
recommend changing
your state of incorporation
from Rhode Island to Delaware.
Why Delaware?
That's a good idea.
Strong anti-takeover
legislation there.
That way we're not
playing dead.
Who the hell is playing dead?
You have to protect yourself.
By running away to Delaware?
Jorgy, it's only on paper.
This company was
founded in Rhode Island.
It will remain in Rhode Island.
I'm talking about Delaware,
not Nairobi.
Come on.
I own 20% of this company.
The board owns another 5,
the employees another 5%.
That's 30%.
How can this man get control?
What do you want,
for me to negotiate
a deal or not?
But there's no deal to be made.
He's knocking at your door.
Don't answer it,
and you're inviting him in.
Listen to her, jorgy.
There's no deal
to be made with predators.
You kill it or it kills you.
Well, what do you suggest?
Make it worth
his while to leave.
What do you mean?
Pay him off. Buy him out.
It's greenmail,
but it's done all the time.
It's terrorism,
and I won't do it!
Any other options?
You're going to lose
your company.
Like hell I am.
You, as they say in the street,
are in play.
Garfield put you there,
and now I'm here
as your lawyer.
Isn't that a hell of an irony?
Me trying to save your company.
Well, I can do it.
Yeah?
A miss Sullivan
from Hudson, Bradley,
and flint is here.
Granger wants to
discuss trundel canning,
and your suits
are ready for fitting.
Tell them not to send
the blind son of a bitch
with the pins.
And tell Granger
he'd better make
sense this time
or get on the
unemployment line.
Shall I use those exact words?
Send in Hudson,
Bradley, and flint.
Whew.
Wow.
Whew!
Know what kills me?
I've done seven,
eight deals like this,
and you know who
I negotiate with?
Skinny joggers
with contact lenses
all stinking from
the same aftershave.
I'm Kate Sullivan.
I know your name. Cigarette?
No, thank you.
Don't let me stop you.
Why would you stop me?
What are you, a fucking lawyer?
Depends on who I'm with.
Welcome to my life.
So, what's it going to be?
Sue, settle, defend?
I came to talk.
Boof! Oh, that's trouble.
Lawyers want to talk...
nothing but trouble.
How about a doughnut?
No, thanks.
You a health food freak?
No. Just not hungry.
You have to be hungry
to eat doughnuts?
You don't?
What, are you shitting me?
Have to be hungry. Why?
It don't taste better that way.
How would you know?
What do you want?
I need a month.
Get lost.
I need time
to get everybody's
act together.
My act is together.
If you give me some time,
I think we can work
something out.
Settle?
Work something out.
I only settle
when I'm in trouble.
Or when it makes sense.
It only makes sense
when I'm in trouble.
Well, if you prefer,
we'll go to court,
get an injunction,
have a fight.
All kinds of allegations.
Costs them, costs you,
and for what?
I live in court.
You got to do better than that.
I won't love you anymore.
Two weeks.
Standstill agreement.
Both sides.
No more buying. Two weeks.
Thank you.
Whoa, whoa!
We haven't talked about
what I want to talk about.
What's that?
You and me sweating
between satin sheets.
Garfield,
put your hand
between your legs.
Do it!
Good.
Look directly down
at that little guy,
and you say, "you
must behave yourself
when you're in the
presence of a lady."
If you don't
say that right now,
I'm resigning from this case.
You must behave yourself...
You must behave yourself...
When you're in the presence...
When you're in the presence
of a lady.
See? Not so hard.
See you in two weeks.
Wow! Did you see that, Carmen?
I love it, love it, love it.
Goodbye, miss Sullivan.
Goodbye.
Tell Erickson
to arrange some money
through the royal bank.
Don't pay him
more than we did before.
Then tell hathaway
I want to make a tender offer
for new england wire and cable.
Don't use our name.
Use opm holdings.
What if she finds out
we broke the agreement?
Richardson, were
you born yesterday?
What do you think she's doing?
That kewpie doll's up
to no good. Do it.
I got us an extra two weeks.
We have to move fast.
Get the board to buy as
many shares as possible.
Use your own working capital.
But that's our safety net.
Then borrow the money.
No borrowing.
Andrew, listen to her.
She's making sense.
For every share you acquire,
it's one less for Garfield.
The more we buy,
the less for him.
The more it costs,
the less profit he makes.
Get the stock up.
Mom, buy it through
an out-of-state broker.
I don't want to borrow money.
We've been debt-free
since the depression.
But that's the trouble.
It's your gorgeous
balance sheet
that makes you so attractive.
Mom, get letters
to the shareholders.
Tell them
how great business is,
how wonderful the future looks.
I'll do it.
