Rules Don't Apply (2016) - full transcript

How do we know
he's not in Los Angeles?

We were promised,

as you know, the call
would come to us at 4:00.

It's now 10 minutes after 4:00.

We're waiting here,
in Los Angeles, for a phone call

from legendary billionaire,
Howard Hughes,

which could debunk...

We're waiting here,
in Los Angeles, for a phone call

from legendary billionaire,
Howard Hughes,

which could debunk a writer's
claim that he's written

an authorized autobiography
of Hughes,



and that Hughes is in
a permanent state of dementia.

The location of Howard Hughes,

still a complete mystery to us.

And if he's unable to call,

as promised
by the Hughes organization,

and prove that
he is of sound mind,

well, the organization's
defense contracts,

its medical foundation,

even its casino licenses
could be in jeopardy.

If he doesn't call as promised,

it's gonna be hard for him
to defend himself

against the charges
in Miskin's book.

Yes, wherever he's hiding.

Yes, I'm told now
that we can only wait



for Mr. Hughes' phone call until 4:30.

Very few private citizens

can be said to have developed

such an astounding amount
of influence,

celebrity and achievement.

Always with an eye out for new talent,

Hughes developed a reputation

for employing dozens
of young, aspiring actresses,

and keeping them under contract

for years at RKO,

regardless of whether or not

they ever appear
in one of his pictures.

Hello?

Howard Hughes
was once the American ideal.

A moviemaker, an aviator,
an inventor...

Howard?

...and an industrialist,
who, at the age of 18,

inherited a fortune
which gave him a monopoly

on the best device in the world

with which to drill for oil.

This is a man with relationships

with presidents,
military leaders and people who are...

Howard, you've got 18 minutes
left to place the call.

In 1930, he produced
the most expensive movie ever made.

Well, Miskin's book says

that Howard Hughes
cannot remember anything,

that he's completely
unable to communicate.

Well, despite
his countless plane crashes,

all of which he survived...

Howard, can you hear me?

His design set new speed records
in his own racing aircraft,

and he essentially
became an American hero.

Of course, he's an American hero.

But it's not as if

he's incapable of making a mistake.

He could be in the middle of making

a big mistake right now.

I think you're mistaken, Mr. Hughes.

I think you're mistaken.

I don't make mistakes, Colonel.

Okay, he doesn't make mistakes.

The Department of Defense
has scheduled your flight...

The Department of Defense
didn't invent this plane, Colonel.

I did. I paid for it,

and I'll land it when
I'm goddamn ready to land it!

You are picking up
the Apple Blossom Queen.

Her name is Marla Mabrey.

Go down there, get her,

and drive her
straight to her house.

Remember, any driver
who tries any hanky-panky

with a contract actress is gone.

He's fired.

Thank you.

Miss Mabrey, I'm Frank.
Nice to meet you.

Congratulations on being
the Apple Blossom Queen.

The car's just over there.
I'll get the...

I'm Lucey, Frank. I'm Marla's mother.

This is Marla.

-Hi, I'm Frank.
-Hi.

This way, please.

-Sorry, sorry.
-Okay. All right.

Thank you.

Let me get that for you.

-Thank you.
-Of course.

Marla's so excited that she's actually

gonna finally meet Howard Hughes.

Will that be happening today?

That's hard for me to say, ma'am.

I'm new on the job.

I just, I got here
from Fresno two weeks ago.

Oh, my goodness.

Two weeks in Los Angeles

and you're working for Howard Hughes?

No harm having high hopes, ma'am.

And what church do you go to, Frank,

if you don't mind my asking?

Well, it's First Methodist.
It's in Fresno.

All right, you're a Methodist.

-Right.
-I forgive you.

-She's kidding.
-We're Baptists.

Blessed savior!

Oh, my goodness! What a view!

This is very, very nice. This is...

Where in the world
is that coming from?

That's the Hollywood Bowl down there.

I think they're rehearsing.

Really?

$400 a week on top of this?

And your father never saw $400 a week

even as a full professor.

The bags are all upstairs.
The kitchen's stocked.

I'll be right in the...

Outside in the car, if you need me.

Do you know where the nearest
Baptist church would be?

I'll check on that right away, ma'am.

So it just doesn't seem likely

that we'll meet
Mr. Hughes this afternoon?

We assumed we'd meet him
as soon as we arrived.

And where is the script
for Stella Starlight?

I'm sorry, I don't...

Any idea when I do the screen test?

I'm sorry, I really...

Excuse me, sorry.

I'll be right outside in the car

until your next driver comes on.

His name is Levar.

Oh, my stars!

Why are these chairs so far back?

I'm gonna move them up.

President Eisenhower
went on to say that the government...

...has what he termed,

"all sorts of useful projects
on the shelf,"

to be put into action
against the recession

if and when they're needed.

The economy of this country

is a lot stronger than

the spirit of those people
that I see...

"Bless us, oh, Lord,
for these, Thy gifts

that we are about to receive
from thy bounty,

through Christ,
Our Lord. Amen."

Amen.

Well, from all I've read
about Howard Hughes

I hope he doesn't expect to
meet you in some hotel room.

Hi.

Thank you.

Venus if you will

Please send a little girl
for me to thrill

A girl who wants my kisses and my arms

A girl with all the charms of you

Venus, make her fair

A lovely girl
with sunlight in her hair

So, did you get caviar?

Yes, I got caviar
but I still haven't met him.

Do you have any idea
how many houses

he has for actresses under contract?

I think something like 14.

More like 22.

More like 26.

26?

This is how we get paid?

Lord in heaven!

Nadine, am I meeting
Mr. Hughes today?

Sit.

This is an engineering problem.

You do know what these are?

Are these hulls of an aircraft?

What?

I don't know. Twin pontoons?

We do movies, Howard.

We don't know pontoons, propellers...

Gentlemen,

the way that the dress fits
around the breasts

makes it look like they're padded.

If the brassiere incorporated
some kind of point

at the nipple it would solve that.

And try not to let Miss Russell

hear you call them pontoons.

Good afternoon, gentlemen.

Both girls are going
away for the weekend,

so go now.

Frank, there you are.

Listen, you're doing swell,

and I want you to be prepared
to drive the boss any minute.

Well, my mom passed away.

Actually, I was raised
mostly by my grandma.

And your dad?

Well, he, kind of, took off
before she passed away, so...

I think every few weeks,

I'll probably be able to go back

and see my grandma and my girl.

I grew up across the street from,

actually, my fiancée.

Right now she takes care
of her father's dog kennel.

Do you think I'll ever
get to meet Mr. Hughes?

So, who was it that said...

"They also serve
who only stand and wait"?

John Milton on his blindness.

Good for you, smart cookie.

You know, they say in Hollywood,

a girl can get in trouble

for having a case of the smarts.

Not just in Hollywood, honey.

But if you or me make a move

on one of these chicks
we are dead in the water.

We're history. We're fired.

And the Iron Maiden has emerged.

-The what?
-Iron Maiden.

The virgin Marla.

You did? That's horrible.

Stop, you.

What's going on?
I called you three times.

Please, I'm late for my 4:00.

What's the matter?

You afraid the old man will hear

you were talking to a normal guy?

Please, no.

Just don't do this.

I'm not doing anything
and neither are you.

You're not allowed to do...

I'm doing just fine. Thank you.

You know what? Forget it.

What was that about?

Some guys never stop
looking to hide the salami.

What?

-What?
-Hide the salami.

Do the deed.

Dip the wick.

Varnish the cane.

Butter the muffin.

I get it.

Bye, girls.

He rocks in the tree tops all day long

Hoppin' and a-boppin'
and a-singing his song

All the little birds
on Jaybird Street

Love to hear the robin go
tweet, tweet, tweet

Rockin' robin

Tweet, tweet, tweet

Rockin' robin

Tweet, tweedle-lee-dee

Go rockin' robin

'Cause we're really
gonna rock tonight

Mamie told me that six months ago

one of the drivers got fired

because he ate dinner with her.

But Sally says all the drivers

have to be hired
through their churches.

Fine, that doesn't make them angels.

And when is Frank Forbes'
fiancée coming to town, anyway?

I don't want a ricochet romance

I don't want a ricochet love

If you're careless with your kisses

Find another turtle dove

I don't want a ricochet romance

No, no, not me

If you're gonna ricochet, baby

I'm gonna set you free

Reverend Forbes,
do not charge the battery,

if you're not going to use the lights.

Unless, of course,
you'd like to be fired.

Anyway, the virgin Marla's a Baptist.

You do know why Baptists think
fucking is bad, don't you?

Because it might lead to dancing.

Knock it off, Levar.

Ma, he's making eyes at me...

And here's this.

Thank you.

Careful, Granny.

"For food and all thy gifts of love,

we give Thee thanks and praise.

Look down, oh, Jesus, from above

and bless us all our days."

-Amen.
-Amen.

-Amen.
-Amen.

Glad you're feeling
better now, Mr. Bransford.

Your fiancée's been doing

a whale of a job
with the kennel, Frank.

But the puppies all tell me
they miss you around here.

Will the house you find us
have at least a tiny yard?