Great. I'll call you
tomorrow. Good night.
Mmm.
Mmm... Good morning, honey.
How you doing
this morning, huh?
Oh...
Ooh...
You got it up again.
Another point and a half.
Pfeiffer.
Good morning, Mr. Garfield.
Woody.
Good morning.
Harriet.
Miss Sullivan's going
to call tomorrow.
Tell her I'm not taking calls.
Then when she comes
and tries storming
into the office,
let her push past. Don't worry.
She's desperate but harmless.
Find out where she lives
and call the florist.
Florist?
Florist.
You have a good evening,
miss Sullivan.
Hello, Michael.
Oh, miss Sullivan. Uh...
Here. Somebody
brought these by for you.
Oh, thank you.
Good night.
Good night.
Good morning.
Good morning.
Oh!
You ruthless son of a bitch!
Excuse me?
Jeez, what's her problem?
Uhh!
All right, all right.
Sorry to get in your way.
May I help you?
I'm afraid
Mr. Garfield isn't in.
I don't care!
It's all right, Harriet.
It's not all right,
you hypocrite! You lied!
Oh. But babypoo...
we had an agreement.
We had a standstill!
No more buying!
You know nothing about opm?
Opm? Not much to know.
You broke the agreement!
You embarrassed me with my firm
and with my clients!
Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
Don't come on holier-than-thou.
What should I do
while you drive up the price?
I did no such thing.
You're full of shit.
All that buying coming
from Rhode Island.
You'd think you'd use
an out-of-state firm.
I know nothing about that.
Who am dealing with
here, mother Teresa?
You want to play the game,
learn to play it right.
Is that what you
call it, a game?
The best game in the world.
I'll teach you. It's easy.
Make as much as you can
as long as you can.
Then what?
Then what?
Whoever has the most
when he dies, wins.
Look. It's the American way.
I'm doing my job.
I'm a capitalist.
I'm simply following
the law of free enterprise.
What law is that?
Survival of the fittest.
Maybe some people
don't see it that way.
Maybe they see it
as survival of the fattest!
Why are you so hard on me?
'Cause you're not nice.
Why do you have to be
nice to be right?
You're not right.
You're what's happening.
Someday we'll pass some laws
and put you out of business.
They can pass
all the laws they want.
All they can do
is change the rules.
They can never stop the game.
I don't go away. I adapt.
In 10 years, you'll be studied
at the wharton school.
They'll call it
"the Garfield era"
and rinse their mouths out!
See you in court!
Don't leave. We haven't
talked about sex yet.
At least have a doughnut.
Stuff it!
Don't be a poor loser!
Lying to protect your client
is doing a good job!
I understand that!
You didn't ask what opm means?
Other people's money.
All right, come on!
Get... let's go!
Work, work, work!
Yes, sir!
Gotcha!
Oh, yes!
How do you have 'em?
Two years ago,
he tried to take over
westridge corporation.
He was put under indictment
for not disclosing
his 13-d. What's this?
Your Christmas list.
What happened to him?
The government dropped charges.
Nope. Investors get hurt?
If charges were dropped,
it's a technicality.
He was required to disclose.
Gerber's in prison, Richard.
Judge pollard
ain't going to give you
a restraining order
based on a technicality.
We are a nation
of laws, marcia.
Ultimately,
those laws come down
to technicalities.
Without those technicalities,
what do we have?
Anarchy.
Garfield.
Anarchy? That's
the basis for your brief?
Correct.
Honeybunch, you better
write a fantastic brief.
I intend to.
Want to send anything
to Garfield?
Yeah. A court order.
Oh, do the Japanese
celebrate Christmas?
No, but I hear
they're buying it.
Oh...
I had nothing to do
with any of this!
Pfeiffer comes...
shh!
Temporary restraining order.
Thank you very much.
Some crew I've got.
17 lawyers on retainer,
and you manage to work it out
so that in a free market,
a so-called free country,
I can't buy some shit-ass stock
every other asshole can buy.
Congratulations.
You're destroying
the capitalist system.
While everybody else in
the world is embracing it,
my boys and girls
are fucking it up!
You know what happens
when capitalism gets fucked up?
The communists come back.
They come out of the bushes.
Don't kid yourself.
They're waiting in there.
But maybe that's not so bad.
Because you know what happens
when the commies take over?
The first thing they do
is shoot all the lawyers!
And if they miss any of you,
I'll do it myself!
Let's see if we can get
this small-town judge
to change his fucking mind!
Come on!
It wasn't me! I was
in San Francisco!
It was pfeiffer!
Mr. Garfield,
a miss Sullivan is on the line.
Yes.
Hello, Lawrence.
We're here in the office
toasting
judge pollard's decision.
Stop gloating.
It doesn't become you.
Don't be a poor loser.
I got you on a technicality.
Not bad for some broad
wet behind the ears.
I'd like to talk.
I've no time for talk.
My days are full.
I'll buy you a doughnut.
I'm not hungry.
Since when do you
have to be hungry
to have a doughnut?
Aw, shut up.
Stop pouting.
I'll buy you dinner.
Name the place.
I have a proposition for you.
You're trying to seduce me.
Heh heh heh heh heh.
You have a nice laugh.
My house, 8:00.
How about lutece?
I want to talk to somebody,
I go to them.
You want to talk,
come to me. 8:00.
I'll come for 20 minutes.
That's all I need.
Strictly business.
20 minutes, my place, 8:00.
5:30.
5:30? Funerals are at 5:30.
7:00.
6:00.
I got to wash my face.
6:30.
Deal.
Deal.
Harriet!
Get me my barber.
Get me my manicurist.
Call Arthur.
She's coming to the house.
Ah, miss Sullivan.
That's me.
Come in. The boss
is expecting ya.
Thank you.
Mr. G.'Ll be right with ya.
Thank you.
Gloria Taylor.
Quarterback's girlfriend.
All that putz wanted to do
was take her pants off
in the backseat,
while I was ready to feed her,
protect her, put jewels
around her neck.
I sent her poetry.
Longfellow.
Can't go wrong with longfellow.
"Day by day, I gazed upon her.
"Day by day,
I sighed with passion.
"Day by day, my heart within me
grew more hot
with love and longing."
I gave her hiawatha.
All she wanted was a touchdown.
Yeah...
To the quarterback's
girlfriend.
To Gloria.
Drink, drink. It's the best.
You look terrific.
Thank you.
How about some mushroom dip?
I thought this was
a business meeting.
What's wrong with a little dip?
I never met a person
so hard to feed.
Who are you mad at?
Come on, have some dip.
Swallow.
Mmm. Nice.
I think we should
talk business.
You have an exquisite neck.
I have to leave by 7:00.
I have another engagement.
Oh, right. I forgot.
You got a proposition.
Thank you.
Ahh...
Ahh...
Shoot.
What will it take
for you to go away?
Greenmail? You're
offering to buy me out?
Why so uptight?
It's not illegal.
It's immoral.
A distinction
that has no relevance
for lawyers,
but it matters to me.
Well, for someone
who has nothing nice to say
about lawyers,
you certainly have
plenty of them around.
They're like nuclear warheads.
They have theirs,
so I have mine.
Once you use them,
they fuck up everything.
Let me ask you.
Do you have authorization
to offer me greenmail?
Of course not.
It's a lawyer's scheme.
Everybody walks out happy.
I get paid off.
Yorgy keeps his company.
The employees keep their yobs.
The lawyer gets a big fat fee.
Everybody walks out.
Yumpin' yiminy.
Sounds pretty good to me.
Except for the stockholders.
Their stock crashes.
They don't know what hit them.
Now you're Albert schweitzer.
Not Albert schweitzer,
Robin hood.
I take from the rich
and give to the middle class.
Well, the upper middle class.
Care for some caviar?
The stock is 18.
Do you like music?
Let's be serious.
Let's change the subject.
Arthur!
The stock is 18.
We'll buy it back at 18.
First you laugh at me,
then you insult me.
Then name your number.
25.
The stock hasn't seen 25
in years.
The stock was once 60.
Take 20.
Such a high achiever.
If you're mad at somebody,
don't take it out on me.
25 and that's a favor.
I don't need to be analyzed.
Do we have a deal?
Let's discuss it over dinner.
Your 20 minutes are up.
I want to be friends.
Let's segue into some
soup and French bread.
Don't go away mad.
I didn't buy your proposition.
Come back with another one.
You're an emancipated
woman. Learn to lose.
I haven't lost.
Wait, wait! I've got
a proposition for you.
Hold on, you got to listen.
You come on back up.
We have a nice dinner.
We make passionate love
the rest of the night.
The first one who comes, loses.
Loses what?
The deal.
I come first,
I sell you back
my shares at cost.
You come first,
you buy 'em at 25.
I think you're serious.
So how do you suggest
we write this up?
Delicately.
Under the heading,
"easy come, easy go."
What do you got
to lose, your virginity?
I could lose millions.
So what happens
if we come together?
I never thought of that.
Well, think about it, honey.
I will. I will.
Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
Come on.
Don't go. I haven't
played my violin yet.
Yeah.
While the banks are
hemming and hawing
as customers borrow money...
mmm...
Oh, God.
Hello?
I just want to see
if you got home safe.
Thank you.