Absolutely.

And you still feel

Howard Hughes
is going to be interested

in developing a housing project

with a kid your age?

When you finally meet him.

For all have sinned and come
short of the glory of God.

The Bible says that we're all sinners.

And the word "sin" actually means

that we've come short
of God's standards.

Jesus said...

...that we should
love the Lord God

with all our heart, mind, and soul

and our neighbors ourselves.
And I think if...

You think he knows?

Knows what?

You know, that you and I have...

...gone all the way.

Don't be silly.

Frank, why do
all you drivers slow down

and speed up again like that?

These are from
the Hughes organization.

Read card 4, please.

Read 4.

"When transporting
female contract players,

drivers will slow
to two miles per hour

at any dip, swale,
undulation or impediment

that may jostle
unsupported body parts."

What does that mean, body parts?

You're kidding!

I haven't even met him
and he's protecting my body parts?

-What does it mean?
-Mom, he means my...

Oh, my God. That's outrageous!

I know. How does he know
they're unsupported?

-It's not amusing, Marla!
-That's what I wanna know.

It's funny.

It's not in the slightest bit amusing.

To treat these women
like he owns their bodies.

-He doesn't own their bodies.
-To have these young girls go to class

in their tiny little dance outfits.

Uniforms, they're called uniforms.

Have them grabbing for their paychecks

like it was bait on a hook.

-Which it is.
-Mom, please.

It's just so insulting
and disrespectful.

And you just watch all this

without saying one word,

-Frank, not a single word.
-What's he going to say?

Mrs. Mabrey, I've signed a contract

agreeing not to talk about Mr. Hughes.

Have you? I can only imagine

what it is you won't talk about.

Do you realize my daughter's
never met Mr. Hughes?

I do, ma'am.

Never heard one word from him
about this screen test?

You know, you've saved your money.

You're a smart girl.

You can buy a lot of caviar back
in Front Royal, Virginia, my dear.

They don't have caviar

back in Front Royal,
Virginia, my dear.

Don't you be snippy with me,
young lady.

Nobody's getting any younger.

Mrs. Mabrey, I'd appreciate
your keeping this between us.

I've never met Mr. Hughes either.

-Amen.
-Amen.

I'll get it.

Hello?

-Mabrey?
-Yes, Nadine.

Everything in the house is fine?

Yes, everything is fine.

Thank you. We would like to know,

when is the screen test
for Stella Starlight?

And where, for heaven's sake,
is Mr. Howard Hughes

who's never been gracious enough

to speak one word
to my daughter since she's been here?

We are not a couple
of Virginia bumpkins.

We've waited long enough.

I have nothing further to say.
Good night.

Marla, you turned down a scholarship
to Mary Washington.

You haven't written a song
since you've been here,

and you haven't even met this man

who's supposedly
making your screen test.

His money is not enough
to buy your time.

Mom, he's the king of Hollywood,

he's one of the most
respected men in America.

He's some kind of a genius.

Everybody wants him, he's a busy man.

And you are a gifted young woman
with a wonderful future.

God forbid, in a town like this.

This game Howard Hughes
plays with young women,

it doesn't fool me one bit.

Nobody's getting any younger.

We are going home.

We?

I love you, Mom.

I'll help you pack.

The Bible tells us,

that whosoever looketh on a woman

to lust after her,

hath committed adultery
with her already in his heart.

Someone who tells us the Bible

doesn't deal with sex before marriage

is simply trying
to avoid feeling guilty.

There is a time to reap
and a time to sow.

There is a time to embrace,

and a time to refrain from embracing.

-Hi.
-Hi.

How was church?

Miss your mom, huh?

Let's just go. I like driving.

I didn't think you knew how.

I mean, I like going for a drive.

I know how to drive,
or I did. Let's go.

What do you mean "You did"?

My dad, God rest his soul,

thought women drivers were dangerous,

so I quit, then I forgot how. Okay?

-What are you doing?
-You'll remember.

You've got a driver's license,
don't you?

Let's go. I want to show you
a place off Mulholland Drive.

Wait.

It's nice back here.

Hey!

What do wanna show me?

It's just some acreage
I wanna develop.

Slow down a little bit around here.

It's for affordable housing.

Affordable housing?

Yeah. You know,
people who aren't rich.

They wanna get out of the cities,

and into the suburbs.

Just take a right, right here.
Take a right, right here?

Never mind.

The land I'm gonna show you,
the Teamsters own it.

They tried making it a golf course,

but nobody came.

Okay, you can slow down
a little bit more, right?

It's 117 acres.

I feel, you know,
if you make a good deal

on the land
and then you subdivide...

I don't mean big houses,

I mean, modest houses
for middle class families.

Okay, there's...

Cash is king right now.

With Howard Hughes as a backer,

I mean, I know
I can make him a profit.

I wanna call it Mulholland Canyon.

You got a light.

They told me again,
"Be ready to drive the boss."

Wow! You might even meet the guy.

I should become a driver.

Well, I'm driving.

I think you're right about this place.

They told me earlier,

class was canceled.
They didn't call you?

I never quite know what's going on.

I had such a strange day.

I was outside at Schwab's,

and this guy started talking to me.

It was nice, I mean he wasn't...

He wasn't making
a pass at me or anything,

but we talked, and he said

he'd like to have dinner, and I'm...

I'm just looking at him,

and then I realize who I'm talking to.

Bobby Darin.

I said, "I can't believe it.

"You're Bobby Darin."

I mean, okay, he didn't know
I was an actress or anything.

But I didn't even know
he was Bobby Darin.

It just...

I...

I feel...

Old.

Old?

I mean, wouldn't you say in
Hollywood as a rule,

when you've been here
as long as I have

that you should have
already more or less

shown what you can do?

Let's be honest, maybe I'm not
the right girl for this,

I mean aren't you supposed
to have big bosoms

and be sexy and casual
about everything?

I'm a square.

I can't really act. I can't dance.

I can write songs,
but I can't really sing.

A movie actress should
sing songs, not write them.

Wouldn't you say that's true?

I mean, as a rule.

I mean, in this town,
aren't those the rules?

What?

Come on, Frank, you know the rules.

You're an exception.

The rules don't apply to you.

Hold on.

Hello?

Marla, hi.

I just wanted you to know...

You're meeting
with Mr. Hughes tonight.

I'll send someone
to pick you up right away.

Thank you.

Guess what.

This is the Beverly Hills Hotel?

We take the private entrance
to the Polo Lounge.

Hi!

Thank you.

Would you like a cocktail?

I don't drink.

-Okay, I'll be in the car.
-Okay.

Would you follow me, Ms. Mabrey?

What are you talking about?

It's dark in here. Have a seat.

Does he always keep it this dark?

Does he stay in this bungalow?

Sorry, I can't say.

Did I hear he has five bungalows?

What's in those bottles?

That's water.

From Maine.

Water.

From Maine.

Is Frank still here?

He's...

He's in the car.

You like crossword puzzles?

Yeah.

Yes?

Right away.

Mr. Hughes. I recognize
you from your pictures.

I'd like to thank you.

Thank you for my acting classes,

thank you for my ballet classes,

thank you for the house

thank you for the paycheck,

and thank you for the chance
to become a star.

Your name is, is...

-Marla.
-Marla.

-Marla Mabrey.
-Marla Mabrey. Yes.

Some champagne, Marla?

No. No, thank you, I don't drink.

You don't like to have a drink?

No, actually I've never had one.

You've never had a drink?

No.

You've never had a drink in your life?

No.

Good for you, good for you.

You do eat, yes?

I do.

Yes, I do eat.

Gee.

This is neat. Steak, mashed potatoes,

little peas.

Just about every single one
of my favorites.

Should I take mime, Mr. Hughes?

They say it's the visual that counts.

A picture's worth a thousand words.

And stardom's all in
how you carry your body.

Is it true Lana Turner took mime?

I guess I'm just all confused.

What material will I do

when you do my screen test
for Stella Starlight?

Nice.

Yes.

That's rayon, you know,

the American Viscose Corporation

started making rayon before the war.

Good stuff.

-Hello?
-Yes?

Look, I want you to tell Arnold

that the wing flaps are not 35.4.

They're 36.9.

I have told him that
not once, but twice!

So take care of it!

Mr. Hughes,

I don't know if I have the talent

to be successful in the movies,

but I think I do.

And I'm not insulted by your
failure to meet me sooner

because I know you have your
own way of doing things.

And I may be a bumpkin from Virginia,

but I'm a good Christian.

And I'm smart enough to know

that if the rumors
I've heard about you

with women were true,
you wouldn't have had time

to fly a plane, let alone invent one

whether the wing flaps
were 35.4 or 36.9.

So I only hope I can earn
your respect for my work

because you've certainly
earned my respect for yours.

What is so funny?

Hey, I'm gonna get busy
on the screen test.

Nadine.

Blessed Savior!

Will you say hello to Nadine for me?

She's a treasure.

Nadine, I wanna get busy right away

on the Stella Starlight screen test

for Marla Mabrey, okay?

Good. Also, make sure

Harvey retouched the picture
of me in my sweater.