In your beddie-bye?
I am.
Did I wake you?
No.
No.
Heh heh.
Did you have dinner?
Yes.
With who?
None of your business.
Ha ha.
Ha ha.
Are you thinking about me?
No.
How could you manage that?
Oh, uh... Pills, whiskey,
self-help tapes.
Ha ha ha.
Ha ha ha ha ha.
Hah...
I got another
proposition for you.
Oh, yeah. I can't wait.
We swap.
Swap what, dirty jokes?
Ha ha.
No. I give you all my shares.
You give me the wire
and cable division.
Hello?
Hello? You like?
I'll ask them.
Good. All right, now wait.
Don't go away. Don't hang up.
Stay right where
you are. All right.
Ha ha ha ha.
Here comes the bridge.
¶ Why stop
to think of whether ¶
¶ this little dream
might fade? ¶
¶ let's put
our hearts together ¶
¶ now we are one ¶
¶ I'm not afraid ¶
Ha ha ha ha.
¶ But for the night forget it ¶
¶ I'm in the mood for love ¶
huh?
Ha ha.
That was very good.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
That was just for you.
Well, I appreciate it.
Sweet dreams.
O.K. Good night.
Bye-bye.
Oh, God.
Ohh...
Oh.
¶ I'm in the mood for love ¶
forget it.
Tell him to go to hell.
He spends $13 million
for this place,
then he sells it for 35,
my guys are out of work,
and he's made $22 million.
How do I live with that?
We eliminate a losing division.
The other divisions
don't have to support us.
I don't want to hear that.
You still control the company,
but without the cable division.
Why is it so difficult
to understand
I can't kill these people
and this town
to enrich some son of a bitch
who's trying to destroy me?
I can't play with him
in the courts forever.
He'll get the injunction lifted
and buy more shares.
Don't be a pigheaded fool!
He deserves
to lose this company.
Good night, Mr. Jorgenson.
Oh, good night, Gus.
Everything going along
o.K., Mr. Jorgenson?
Everything's moving
right along, Gus.
Everything's going to be
o.K., isn't it?
At the plant, I mean,
the plant and everything.
Everything's going to be
just fine.
We'll be making wire and cable
for a long time.
Yes, sir. Good night, sir.
Good night.
Jorgy.
Have you got a minute?
Sure, bill.
Do you mind if I speak
frankly to you, jorgy?
You always have, haven't you?
You know I'm trained to think
in contingency.
You know I've spent my life
managing businesses, and, uh...
And...
Bill, you're in a panic.
Well, you know
how it is with business, jorgy,
when things don't
work out quite right
and people have invested
their time,
their energy, themselves.
Management
takes care of its own.
It happens all the time.
And given the uncertainty
surrounding us these days
and... The fact that
you haven't set up
any financial guarantees
for us, jorgy...
Oh, lord, I hate... hate
giving this speech.
When I retire in two years,
I've told you you're
taking over the business.
I promised you that.
There won't be any business
in two years, jorgy.
There won't be any business
in one year.
You're holding onto a dream.
Go home, bill. Have a drink.
Give my best to Jeanette.
I don't want the rug
pulled out from under me
so close to the finish line.
Good night.
Jorgy, I've been here 15 years.
I have a family.
Something's due me.
I've worked my ass off
for 15 years,
and you're going to
let that man
take over the company.
It's not right.
I'm sorry, bill.
Up here we don't
plan the funeral
until the body is dead.
Sounds like everybody's hungry.
Well, let's eat.
Sit down, darling.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Thank thee, father,
for thy care,
for thy bounty everywhere.
For this and every other gift,
our grateful hearts
to thee we lift. Amen.
2nd down and 10.
Lions at their 49.
I don't know why
you watch this.
It's so stupid.
If you watch, you'll see.
Yes! Go! Go! Go!
I told you. My money
was on Detroit.
You have to admit
we still have fresh air
up here.
Feels good, all right.
I'm awfully glad
you came, Kate.
It means a hell of a lot
to your mother.
I love your mother.
I can't say I'm sorry for that,
but I am sorry
for whatever it is
it's done to you
in the last 21-odd years.
I'm o.K., jorgy.
Good.
Now let's talk
a little business.
Let's quit talking
about what I won't do.
Let's talk about
what I will do.
I have a problem.
I'm a good lawyer.
I'm a lousy mind reader.
I want to put it to a vote.
Annual meeting in four weeks.
Want to put it in the hands
of the stockholders.
It's too risky.
We could lose everything.
You're a fighter.
I'm a fighter.
Too dangerous.
There's no other choice
that I can live with.
This 30%, this faithful 30%.
Can you absolutely
count on them?
They haven't let me down
so far.
Awful lot of ozzies
on our side.
Don't trust ozzie.
He's a banker.
I have to trust
my friends, Kate.
This is going to be tough.
I have to get Garfield
to buy this.
He won't want to.
It's not to his advantage.
Talk nice.
Give him your best smile.
Come on, Kate.
Let's take on
the little son of a bitch.
Let's kick his ass
all the way back
to wall street.
Yeah.
It's a quiet place.
I thought it would be
a good idea
if we calmed down a bit.
Do you like Japanese?
I'd like to have Sony.
Could you bring me
a knife and fork, please?
Hai.
So, what do you say?
A proxy fight?
I... I'd have to be nuts.
I could sit on my ass, wait
for the injunction to lift,
buy all the shares I need.
Anybody else,
I wouldn't even come to lunch.
You look very nice today.
But if you win, Lawrence,
it speeds up the process.
You get what you want
in three months
instead of a year, maybe two.
I love it
when you call me Lawrence.
Say it again.
There's a lot can stand
in your way, Lawrence.
Anti-takeover legislation's
in the works.
Drexel's gone under.
Milken's in jail.
Trump's waiting tables.
Don't threaten me.
And just maybe
you're overleveraged
and you can't afford to wait.
Thank you. You got any bread?
No bread.
No bread.
They got no bread.
They want to run the world,
they got no bread.
In three weeks, you
present your own slate.
If you win, you
buy everybody out at 20.
If you lose, you sell us
back your shares at 15.
Worst case scenario...
you still make
a couple million.
Amazing people, the Japanese.
We blow the hell out of them.
They go back to school,
learn English,
and start to run the world.
What do we do?
We get bigheaded,
start living the good life,
forget about schools.
People can't read.
People can't write.
Country's full of dropouts.
Education.
Who needs education
as long as you can
blow up the world?
Meanwhile, I got
everybody in my office
learning Japanese.
I've never seen
such a beautiful lawyer.
Come on, Lawrence.
This is your game.
Winner takes all.
Rumor has it you got balls.
I been trying
to show you for weeks.
Well, here's your opportunity.
All right.
I can always use
a good proxy bloodbath.
After all, I want to
give you a fighting chance.
I love ya.
Of course you do...
Because we're the same.
We are not the same, Lawrence.
Now, don't go
spreading that around.
You know what makes us
the same,
what sets us apart?
We care more about the game
than we do the players.
Oh, is that so?
Yeah...
That's so.
I'm going to nail you,
Lawrence,
and everybody on wall street's
going to know how
some broad did you in.
Ooh...
You're so perfect for me.
I have to go.
Don't go.
Lunch is on me, babypoo.
Where you going?
I have to go back
to the office.
Don't go back to the office.
Come and work for me.
Lady said to say
we have no doughnuts.
Here's your coffee, boss.
You make me feel
like a "doity" crook.
Sneaking off to Jersey
is not my style.
Can we speak frankly?
No. Lie to me.
Tell me how thrilled
you are to know me.
I always speak frankly.
I hate people who say,
"can we speak frankly?"
It means they're bullshitting
the rest of the time.
I'm listening.
Now... As you know,
I had 60,000 shares
of new england stock
when we first met.
What am I getting,
a history lesson here?
Get to the point.
Since...
Becoming aware
of your... Investments,
I bought an additional
40,000 shares.
I now have 100,000 shares.
Congratulations.
I'm prepared...
To sell you the right...
To vote those shares
at the annual meeting.
How much?
A million.
Too much.
You need a million shares
more than you already own.
Now I can get you 10%
of the way there
in one transaction.
Better still, it's votes
they're counting on
for themselves.
They lose 10%, you gain 10%.
If you make a difference,
if I win by less than
100,000 votes,
you got your million.
Otherwise...
I don't need them,
I won't vote them.
I'm not selling you an option.
I'm selling the right
to vote the shares.
If they make a difference,
you got a million.
If they don't, half a million.
I've prepared the papers.
Left the numbers blank.
You can have your lawyers
look at them.
Everybody looks out
for their own self-interest,
don't they?
"What's in it for me?"
Isn't that what it's
finally all about?
Yes. Very good. Very good.
When do we run in the times?
Tomorrow, sir.
Times, barrons, Forbes...
Boston herald.
Next week, major cities
in new england.
Take this copy
and slide it all over
to the right.
Up in the corner,
put that picture of me.
You look good in that shot.
Oh, God. Look at him.
He's trying to look
like Desmond tutu.
All right, Richard,
get our ad agency.
Call barbaro. Call pinelli.
Barbaro, pinelli.
Where's that call from Tokyo?
Taxi! Taxi!
Thanks, Ron.