Okay.

Thanks, Marla.

Thank you!

So what's he really like?

My mom could not
have been more wrong.

A total gentleman! Amazing!

I mean, yes, he's not young.

But the man's
an incredibly romantic figure.

I mean, let's face it, he's old

but everybody's got a crush
on him anyway.

I don't know if it's the money

or the power or the mystery or what.

This is silly.

What am I,

Mamie Eisenhower in a limousine?

I think maybe
it's gonna happen now, Frank.

I just met Howard Hughes.

Frank, that's 3:15 a.m.
Do you read me?

Roger. 3:15 a.m.

What's 3:15 a.m.?

I'm meeting him.

I pick him up here, 3:15 a.m.

It is a big day!

My mom could not have been more wrong!

That's water.

From Maine.

Water.

From Maine.

How many bathrooms did
the house you grew up in have?

One.

Mine, too.

Keep dreaming about that house.

I keep knocking walls out

and making it bigger and bigger.

No, no, no. I need to know
if that son of a bitch, Levar,

is behaving appropriately
with these girls.

And by the way,

I'm not sure about Wilbur either.

So tonight, I'm checking out
this kid, Frank Forbes.

Did you ever think you'd be sittin' in

your front yard listening to
the Los Angeles Philharmonic?

Let's just hope nobody saw me
driving you in the front seat.

Frank, I really wanna let you know

that when you told me
the rules don't apply to me

it was really helpful.

Good.

You know, they don't
apply to you either.

Right.

Right.

Right.

I guess we better say good night.

Yes.

Good night.

Hey! You've got a date at 3:15.

Bobby Darin's not coming by later?

Mr. Hughes, I'm Frank.

It's really an honor

to have the opportunity
to drive you, Mr. Hughes.

I didn't... I wasn't...

I didn't know I'd be...

It would happen that
I'd be driving you, but I...

...or that I'd be...

...meeting you, I mean.

It's a nice night.

Hey, do you think Levar

and Wilbur are the kind of guys

who might wanna chippy on their wives?

-Chippy, sir?
-Cheat.

I think they're both honest men, sir.

-Not old and jaded, you know?
-No.

Yeah, because that's one thing
I simply cannot abide

is a married man
who chippies on his wife.

I have to fire him, you know?

And if anybody working for me

wants to strike up a relationship

with one of our contract actresses

-I have to fire him.
-Right.

-I just have to do that...
-Yeah.

They told me you're engaged to
be married to your...

-...seventh grade sweetheart?
-Yes.

-Is that good? Yeah.
-Yes, thank you.

I admire that.

Tell me something.

What is your thinking on Sally?

Or... Or Mamie, for instance?

Do you think they're straight arrows?

-Straight arrows?
-Yeah.

Or the Apple Blossom Queen.
Does she play around?

Marla Mabrey, you mean?

Marla Mabrey, yeah. Is she fast?

-Fast?
-Fast. Promiscuous. Yeah.

Well, everybody who knows her says

she's the most devout
Christian they've ever met.

Really? And does she drink?

I'm told she's never had
a drink in her life, sir.

-Really?
-Yes.

-She go to church?
-Not far from my own.

You...

You go to church every Sunday?

-Yes, Sir. Since I was 13.
-Really?

You know, all these girls
want their own cars.

But I'm telling you,
if you don't drive them,

you can't keep an eye on them.

And it's just a, it's just a...

You gotta have

-their gate keys.
-Yes.

The keys to their gate,
because I'm telling you...

Venereal disease
in Los Angeles County's

-up something like 85%.
-Really?

Are you familiar with available land
off Mulholland Drive, sir?

We're very impressed
by a guy named Colton at Searle.

And he seems to have come up
with something for the ladies

called a birth control pill.

-Birth control?
-Birth control pill.

It's a contraceptive. It's Enovid.

If you're smart,
you'll buy yourself some Searle stock.

Thank you for that tip, sir.

You know, Hoffmann-La Roche

just got a new drug through the FDA.

It's an antidepressant.
They're calling it Librium.

The company's Swiss,

but they've got an American division

with a CEO by the name
of Bob Clark. He's part Irish.

So instead of Smith Kline,

or Merck, or Upjohn,
or Pfizer, or even Searle,

you might wanna take a look
at Hoffmann-La Roche.

Might be a heck of a stock.

That's nice.

Yeah.

"For food and all Thy gifts of love,

we give Thee thanks and praise.

Look down, Oh Jesus, from up above

and bless us all our days. Amen."

Okay, now, what did you wanna

sell me on Mulholland Drive?

It looks to me, sir,

that this might be, excuse me

the right time to buy
a very unique piece of land.

It's 117 acres. It's got everything.

It's located right above Mulholland...

Do you like to fly?

-Fly?
-Fly.

No, sir.

-No?
-No.

Why?

I never have.

You never have what?

Flown in a plane.

You've never flown in a plane?

No.

No, no, no, sir.

Sir, this one's on Frank Forbes.

Who's Frank Forbes?

I got you! I got you on that one!

You got me with that one, sir. Yes.

No, I know you, Frank.

I know all about you. You know that?

-I know all about you.
-Really?

This thing, you know...

About two and a half months,
maybe three months

gonna be ready to test.

But tomorrow
we're testing a little plane.

Really?

And I want you there with me.

-Okay?
-Yes, sir.

-You understand?
-Yes, sir.

-You get it?
-Yes, sir.

Okay. Good.

You know, sometimes
I just like to come out here

and just sit, have a burger,
and just talk to my plane.

Hi, plane.

Say hello to my plane, will you?

Hi, plane.

Plane, this is Frank.

And tomorrow, we got the little plane.

Mr. Hughes, you continue this flight

at the risk of endangering
a plane that has been paid for

by the government
of the United States.

I am trying to land the goddamn thing!

Mr. Hughes,
get on your safety frequency.

Come in, please.

No safety frequency.

Do I...

A little surprise, huh?

It works. Yeah.

I feel this.

Do you like it?

Yes, sir.

Don't touch that codeine.

-If you can get pushing...
-Don't tell me what to push!

I invented the goddamn thing!

Time for your enema, sir.

Give the goddamn enema bag
to Mr. Forbes, please.

Yes...

Mr. Forbes. The enema bag.

You're the only person I trust
with that thing now, Frank.

I tell you,
this dope stops you up.

It stops you up.

Buying you some of
that birth control stock.

It's gonna go through
the goddamn roof.

Frank, you know how old I was

when I inherited the Hughes
Tool Company from my daddy?

Younger than you.

Mr. Hughes, I don't know

that I'm really qualified to...

That's gonna be a bad scar.

What do I...

What do I do with that?

I'll check on it, Mr. Forbes.

Lana Turner's roses
are better than mine.

But look at these!

Daisies.

So unexpected.

Jean Peters is smart.

Mr. Forbes, Nadine is on the phone.

Where I come from, daisies are cheap.

-Yeah?
-Frank, it's about...

Yes, hello, Nadine.

I've been on duty at the hospital

a hundred percent of my time.

It's a little difficult
for me to count

how many gallons of gas that I used

before Mr. Hughes had his accident.

Thank you.

You've moved up.

Mr. Forbes.

It's been a while.

They need you.

Okay.

Bobby Darin's not sending you daisies?

Okay, fine. I get it.

I have to still sit in the back seat.

But if we're going to lunch,

do we eat at the same table, or...

No. I'm eating in the kitchen,
of course.

I think, you know what?

Why don't you just drive?
I should sit in the back seat.

I don't know why I'm, you know...

I guess nobody can say
we don't follow the rules.

"For food and all Thy gifts of love,

we give Thee thanks and praise.

Look down, Oh Jesus,

from above and bless us all
our days. Amen."

Amen. I can't believe it.

He's finally out of the hospital,

and right away you fly to Washington?

You're gonna miss my screen test.

I heard Eisenhower sent him
a telegram.

If Eisenhower was really smart,

he'd have Howard Hughes
just bomb Moscow,

and have communism over
and done with.

I think Howard Hughes
should be president.

There's nobody like him.
He's on another level.

Seriously, the poor man,

he's gotta deal with these
TWA stockholders

who are crabbing about moving
from propellers to jets.

At the same time,

he now has to convince
the United States Senate

that the Hercules can fly.

So you're gonna fly to Washington?

I will not be flying.
Thank you for asking. I will be taking

the train early in the morning.

When does Sarah move to LA?

Well, I...

Don't know if Sarah and I are...

She still believes that
once you've been intimate

or gone all the way with a person,

that in the eyes of God

you're committed to that person

for the rest of your life.

So she believes
since you and she have...

...gone all the way,
that you're already married?

I agree with Sarah.

That's why I've never done it.

That's why I'm waiting,
because I have to be sure.

Well that's, I mean,
that's a little...

I'm not legally married.

Senator, I have come here to testify

of my own free will.

Senator, I have come here to
testify of my own free will.

Wait. Senator,

I have come here to testify
of my own free will.

Senator, I have come here to
testify of my own free will.

Any word on the possibility of me...

...getting a ticker tape parade?

They don't have ticker tape
parades in Washington, Howard.

There are no skyscrapers here.

Do you think I don't know
what you're planning?

What I'm planning?

What you're planning.
You think I'm nuts, right?

You think I'm nuts.

Howard, all I said was,

I think you should see someone.

"See someone?"

I really think you need help, kid.

See someone?

What are you talking about?

Do you realize that I'm trying to move

an entire airline
from propellers to jets?

And the stockholders could hear

that I am sitting in a loony bin

locked up with some psychiatrist

who can declare me to be incompetent

and then I have to give
the whole goddamn business

over to some goddamn conservator?

You do realize that?

I'll be in my room, Howard.

What are you looking at?

You got any ideas? Speak up.

I think you represent
to the majority of this committee,

what is great about capitalism
as opposed to communism.

I think these people
are scared of you,

and I think they wanna be you.

I don't think you have to practice

what you're gonna say like this.

I think you can go in there,

and try not even knowing

what you're gonna say
until you say it.

And you're not, in my opinion,
gonna say the wrong thing.

You know...

You know how old I was
when I took over my daddy's company?

I was younger than you.

Did I tell you that?

Roll film.

Okay. Darling, relax.

Tell us a little about yourself.

Okay. I'm from Front Royal, Virginia.

I've always been interested
in speech and dramatics.

-I write songs.
-Turn to your left.

Can you raise
your chin up a little?

Great. Keep talking.

I was going to go
to Mary Washington College,

where I intended to major in English.

Okay, can you turn to your right?

But keep talking, and chin up.
Major in English, go on.

But I decided
when I won a talent contest

that maybe I'd give it a go
in Hollywood.

Okay, can you turn to your right?

Great, great, great. Okay.

Do you sing?

Well, sort of.

Should I keep talking?

Okay, turn to your left.

Do you swim?

Sure!

Wardrobe, do we have
any bathing suits?

If you ever wanted
to slip out for a bite or something,

I think we could do
that under the radar.

Mr. Hughes,

the American people
wanna know if someone

is making a profit
on a plane that can't fly!

Senator...

I have come here to testify
of my own free will.

Nobody's making any profit.

This plane will be used
for testing and research

and advancing the art of
aviation in this country.

In a few more days, it'll fly.

I have stated that
if it were to be a failure,

I would leave this country
and never come back.

And I mean it!

It'll fly, Senator.

It'll fly.

Howard Hughes's giant plane has flown.

And at the controls, the successful
designer, builder, owner,

airspeed record holder,
multimillionaire himself,

Howard Hughes.

Bravo!

Billionaire, goddamn it,
not millionaire.

And what the hell happened
to the close-up of me

in the cockpit? You know,

the plane flew for one mile,

and nobody knows
if it'll ever fly again.

And they know what it cost.
That does me no good

at TWA. All right,
thank you, gentlemen.

Thank you very much. Greg?

Yes, Howard?

Howard?

Howard?

I gotta know
what legal steps I gotta take

to keep these people
from sticking me with a psychiatrist,

and then committing me
to an insane asylum...

Then declaring me to be incompetent,

and then turning over
my entire business to a conservator.

You gotta tell me what I have to do...

To legally keep them
from doing that, okay?

Call me back.

Hello?

Hello, ma'am.

I was informed that

your television antenna was defective.

I brought over the newest model.

And I was wondering if you would...

I just saw your screen test.
You were great.

It was great!

Really?

Well... I thought it was pretty awful!

You were great.

They just wanted to see me
in a bathing suit!

I didn't do it.

But they didn't say anything
when it was over.

You've got something these guys

don't even know about yet.

I mean, wait till
Howard Hughes sees it.

I have two more of these
in the car, just in case.

Daisies.

And not from Jean Peters?

Well, they could be.
They could be from anybody.

They just, according to the rules,
can't be from me.

Part of my job. Part of my job.

One day I told my friend

I was terribly blue

Was it far too late to do

What I dreamed I would do?

He thought for a moment,
then he answered

He said the rules don't apply to you

He said it very simply and quietly too

But as if there wasn't
any doubt at all

That he knew

He gave me a gift

That I would treasure

He said the rules don't apply

To you

In the movies we see

In the shows on TV

And in anthems passionately sung

There's a message that you've got

To keep believing in yourself

But they generally mean
if you're young

Is it written in the air
as it seems to be

That we haven't long at all
to find our destiny

I'll always remember to be grateful

That the rules don't apply

To me

Who is that?

It's Levar.

-What?
-He's driving me to class.

This is my fault.

This is all my fault.
This is my fault.

No, no. This is not your fault.

This is all my fault.
This is my fault.

And it's fine.
Let's face it, it's fine.

I sang you the song.

This is my fault.

This is all my fault.

There's a broom and a dustpan
in there, okay?

Wait, tell Levar
I brought the antenna. Okay.

Hi, come on in.

Hi.

Frank and I were trying
to make space

-for the TV and...
-Wow.

-Let me help you with that.
-Thanks!

Sure.

Wait. What, what time is it?
We're gonna be late for class.

No, you're not going to class.

Mr. Hughes wants to see you.

Now?

Yeah, yeah, I thought they called you.

I'm supposed to take you over there.

Hey, Levar.

Hi, Frank.

They sent me over
with the new antenna.

It didn't work though.

We were trying to move the TV.

-I'll do that. I'll do it.
-No, no, no.

I'll do that, I'll do that.
Yeah, be careful of your feet.

I'll get the other
antennas from the car.

No! I'll do that!
Because I know that you're late.

So I'll get them.

Boy.

I'm...

I'm gonna get some towels.

I just don't know how this
stands with the church.

I'm sorry. I'm gonna go to Fresno.

-I'm gonna talk to Sarah.
-You're married!

You're a married man!

-I'm gonna be honest with her.
-I know that!

-I have been with her since...
-You're right.

...we were in
the seventh grade together.

What's been happening with us
is not your fault.

But I've behaved like a cheap floozy.

You're not hearing what I'm saying.

I'm not some disgusting
tease of a virgin...

-You've done nothing wrong!
-...trying to steal

another woman's husband.
Are you listening to me?

You're not listening
to what I'm saying.

I am not trying to steal
another woman's husband.

-You've done nothing wrong.
-You're not an adulterer.

You're married, Frank.

-You're not...
-You're...

Need help?

No, thanks, Levar. I'm just gonna
change my clothes. Thanks, Frank.

See you later.

I hired you as my double
because you look exactly like me.

The shoes are all wrong.
Now, get out of here.

They'll be more
exacting next time, sir.

Okay. That, that you cannot legally

commit a person to an insane asylum

if they are married and their spouse
refuses to commit to it?

Yes, sir.

Well, what if there is no spouse?

Howard--

Greg, I got 30,000 people
working for me

on weapons the Pentagon
would trust nobody else to do,

and you're telling me go out

and get a wife to stay out
of the loony bin?

After your meeting,
what would you think about

sneaking out
some place totally private?

Yes, ring Mr. Brian Forester, please.

Brian Forester.

This is Howard Hughes.

Hello, Mr. Hughes.

We've traveled a long way, sir,
to discuss TWA. We were just hoping

we could skip over
and say a quick hello.

We're in the same hotel, after all.

You could just be a few feet away!

I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Forester.

I will talk to you later.

Hi. Want some ice cream?

No, thank you.

Bit on top. Yes, yes. That's good.

The young lady is here, Mr. Hughes.

Also, Mr. Forester,
the Merrill Lynch man,

called again.

They're in bungalow 8-A.

They wanna know
which bungalow you're in.

They wanna see you.

There's no need for anyone
to know what bungalow I'm in.

Yeah, just give me...
Yeah, yeah, yeah...

Good, good, good. Okay.
And, you can take...

Be careful.

Yeah, because...

You...

Yeah, yeah. That's good.

And a little bit more over.
That's good.

Hey. Hey.

Get that person outta here!

Let's find your mommy and daddy.

So are we finished
with this haircut or not?

How should I know? He's very exacting.

Exacting's not even the word for that.

I don't look like him!

So now you're telling me

to just go get married to somebody

who's nice enough to keep people

from putting me into an insane asylum?

Also, I'm running outta codeine.

Sarah, we should take
a little bit of time.

We need to take time to think.

Well, hello.

What did you say?

I said hello!

It's been a while, Mr. Hughes.

It's been a while since we met.

I have a telephone message
from Mr. Forester.

Read it.

"We came at your request to lend you

$400 million for TWA.

Shouldn't we at least
be allowed to meet you,

as the person who controls TWA,

face-to-face?"

What was his tone?

-Nervous.
-Service?

Nervous!

Yeah. Well, okay, thank you.

Yeah, it has been

a while since we were able
to see one another, Marla.

I do see your name
on my check every week.

That's sort of like seeing you.

Would you excuse me?

Shut the door.

What the hell is she doin' here?

You said you wanted the girl
with the two M's.

That's not her.
That's Marla Mabrey.

She's a Baptist nun,
for Christ's sake.

That's the only one
on the payroll with two M's.

Did it occur to you that maybe the one

that I wanted with the two M's
was not on the payroll?

You meant Marilyn Monroe?