Mr. Garfield's office.
I expect him back at 5:30.
Thanks, Connie.
I'll ask him to phone you.
Bye-bye.
Look, I found it.
Mrs. Sullivan. She insisted
on waiting for you.
I would appreciate
a few moments of your time.
Certainly. Hey,
come on in the office.
Hold my calls.
Will do.
Come on in. Have a seat.
Did your daughter send you?
'Cause she's full
of clever moves, you know.
No, she didn't.
She'd be upset with me
if she knew.
I like Kate. She's
quite the tomato.
She must take after you, huh?
You're very kind.
I would hope this meeting
will be held in confidence.
Everybody's looking for
confidence these days.
You want a cup of coffee?
Cup of tea? Glass of water?
You needn't be sociable,
Mr. Garfield.
Harriet, I'll have
a cup of coffee.
Yes, sir.
You mind if I smoke?
I'd like to tell you
why I'm here.
Good. Shoot.
I'm here to plead
for our company.
I want to talk to you
about hopes and dreams...
Traditions.
Would you care for a doughnut,
Mrs. Sullivan?
We've worked so hard
to build this company.
We're debt-free,
and we don't deserve
to lose it.
I want you to call off
your fight with us.
There's a trust fund in my name
with $1 million in it.
I'll turn it over to you
if you go away.
You don't want to do that.
We'll buy back
your shares at cost,
plus you'll have
$1 million profit.
Interesting.
I know $1 million
isn't much money to you,
but if I had more,
I'd give it to you.
Who are you doing it for?
Money's not
that important to me.
Well, it is to me.
Then accept my offer.
You'll have more money
than most people make
in a lifetime.
$1 million.
It's not enough.
Go home, Mrs. Sullivan.
I'd hoped to appeal
to your sense of decency.
I'm sorry.
I don't take money
from widows or orphans.
I make them money.
Before or after
you put them out of business?
Whew! What a woman.
Harriet, why do I
always bring out
the best in people?
Hello.
Hello.
Oh, please.
Arthur! Get the car.
Arthur.
I'm sorry, sir.
There's no answer
in miss Sullivan's apartment.
Well, try it again.
Maybe you dialed it wrong.
No!
It was...
um... um, excuse me, Bart.
What are you doing here?
Who's Bart?
I'm on my way out.
You should have called.
I need to talk to you.
I'm late.
I need to talk to you now.
You look beautiful.
Who's this guy?
Excuse me, Lawrence.
Call tomorrow.
I can't talk tomorrow.
It won't keep.
I want you to marry me.
Let me put it another way.
I want to marry you.
You thinking it over?
What are you talking about?
What do you mean?
I want you to be my wife.
We belong together.
Katherine.
I'm going to the opera.
I got to go.
You're the last thought I have
when I fall asleep at night
and the first when I wake up
in the morning.
I want to be with you
forever and ever.
I want to have babies with you.
Babies?
Yeah.
You see, I got to do this now
because after I win,
I wonder maybe
you won't ever want to
speak to me again.
I know how important
it is to you,
but you're not going to win.
It's killing me.
I want you.
I need you. I love you.
I don't want to lose you.
Katherine.
Keep your pants on.
I've got to go.
The opera. LA traviata.
Don't miss the first act.
It sets up the whole thing.
It's a wonderful production.
Have a good time.
I'm going to lose her, Arthur.
¶ Good king wenceslaus
looked out ¶
¶ on the feast of Stephen ¶
¶ when the snow lay
'round about ¶
¶ deep and crisp and even ¶
¶ brightly shone the moon
that night ¶
¶ though the frost
was cruel... ¶
oh, I've been looking for you.
Anytime you're ready.
You o.K.?
Yeah.
Just going over in my mind
what I want to say.
They're putting
speakers outside.
I think every shareholder
within driving distance
is coming.
I feel as if
we're Harry and Bess
on election night.
Harry Truman
was a better man than me.
He slept on election night.
I haven't slept in days.
Talk to me. Tell me.
I'm scared.
I'm scared that...
Time has passed us by.
I'm scared I don't know
this new environment.
I'm scared that what I do know
doesn't count
for anything anymore.
Things have changed.
Whatever happened
to people serving each other?
I don't want this man to win.
I'm not scared.
I'm just proud.
I'm proud of the
business we've built.
I'm so proud of you.
And if what we are
counts for nothing anymore,
then that's their
failing, not ours.
It'll be all right.
Just go out and tell the truth.
Go out and give 'em
hell, Harry.
Good luck to us all
today, bill.
I feel we're going
to be just fine.
Looks like they've come
from everywhere...
New York, Boston.
There's ozzie.
Happening all over, isn't it?