Who?

Marilyn Monroe? Her?

Yes! Marilyn Monroe!

I'll get rid of her at once.
I apologize, sir.

-Marilyn. I'll get Marilyn.
-No. Hey, wait, wait...

I'll get rid of her. You go on home.

How's your mother?

She's very well.

Bankers.

Big boys from New York.

From what I read,

bankers work in extremely
conventional ways.

I don't pretend to understand
the airline business,

but I'm told you say propellers

are a thing of the past.

Well, I think your mother
probably thought I was okay

as long as she was sure that

we had nothin' to do with each other.

I think she thought that if I had been

just one of those girls

you wouldn't have real respect
for my integrity.

I mean, I guess a girl's always

got a reputation to think about.

Well, I guess a man always

has a reputation to think about.

Hello?

Mr. Forester?

Mr. Hughes?

Listen, I don't think there's any real

necessity for us to meet.

I mean, there's no reason
why we can't do this

on the telephone.

Well, let me be plain, sir.

I am not authorized to approve
our venture to lend you

$400 million unless we meet.

Mr. Hughes?

Mr. Hughes?

If there's a Stella Starlight script,

you could have fooled me.

Did you look at my screen test?

Mr. Hughes, please just...

...tell us what bungalow you're in.

It would be so very easy.

We're, we're 14 feet away.
Five feet away? Twenty feet away?

Which one is your bungalow?
We'll come to you!

Mr. Forester...

I'm sorry, I don't think there's any

need for us to actually meet.

There's no reason why we shouldn't

be able to do this on the telephone.

Mr. Hughes?

Mr. Hughes?

These guys wanna have
a face-to-face meeting with me,

and then be able to say I'm crazy.

And then I'll have to give up control

of TWA to them. It's just...

Well, maybe you'd teach them a lesson

if you just gave it to them.

Then they could sue me
for a whole lot of money,

and then they may come after
my daddy's company,

and so I really
can't afford to let them

make me some kind
of a psychiatric case.

I would leave this country
and never come back.

I'd leave this country,
and never come back.

I'd leave this country,
and never come back.

You know?

I'd leave this country,
and never come back.

I'd leave this country,
and never come back.

What, I'm not gonna do it.

They just have a face-to-face
meeting with me,

and then call me a nut?

Well, that's ridiculous!

And you have all your
own people around you

who you know you can trust.

May I give you some advice?

Yes.

Never trust anybody.

Not me, not anybody.

They're not your mommy or your daddy.

The only person you can trust is you.

Do you have children?

Me?

-No?
-No.

I'm afraid that I'm still
more of a son than a father.

But I'll tell you somethin'
very important,

that a couple of limeys came up with

three or four years ago.

Little thing called DNA,

and we're workin' with it
over at my foundation.

In a sense, you are your father,

because his DNA
is still inside of you.

It keeps goin' on,

and your father had nothing
to say about it.

That's what makes him still alive.

DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid.

It's got all the genetic instructions

that cause all of the function
and development of all

known living organisms.
It's the basic,

hereditary material in human beings,

and it's gonna replicate,
and replicate, and replicate,

whether we want it to or not.

You have no choice.
It's just gonna keep going.

It's gonna keep you alive.

What if Stella Starlight sang?

You know, make the movie a musical.

I can sing!

Well, but nobody should have children

if they don't want to.
That's for sure.

Yeah. Well, anyway,

if I lost my daddy's company,
it'd be like losing my daddy.

Those finance people are jackals.

Jackals?

Jackals.

Why should you meet with them?

And so what
if you repeat yourself a lot?

It adds emphasis.

Emphasis?

Have you heard from people
that I'm crazy?

Well, if what you are is crazy, then,

then give me more crazy!

You're not crazy. You're just...

Smart.

You are not like other people.

You're an exception.

Hello?

Mr. Hughes?

I am not going to be able
to talk to you until later.

What is later?

Thank you. Thank you.

Mr. Hughes?

Wanna hear a little song I wrote?

One day I told my friend

I was terribly blue

Was it far too late to do

What I dreamed I would do

He thought for a moment
then he answered

He said the rules don't apply to you

In the movies we see

In the shows on TV

And in anthems passionately sung

There's a message that you've got

To keep believing in yourself

But they generally mean
if you're young

You say you're feeling broken

So terribly blue

'Cause it's far too late to do

What you dreamed you would do

But I'll tell you a secret

And I swear to God it's true

You make an old guy courageous, Marla.

Is that a compliment, Howard?

You're not calling me Mr. Hughes.

Makes me feel so much younger.

Good, Howard!

Now, how would you like
to forget about

bringing the entire
American aerospace industry

into the inevitable future

and drive to Palm Springs in a car?

They say it's like heaven.

If I had a car, I'd drive you there.

All you girls should have cars.

And we should tear up
your term contract

and just make it a picture
a year for three years.

$100,000 a picture, okay?

It doesn't seem real to me.

That's what's real.

You think it's crazy to trust
your gut instinct?

"There is a tide
in the affairs of men,

which taken at the flood
lead on to fortune.

Omitted, all the voyage of their life

is bound in shallows and in miseries."

Yes.

"There is a time for everything.

A time to reap and a time to sow.

A time to abstain from embracing,

and there is a time to embrace."

We don't need a justice of the peace.

With this ring, I thee wed.

Wait.

Careful.

Yeah.

Yeah. That's it.

What do you mean
we need time to think?

I just, I mean that...

We've been thinking
since the seventh grade.

I only mean that we should
take a little bit of time.

You know, we're not
in the seventh grade anymore.

I'm just saying it's probably...

You mean you need time to think.

Get me Greg.

Yes, Howard?

-Greg?
-Yes?

I've changed my mind. Get the plane.

I'm going to Vegas in one hour.

Howard, no air...

Mr. Hughes, do you want my money?

Do you want my money?

Do you want my money or not?

The hell with TWA, you son of a bitch!

We're flying American Airlines
back to New York!

-Hi.
-Hi.

Wow!

This is great!

They're giving all the girls cars.

They told me at headquarters.

But I can't make mine start.

-Really?
-No.

Do you want me to...

-It's probably flooded.
-Flooded?

Yeah. It's flooded.

You have to wait a little.

Did somebody give that to you?

Who gave that to you?

You're a married man, Frank.

-I--
-Who gave that to you?

I can't do this with you anymore.

I'm seeing someone.

It's private.

I'm not gonna discuss it with you.

-Hello?
-Hello?

-Nadine!
-Yes?

Hi, it's Marla.

Marla, hi.

Would you please ask
Mr. Hughes to call me back?

I'm sorry, Marla. All I can say is

he's gonna be out of town for a month.

Possibly five weeks.

Anything I can help with?

Well, could you tell him I've decided

against the agreement we discussed?

I can't do it. I just can't do it.

I'll give him your message.

Okay. Thank you.

I used to have a life.

Walter O'Malley,

the owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers

has announced the team
will be moving to Los Angeles.

Also, a bulletin just in
about Howard Hughes.

Howard Hughes just
announced he's married.

And wouldn't you know,
he married an actress.

The new Mrs. Hughes is

Hollywood actress, Jean Peters.

In other news,
Premier Khrushchev told the United...

Oh, my God.

Jean Peters hit the jackpot!

Sally told me
he was moving to Las Vegas

for a while, but not to get married.

And meanwhile, he's out of town,

and he's got poor Frank and Levar

cooped up in the studio
all day and night.

I'm gonna go down to RKO tomorrow

and tell Levar why you can't believe

anything Howard Hughes ever says.

I've had it with Howard Hughes.

Mamie, I forgot something.
I'll catch up with you later.

Hey, Mamie.

Hello, gentlemen.

I don't want anybody knowing
I'm not in Las Vegas.

They cannot know I'm in Los Angeles.

We got some things to catch up on.

Just tell what's his name,

to walk over to the White House

and loan the vice president's
brother $205,000.

Read me back the last page of my memo

on my wife's missing cat.

Yes, Mr. Hughes.

"I have been in Las Vegas
for 37 hours now.

I have been told there has not been

one iota of progress

in Los Angeles in the search
for my wife's missing cat.

I want somebody who is an expert

in the ways of animals of this type.

Los Angeles is not the jungle.

It is not the Everglades.
It is not New York City

with the dense population.

If a zoo had lost
some valuable animal

in the Los Angeles area,

there would have been
25 or 30 men

scouring the countryside,

men skilled in the habits and
ways of an animal of this kind

and would have found it by now."

"I feel that there is
absolutely no reason why

a search should not
have been instigated

for this animal, equal in any way

to what would have happened

if some damned train
had broken down here

and some leopard or panther
or whatnot had escaped.

There is absolutely no reason
why a man of my resources

and having the resources and
organization that I have got,

there is no goddamned
reason in the world."

"There are many, many, many things

that could have been done

in the almost one and a half days

that I have been here in Las Vegas.

I hope you will read this seven times,

because I have never meant anything

more sincerely than I mean this.

Signed, Howard R. Hughes."

It's 26 pages long, Mr. Hughes.

We have four carbon copies.

Hello?

Howard, I'm here.

-You wanted to see me.
-I'm married now, Noah.

Do you still think I need to be seen

by these TWA people?

Well, you're going to have to let them

look at you eventually, Howard.

Admit it, Noah.

You can't legally commit me
to an insane asylum,

because I have married a woman

that I have known
and trusted for years,

and you know very well

that she would never
give her consent to it.

I love you, Noah,
but you're not my father.

You're fired.

You've been replaced.

He's lucky to have you, Frank.

Good luck, son.

Don't let him start to think
you're trying to be his father.

The vice president's
brother is apparently

not in Washington, D.C., this week.

We think he's in Miami.

And he will supposedly...

His secretary said he'll be back

sometime in the middle

or end of next week.

So if we need to get in touch
with him or send him anything,

we can do it sometime
towards the middle...

-Frank, Frank, Frank.
-Yes, Mr. Hughes?

Does he know I'm back in Los Angeles?

I don't wanna have to call him again.

I want banana nut ice cream.

Hey. Excuse me.

What are you doing?

What's going on?

-Stella Starlight!
-What are you talking about?

Stella Starlight is a really,
really stupid title

for a really stupid movie.

But not nearly as stupid as I am

-for thinking he'd ever make it.
-What are you talking about?

First, he gives me a lot of
junk about how great I am.

And now I can't get him on the phone.

He hasn't even bothered to
look at my stupid screen test!

-Wait a minute.
-Wait a minute for what?

-Wait a minute.
-Howard Hughes?

Is that who you're waiting for?

I think you should take some time.

I think you should take some time.

And maybe don't try
to advise me on my career.

How could I advise you on your career?

I have no idea what's
going on in your life or where

you're getting your advice
from. And I'm not asking.

I'm not asking about your ring.

I'm not asking...

Reverend Forbes, banana nut.

You know, I don't know
if I still got a shot at her.

But if anybody does, trust me,

it's the Reverend
Frank Forbes of Fresno.

Stop.

Mr. Hughes, I think maybe
now is a good time

to deal with the acreage
that I spoke to you about

the canyon off Mulholland Drive.
I've got a plan.

The time for suburban
development has come.

Its time has come... And, and...

Mulholland Canyon is gonna be gold.

And you know what Victor Hugo

once said?
"There's nothing so powerful

as an idea whose time

has come."

I would like to just drive you

-out there tomorrow and show you.
-Howard, it's Bob Maheu.

On my first day as your new CEO,

I must tell you that if you don't

let these people from TWA see you,

they can make you be
seen by them in court.

Bob. Bob, Bob.

Nobody makes me be seen anywhere.

You got that?

However, I am...

I am making you be seen tonight

in Las Vegas, Nevada,
with our entire staff.

We're all gonna be there,
we're all flyin' in tonight.

We're moving to Nevada.
You wanna know why?

Because I am selling TWA.

Selling TWA?

There's no state tax
in Nevada, Frank.

Howard?

And if you're still
afraid of flyin'...

Howard?

...you know, you better
get in the car soon,

because it's a three hour
and 47 minute drive.

Howard?

Is that banana nut?

Banana nut, sir. Yeah.

Somewhere

Beyond the sea

Somewhere waiting for me

My lover stands
on golden sands

Mr. President,

I know how well you understand

that there is no one who
has done more than I have

to rid Hollywood of communists.

And please allow me
to clarify, once more,

the extreme danger all Americans

will face in living
anywhere near a nuclear test site.

Sincerely, Howard R. Hughes.

Elvis Presley, Pat Boone,
Frankie Avalon, Bobby Darin.

I mean, what do you think a guy
like Bobby Darin makes on something

like "Beyond The Sea"?

Frank, how's it going on

the banana nut ice cream front?

The company's definitely
not making it anymore.

But the good news
is we located

the last batch, 350 gallons.

And the company's
being very cooperative.

Let's buy it.

The company's not for sale, sir.

The ice cream! Buy all of it.

-How does it get here?
-By refrigerated truck.

Well, why don't we fly it in?

Ice cream does not travel
well on airplanes.

Why don't we look into a...

-...refrigerated truck?
-That's a great idea, sir.

Mr. Hughes, I'm finding
more and more tax advantages

for buying up real estate in Nevada.

With accelerated depreciation,
you get just as much on hotels

-as you would on, on shopping centers.
-It's the White House again.

Mr. Hughes, the White House
is calling again...

I want banana nut ice cream!

I am in the middle of a desert!

Are you not in the desert with me?

Is it not hot enough for the desert?

Where do I put 350 gallons
of ice cream, huh?

The same flavor!

All of it is banana nut!

All of it is banana nut! Carlos?

Frank, we've been waiting
here for six weeks.

I am his chief executive officer.

I have to meet him.

I understand, Mr. Maheu.

Of course, you're right.
In California, abortion's...

...not legal.

You might wanna give
the whole thing more thought.

Jingle bells

Jingle bells

Howard, I think we should meet.

Moe Dalitz says he needs
you to change floors.

They own the hotel.

The mob is nothing to be fooled with.

Can we please meet?

Look, you ask that shitty
little Mafia hoodlum

how much he wants for the hotel

and say "yes" on the condition
he's out by Thursday.

There is no need for you
or anyone else to see me.

Howard. I feel I must advise you

that you can still be made
to be seen in court

in order to defend against charges

that you mismanaged TWA.

That's not true. That's not true.

I'm also finding it very difficult

to run your entire operation

when I've never, ever
actually seen you.

I mean, in the flesh.

Do you realize that, Howard?

That I've never actually seen you?

Howard?

Bob? If you were to actually see me

you could not represent me
in the way that I need to be.

You are my chief executive officer,

you are not my father.

Okay, what's this?

It's Stouffer frozen
turkey dinner, sir.

Okay, well, I want you to
notify the Stouffer company

to remove the dark meat of the turkey

from the turkey frozen dinner.

-Banana nut?
-Banana nut, sir.

Forget banana nut!

Okay. Levar!

No more banana nut ice cream.
You got that?

No more banana nut ice cream.
From now on...

I want French vanilla.

Goddamn it. I want French vanilla now.

I want you to bring me
that schedule of Maheu's

because I wanna know exactly

what that son of a bitch is doing.

Mr. Hughes,
Marla Mabrey has just come in.

I put her in the speakerphone room.

Shall I tell her
you're unavailable, sir?

Frank, handle his, will you?

Go talk to her.

Tell her I'm just not seeing people.

I want French vanilla from now on!

French vanilla immediately.

Hi.

What can I do for you?

It's my career, not yours.

And you can help by accepting that.

It's really none of
your business, Frank.

Okay.

But you can tell your boss

I feel it's only right
that I meet with him

before taking any action.

I don't know. You never looked
at her screen test.

She might have someone new
who's advising her.

Who? An agent? Lawyer? What?

Have you heard she might be
involved with somebody?

I've heard nothing! I...

Never mind. You go ahead.
I'll talk to her.

Yes, sir.

Marla? Are you, are you there, Marla?

Are you in the room?

I can't do this

on the telephone, Howard.

I'm not seeing people.

Something we didn't plan on
has happened.

You better pick up the phone, Marla.

We should have been more careful.

From a single encounter,
Marla? From one time?

Do you really expect me
to believe that?

I'm surprised.

I didn't think you were
that kind of a person.

How much money are you looking for?

Hey, is vanilla and French vanilla,
is it the same thing?

-Yeah, yeah, yeah.
-Yes, it's the same?

I'm gonna go check on it.

You're acting crazy.

I know more about the business
than you think I do.

All those big deals
in your future, Frank?

You better get them in writing.

I don't need them in writing.

Well, that's right.
'Cause you trust him.

He won't even meet with his wife.

-Lucky woman.
-He won't let anybody look at him.

-Well, he's right!
-There's no reason...

He's right. Because they might see
exactly what he is,

a cold, sleazy,
egomaniacal, old fake

not worth meeting with.

You wanna have meetings
or make movies?

They got names for guys that are doing
what you're doing, Frank.

Who do you think you're talking to?

I think I'm talking to
somebody that sold out

and you can tell the guy
that you sold out to

that I'm never going back
to that stupid house!

And he can throw
whatever's in it away.

And that you wanna go home
to your fiancée

and get legally married!

Do you actually think that you're
going somewhere with Howard Hughes?

You're even scared
to get on his plane!

-Okay, just--
-Don't be physical with me, Frank!

Whoever the hell
is advising you right now...

You know, it's none of your business
who's advising me now!

You need someone
who's advising you now!

To move on, Frank, move on! I have!

-Do you mind if I speak?
-Get out of here!

No, because there's
nothing left to say!

And if you call me,
I won't talk to you.

So kindly treat
my privacy with respect!

Respect?

Go back to your goddamn
mystery man,

with your privacy and your rings

and don't worry about
me ever calling you.

Believe me, I never will!

Nadine, who called
that Maheu didn't tell me about?

Today? The chairman of the FAA,

the Under Secretary of Defense,

the Treasury secretary,

someone from the air traffic
controller's union,

and a man from the AFL-CIO.

All right, look, we're leaving
that son of a bitch Maheu

alone in Vegas tonight.