Everybody looking out
for themselves.
So, did you get your
golden parachute, bill?
Did he finally promise
to take care of you?
Lord of the manor,
house on the hill.
Said he didn't want
to talk about a funeral
while there was no corpse.
Well, time to go.
Bill.
How are you going to vote?
Oh, boy. They're out
in droves, Arthur.
They got the kids here.
Why do they always
bring the kids?
That's right... hooray, hooray.
Down with Garfield.
O.K., TV crews.
Financial news network,
here we come.
Mr. Garfield!
What are your plans
for new england wire and cable?
Make the stockholders richer.
Will you liquidate
new england wire and cable?
What about the workers?
My obligation
is to the stockholders.
The board of directors
makes that decision.
Will they lose their jobs?
Come on, answer the question.
Come on, Mr. Garfield!
How do you feel about
the outcome of
today's proxy vote?
I feel confident
that the shareholders
will vote their consciences.
I'm confident in
this company's future.
Could I have
your attention, please?
Welcome to...
New england wire and cable's
annual stockholders' meeting.
I'm William j. Coles,
your president...
And I'm sure...
I'm sure everyone here realizes
the most important item
on the agenda is...
The election
of the board of directors.
Now, there are staff members
passing out the ballots.
Right now, I am very proud
to introduce to you a man
who could accurately
be characterized
as a legend in the wire
and cable industry.
The chairman of the board
of new england wire and cable,
Mr. Andrew jorgenson.
Give 'em hell, Andy!
It's good to see so many...
Familiar faces,
so many old friends.
Some of you
I haven't seen in years.
Thank you for coming.
Bill coles, our able president,
in the annual report
has told you of our year,
of what we accomplished,
of the need
for further improvements,
our business goals
for next year
and the years beyond.
I'd like to talk to you
about something else.
I want to share with you
some of my thoughts
concerning the vote
that you're going to make
in the company that you own.
This proud company,
which has survived
the death of its founder,
numerous recessions,
one major depression,
and two world wars,
is in imminent danger
of self-destructing...
On this day,
in the town of its birth.
There is the instrument
of our destruction.
I want you to look at him
in all his glory...
Larry the liquidator.
The entrepreneur of
post-industrial America
playing God
with other people's money.
The robber barons of old
at least left something
tangible in their wake...
a coal mine, a railroad, banks.
This man leaves nothing.
He creates nothing.
He builds nothing.
He runs nothing.
And in his wake lies nothing
but a blizzard of paper
to cover the pain.
Oh.
If he said,
"I know how to run your
business better than you,"
that would be something
worth talking about.
But he's not saying that.
He's saying,
"I'm going to kill you
"because at this particular
moment in time,
you're worth more
dead than alive."
Well...
Maybe that's true,
but it is also true
that one day
this industry will turn,
one day when the yen is weaker,
the dollar is stronger,
or when we've finally
begun to rebuild our roads,
our Bridges,
the infrastructure
of our country,
demand will skyrocket.
And when those things happen,
we will still be here,
stronger because of our ordeal,
stronger because
we have survived.
And the price of our stock
will make his offer
pale by comparison.
God save us
if we vote to take his
paltry few dollars and run.
God save this country
if that is truly
the wave of the future.
We will then
have become a nation
that makes nothing
but hamburgers,
creates nothing but lawyers,
and sells nothing
but tax shelters.
And if we are at that point
in this country
where we kill something
because at the moment
it's worth more
dead than alive,
well,
take a look around.
Look at your neighbor.
Look at your neighbor.
You won't kill him, will you?
No.
It's called murder,
and it's illegal.
Well, this, too, is murder
on a mass scale.
Only on wall street,
they call it
maximizing shareholder value.
And they call it legal.
And they substitute
dollar bills
where a conscience should be.
Damn it!
A business is worth more
than the price of its stock.
It's the place
where we earn our living,
where we meet our friends,
dream our dreams.
It is, in every sense,
the very fabric that
binds our society together.
So let us now, at this meeting,
say to every Garfield
in the land,
here we build things,
we don't destroy them.
Here we care about more
than the price of our stock.
Here...
We care about people.
Thank you.
And now I'd like to introduce.
Mr. Lawrence Garfield.
Excuse me... please.
Let's show a little courtesy,
ladies and gentlemen.
Mr. Garfield is the president
and the chairman
of the board of...
Garfield investments.
Mr. Garfield.
No! No! No!
Get out of here!
Amen.
And amen.
And amen.
You have to forgive me.
I'm not familiar
with the local custom.
Where I come from,
you always say amen
after you hear a prayer.
Because that's
what you just heard.
A prayer.
Where I come from...
That particular prayer
is called
the prayer for the dead.