Nobody tells him about it!
He's finished. He's fired!

We're going to Nicaragua.

This isn't the only place
in the world without taxes!

Get me my pilot's jacket.

All right, come on, come on.
Let's go. Come on!

Going through the kitchen now.

It's all up to me.
Nothing gets bought,

nothing gets sold without me.

For all practical purposes,
I am Howard Hughes.

Come on, Frank. Get outta the car.

There's nothing to be afraid of.

Come on!

Frank, you can do this.
Come on. Flying can be fun.

I think I'm ready.

Okay, Cappy, it's about time
I did this again.

Gentlemen, I am finally
gonna do something

that I haven't done for far too long.

Far too long.

Cappy, this is Frank here's
first plane ride.

I wanna make it memorable.

-Everything ready?
-Yes, sir.

Here we go.

We got banana nut?

Have we...

A pint and a half, sir.

Pint and a half.

Finally! It's been far too long!

Far too long.

Spoons.

President Somoza
is coming aboard!

Mr. Hughes!

Welcome to Nicaragua.

You look incredible!

-You look wonderful.
-Thank you. So do you.

-You have not aged.
-Thank you.

I wanna know what you're doing in...

There's an important message for you.

"The United States
Federal Court decided today...

...in the case of TWA...

...a judgment of $645 million

against Howard Hughes...

...who refused to appear."

This cannot be good.

They think I'll have to sell

the Hughes Tool Company to pay it?

I'll never sell my daddy's company.

My daddy would say it's time to call

Raymond Holliday down in Houston.

Get him to come down here.

So...

I just want you to know

I don't think you're doing
the wrong thing.

And I am so relieved

that you're not
going back to Hollywood.

Mom, I haven't told another
living soul about this.

Doctor Diamond is a good man,

and he's coming in on a Sunday.

So, shall we go?

Now, when you were 10 years old,

when you used to come down
to your daddy's factory...

Raymond, my daddy always trusted me

to take care of things.

Now, trying to take care
of the Hughes Tool Company

at a time like this.

That's like trying to
take care of my daddy.

You're not your
daddy's father, Howard.

Your daddy's dead.

No, he's not.

He's in my DNA.

Oh, Lord!

You know, you're gonna die, too.

Who you gonna leave it to?
Whose DNA you gonna be in?

In my opinion,
if you don't sign it now,

they're gonna do what they said.

They're gonna withdraw the offer
to buy the damn company.

So, if I sign this thing,
would they still keep

the Hughes name on the company?

You don't drill for oil
with a name, Howard.

You know, I'm planning on
doing a little flyin'.

Do you wanna come?

Do a little flyin'?

What?

I'm just not sure...

...you ought to be thinkin'
about flyin' anymore, Howard.

Come on in, Frank.

Okay. Please give this
to the gentleman, and

tell him that I have asked him

to please consider

keeping my father's name
on the company.

This is signed.

Mr. Hughes has asked you
to consider keeping

his father's name on the company.

I notice you don't say grace anymore.

I don't mean to be negative,
but do we live

in Nicaragua now?

Although, I am kinda getting
to like Managua.

Wave, Frank.

Let's keep it going.

Don't worry, don't worry!

I know how to handle earthquakes!

We're going to London.

Check out the tax setup, Frank,
and get me some codeine.

The University of Virginia's
going coed.

They're finally letting women in

so I might even go for a doctorate

and do my dissertation on music.

Good for you.

Thanks for not throwing
my things away, Nadine.

I had no idea
where to send them.

Where do we call you in Virginia?

Maybe it's better if I call you.

Therefore, the percentages noted

in the column were percentage of...

Frank, we've been in London too long
with no fun.

I want you at the Gatwick Airport
in 45 minutes

in the DC-3.

Give the man some credit.
He knows he can't fly.

Mr. Hughes!

So happy to finally meet you
in person, sir. At last!

I'm sure you need
no introduction to the DC-3. This one,

of course, is equipped with

the Pratt & Whitney R-1830
Twin Wasp engines,

-which improve...
-I know the DC-3 very well.

Certainly an improvement

over the original Cyclone 9s
which were wanting

-in the old oomph department.
-Where to, gentlemen?

Where do we go?

I don't know, sir.
If we are heading east,

then that would be northern
France, possibly Belgium.

What do you think,
wing commander? Belgian waffles?

How does it sound?

I don't know.

All right, never mind.
You want a chicken sandwich?

-Not hungry.
-Not hungry. Okay.

How about you? Do you want
a chicken sandwich?

-No, thank you.
-I got three.

-I'm fine. Just eaten.
-No?

Did you know that
you're 20% less likely to black out

during a dive when you're my age?

Because the arteries
are less expansive.

No, I didn't know it, sir.

Remember that.

-Something to look forward to.
-Yes!

Okay, let's go.

I think we may have a door still open.

Relax! I like it like that!
Just close the cockpit.

Gentlemen, you ain't seen nothin' yet.

You know that line
Al Jolson used to use,

"You ain't heard nothin' yet"?

First time he ever sang it, I saw him

upstairs on the roof

at the Amsterdam Theatre.

And it was a big charity show.

Everybody's big stars,
big stars, and Jolson says,

"I gotta close the show,

because I'm the world's
greatest entertainer

and nobody, but nobody,
follows Jolson."

Well, everybody said,

"Okay, Jolson, you're the greatest.

You close the show."

There was only one problem though.

Jolson didn't know
who he was following.

Caruso.

He's gotta get up and sing
after Enrico Caruso,

the world's greatest voice!

So, Caruso comes out,
he's singing in Italian.

The audience just goes crazy.

They go crazy.

They're on their feet cheering.

They won't sit down,
they're cheering!

Caruso goes off,

Jolson comes out.

But he can't get them to shut up,

because they want more Caruso.

And finally Jolson shuts them up.

He makes them sit down
and that's when he says it.

He says, "You know,
you ain't heard nothing yet!"

"You ain't heard nothing yet!"

Is it true
what they say about Dixie

Does the sun really shine
all the time?

Do the sweet
magnolias blossom

Round everybody's door?

Do folks keep eating possum
'til they can't eat no more?

Is it true what they say
about Swanee?

Is a dream by that stream

So sublime?

Do they laugh, do they love
ike they say in all the song?

If it's true,
that's where I belong

Swanee

Take a look at this.

How I love ya,
how I love ya

My dear old Swanee

I'd give the world to be

Among the folks in D-I-X-I-E

Even though my mammy's
waitin' for me, prayin' for me

Hey, Frank!

Flyin' really gives a guy a chance

to do some thinking, doesn't it?

You know what I'm thinking, Frank?

I am thinking that
it's time for me to buy

Pan American Airlines!

You ain't heard nothin' yet!

Hey, where you goin'?
Come back here.

Well, tell hotel security
to tell the mother...

Yes, there's three of them.
They're all up here.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Go this way.

I have no idea how they got in.

Come on, kid. Please!

You gotta get out of here. Kid.

I know where you are, kid.
Please come out.

Please. Your mother
is waiting for you.

Mr. Hughes!

Mr. Hughes,

we have wonderful news!

The court of appeals
has reversed the TWA judgment.

You get all the money back!

Levar! Are you actually
so bird-brained

you think I didn't know that?

I get up earlier than you do.

Hey, look at you.

-What's your name?
-Hi.

-Tommy.
-Would you like some ice cream?

It'd be good for you!
Come on, let's go!

Come on, kid. We gotta go.

But he might like some ice cream.

Well, his mother is very upset.

Why did you talk to his mother?
He might have wanted ice cream.

Wait out in the hall or somethin'.

Why did you talk to his mother?

I didn't talk to the mother.
I talked to security.

You always say to keep kids out.

Why did you talk to security?

Because that's my job!

-That is your job?
-Yes!

You're telling me
what your job is?

Yes! That is my job!

Your job is to tell me
what your job is!

-Are you deaf?
-What?

You are deaf. You're deaf!
And you're old.

You're very old,
and you're very deaf!

You calling me old and deaf?

You're deaf, and you're old!
And very deaf, and very old!

You do not know what your job is.

No, I know what my job is!
You do not know what my job is!

You don't know
what your job is!

I know my job!
I know my job!

-You know what your job is?
-I know what my job is!

You know, it's "was."

-Is.
-Was.

-Is. Is. Is.
-Was. Was.

-Was?
-No, was.

-Was?
-Was. That was your job.

Get out.

Sir, the mother's very upset.

Get out.

Take 14 days to make a decision
on Mulholland Canyon.

Levar and I are gonna do it
whether you do it or not.

I know it's hard for you
to trust people,

but Levar is rooting for you
no matter how nutty you get.

It would be a big advantage for us
to be in business with you,

but it might be a big advantage
for you to be in business with us.

If you decide not to,

I can only respectfully
accept your decision and resign.

Do you realize

that your drug addiction
not only makes you more constipated,

it makes you crazier?

But since no one who works
for you, including me,

will put their job on the line

to try to keep you
from killing yourself,

then maybe your wealth

isn't always the best thing
for your health.

Frank, how come you never
talk about your daddy?