You just heard
the prayer for the dead,
my fellow stockholders,
and you didn't say amen.
This company is dead.
I didn't kill it.
Don't blame me.
It was dead when I got here.
It's too late for prayers.
For even if
the prayers were answered
and a miracle occurred
and the yen did this
and the dollar did that
and the infrastructure
did the other thing,
we'd still be dead.
You know why?
Fiber optics.
New technologies.
Obsolescence.
We're dead, all right.
We're just not broke.
And do you know
the surest way to go broke?
Keep getting
an increasing share
of a shrinking market.
Down the tubes.
Slow but sure.
You know,
at one time,
there must have been
dozens of companies
making buggy whips.
And I'll bet
the last company around
was the one that made
the best goddamn buggy whip
you ever saw.
Now, how would you have liked
to have been a stockholder
in that company?
You invested in a business,
and this business is dead.
Let's have the intelligence,
let's have the decency
to sign the death certificate,
collect the insurance,
and invest in something
with a future.
"Ahh, but we can't,"
goes the prayer.
We can't because
we have a responsibility,
a responsibility
to our employees,
to our community.
What will happen to them?
I got two words for that.
Who cares?
Care about them?
Why?
They didn't care about you.
They sucked you dry.
You have no
responsibility to them.
For the last 10 years,
this company bled your money.
Did this community ever say,
"we know times are tough...
we'll lower taxes,
reduce water and sewer"?
Check it out.
You're paying twice
what you did 10 years ago.
And our devoted employees
who've taken no increases
for the past three years
are still making twice
what they made 10 years ago.
And our stock...
1/6 what it was 10 years ago.
Who cares?
I'll tell you.
Me.
I'm not your best friend.
I'm your only friend.
I don't make anything?
I'm making you money.
And lest we forget,
that's the only reason
any of you
became stockholders
in the first place.
You want to make money.
You don't care
if they manufacture
wire and cable, fried chicken,
or grow tangerines!
You want to make money!
I'm the only friend you've got.
I'm making you money.
Take the money.
Invest it somewhere else.
Maybe...
Maybe you'll get lucky,
and it'll be used productively.
And if it is,
you'll create new jobs
and provide a service
for the economy
and, God forbid,
even make a few bucks
for yourselves.
And if anybody asks,
tell 'em you gave at the plant.
And by the way,
it pleases me that I am called.
Larry the liquidator.
You know why,
fellow stockholders?
Because at my funeral,
you'll leave with
a smile on your face
and a few bucks in your pocket.
Now, that's a funeral
worth having.
The ballots will be marked
and deposited
in the ballot boxes
at the rear of the hall.
Yeah.
Ladies and gentlemen, please.
May I have
your attention, please?
I will now read
the results of the balloting.
To retain the present board...
1,741,416.
For the opposition...
2,219,901.
Not voting...
176,111.
Mr. Garfield,
your slate is elected.
Congratulations, Mr. Garfield.
Congratulations, Lawrence.
You o.K., boss?
You want some chicken
soup or something?
Mmm.
Pie?
No.
How about some of that
carrot cake you like?
No.
Well, Carmen, we did it again.
I can always
count on you, can't I?
Another barrelful of money.
Not bad for a kid
from the Bronx.
I love money.
I love money.
Mr. Garfield,
Kate Sullivan is on the line.
Are you in or out,
Mr. Garfield?
Hello?
You're a greedy, arrogant,
self-absorbed,
overbearing...
avaricious?
I have a proposition for you.
Are you ready, Lawrence?
Ready.
Air bags.
Air bags?
Every car in America
is about to have one.
Did you know that air bags
are made from
stainless steel wire cloth?
Did you dump Bart?
The mitsushimi company of Japan
is ready to make
a long-term deal
with new england wire and cable
for the production of...
Air bags.
I love the sound of your voice.
Well, here comes
the best part, Lawrence.
You sell wire and cable
back to the employees,
they modernize
and re-equip the plant
and turn out air bags.
What's in it for me?
They'll pay 28 bucks a share.
You like?
They'll go to 30.
30? You think so?
Why not? We'll
discuss it at dinner...
see you in an hour.
Lunch. Tomorrow. 1:00.
You know where.
Strictly business.
Oh, yeah, yeah.
Strictly business.
Wow!
Did you hear that, Carmen?
Harriet! Call my manicurist,
call the barber,
call the florist,
tell Arthur I want
two tickets to the opera
tomorrow night. Puccini.
We're back in business!
Whoo-hoo!
It's money that I love.
Captioning made possible by
Warner bros., inc.
Captioning performed by the
national captioning institute, inc.
Captions copyright 1991
Warner bros., inc.