What?

You never talk about
your daddy. How come?

I could always tell my mother
how much I loved her, but I...

I couldn't tell my daddy that well...

I don't know.

But I miss my daddy.

I wish I could just talk to him.

You know, I think I never had a kid

because I was afraid
that would make me feel old.

Remember the night we went out to

sit and look at the plane,
and had the burgers, you know?

It was a hell of a hamburger.

Do you still believe in

what the church tells you to believe,

like...

In heaven and...

I don't know, Mr. Hughes.

Yeah, me either.

I just...

I don't wanna do
what a person has to do to find out.

All right, look,
I'll do Mulholland Canyon with you.

And I'll do it big. But I just
got... Under one condition.

From now on,

will you call me Howard?

Yeah!

We are standing by

for a telephone call from legendary

billionaire Howard Hughes,
which could debunk a writer's claim...

The writer that was mentioned
earlier, Richard Miskin,

claims to have had access
to Howard Hughes.

And during that time, he says

that Hughes could not
remember anything,

was incoherent, and unable

to function.

And that Hughes is in
a permanent state of dementia.

The location of Howard Hughes

is still a complete mystery to us.

It will be
a major problem for Hughes...

-Yeah.
-...if he doesn't call us

as promised
by the Hughes organization,

and defend himself against

the charges in Miskin's book.

One of the pioneers who helped in...

Howard.

...was Howard Hughes.

He's one of the most
influential individuals

of the last quarter century.

Well, if she won't
even tell you her name...

Hughes was romantically linked

to several young actresses
over the years...

Yeah.

Okay.

...manufactured a 25 million dollar
flying boat.

Meanwhile, we're told that the writer,

Richard Miskin, may speak to us soon.

She's okay, guys. I got this.

These guys do their job.

Yeah, well...

They're new.

Why didn't you tell anybody
who you were?

Well, the last conversation
I had with Howard

wasn't very pleasant.

I have something to tell him
before he talks to the press.

Matt?

Matt, this is Levar.
Levar, this is Matt.

-Hi.
-Hello, Matt.

Hi.

We have here the writer of the book,
Richard Miskin.

Mr. Miskin, Hughes' people say
your book is a fake.

That he has never met
or even spoken with you.

I don't think you'll hear
Mr. Hughes say that

or anything else much.

I don't think you're going
to be hearing from him.

I doubt he even remembers the book.

Let me ask you again...

Sir, Howard Hughes
is a disturbed creature.

And my heart goes out to him.

But if it is upon
his flimsy recollection

that you're hinging your reportage,

then good luck to you.

That's all I have to say.

Good afternoon.

Thank you, Mr. Miskin.

And now back to you.

Do we know what
qualified experts have to say

about the psychiatric implications
of Mr. Hughes' reclusive behavior?

One could speculate...

Howard.

...possibly catatonic at this point.

No one seems to know.

That could have a bearing

on a lot of his business interests.

It could affect his defense
contracts, for example.

A long list,

including the Hughes
Medical Foundation, right?

The Hughes casino licenses
in Las Vegas could be affected.

And if this call
does not come in soon... All right.

Helicopter to the public
and Air Force officers

at Culver City, California.

Powered by turbojet motors,
the huge copter is designed

primarily to lift great weights.
It is the largest aircraft

-of its kind known.
-Hi.

And when perfected, it's expected

-to take off...
-Long time.

...carry the load
of a small freight car.

Yeah, long time.

...upwards of a hundred persons.
The copter itself...

Hey, how about this guy, huh?

...pounds, and its rotating
blades measure...

Frank, this is my son, Matt.

...from tip to tip.

Hi, Matt.

Hi.

Matt, when I first went to Hollywood,

Frank picked up your grandmother

and me at the plane.

...future of flight in all its
varied and promising phases.

What kind of ice cream
have we got, Levar?

I heard some talk about rum raisin.

Here, Matt, I'll show you

where the rum raisin is.

...phone call
from billionaire Howard Hughes.

Have a seat there, guys.

Okay.

...a writer by
the name of Richard Miskin,

that Hughes is unable
to remember anything...

I talked to Mamie Murphy.

She knows Richard Miskin.

Howard may have some questions.

...historical footage
featuring Howard Hughes's...

It's good to see you, Marla.

...in aviation.

For me, too.

The 40-ton, 57-passenger liner that...

I'll let him know you're here.

...which has made
a newtrans-continental,

non-stop speed record

Here's the start.

...what might be next
for the Hughes organization,

if Mr. Hughes never steps forward
to defend himself against the claims

in Mr. Miskin's book?

Howard, Marla Mabrey has come here.

She says she has something
to tell you about Miskin.

I told her I'd let you know.

...certainly going to be embarrassing

for Hughes and his entire empire.

How does one explain away the fact

that the man can't even make
a simple telephone call?

Bring her in.

I suppose they could

still come out with some kind
of alternative evidence.

Struggling out of its
swaddling clothes.

And one of the pioneers who
helped was Howard Hughes,

still active in the industry today.

As a stunt,
the point of aviation speed...

David, I'm looking at the clock

and if the call doesn't come by 4:30,

then it will be hard to defend

Howard Hughes against the charges
in Richard Miskin's book.

Howard?

The clock is ticking, David.

Hello, Marla.

Any thoughts as to what may happen...

We've lost touch.

I'm sorry I was in

such a bad mood
when you came to Las Vegas.

When was that?

Five years ago?

I was not at my best.

I know that, Howard.

Neither was I.

Mamie Murphy knows
Richard Miskin very well.

She told me that she was
very sure he never met you.

She'd testify if you wanted her to.

...go a long way
towards debunking a writer's claim

that he has written an...

I came with my son.

And has now gone into
what could best be described as...

Excuse me?

I came with my son.

He's in the living room.

And there's another point to be...

And the father?

...if Hughes does not

prove that he's still alive,
and there is some question

as to whether he is.

Just someone I took up with.
It didn't last long.

The call was, incidentally,
supposed to come in at 4:00.

Would you like me to meet your son?

Sure.

If that call were to come in
within the next several minutes...

Matt? You wanna meet Mr. Hughes?

...from New York
to New York in four days.

New aviation history is written.

Howard Hughes
simply does not allow himself

to be seen by anyone.

Howard, this is Matt.

It'll be very, very difficult
to defend Howard Hughes

against the charges...

Say hello to Mr. Hughes, Matt.

Hello.

Hello.

...covering him for a long, long time.
As have you.

How old are you, Matt?

Four and a half.

I'm curious
as to what's going to become

of the empire that he--

You look like I thought you'd look.

So do you.

Why do you stay in this room?

You know, I really should
get out more.

Okay, Frank, get Hollywood
on the phone.

Nadine, get Los Angeles, fast.

They're still on the line, Frank!

Get it, get it. I'm going to do this.

Howard, you can just...

Frank, they're still on the line!

They're still on the line? Good.

Matt, you wanna
stick around for a while?

Frank, where do I put it?

-Do I pin this on?
-Yeah.

That goes around my neck?

We are being told

we will hear from
Howard Hughes immediately.

We are standing by.

I think that's the man
I'm gonna be talking to,

-but we'll see...
-Frank!

This belongs to him. I'm sorry.

Matt, I'll wait for you
in the living room.

If you just joined us,

we're standing by for a phone call

from billionaire Howard Hughes.

We've been told the call
is coming in...

I'm told someone claiming
to be Howard Hughes

will be speaking to us momentarily,

so we can assess whether he is indeed

Howard Hughes.

Are you there, Mr. Hughes?

Good afternoon.

Where are you speaking from, sir?

I'm speaking from Acapulco,

which is a city seaport
in the state of Guerrero

on the Pacific coast of Mexico.

About 190 miles southwest
of Mexico City,

located on a deep, semicircular bay.

I would say that the municipality

has an area of about

726.9

square miles and

it is the largest city
in the state. Far larger than

the state capital, Chilpancingo.

The name Acapulco
comes from the Nahuatl

language. It means
"place of big reeds,"

and that is where I am.

Next question, please.

Gene Handsaker, Associated Press.
Tell us a little

about the H-One.

Well, we first called it "The Racer."

It was designed by me
in conjunction with Dick Palmer.

We built it in a small building

of what has now become
the Lockheed terminal,

and that, by the way, Gene Handsaker,

is where you and I first met.

This airplane had a metal fuselage

with butt joints of which
we were very proud.

It had flush

rivets which later became
standard in the industry.

It had a wooden wing

which, of course, did not

become standard,
but it was the only thing

at the time that had

the smooth surface
that we needed. As I say,

a single engine,

single-seat airplane,
a beautiful little thing.

I still have it, actually,

out at the factory at Culver City.

You should go out there
sometime, Gene,

and take a look at it.
Next question, please.

Gladwin Hill,
for The New York Times.

How well I know you, Mr. Hughes.

How well do you know
the book's writer, Richard Miskin?

I don't know him.

I've never seen him.
I've never even heard of him

until two days ago.

Hi, Howard. Vernon Scott here.

As soon as you started
to talk, I knew it was Howard Hughes.

Did you really wear tennis shoes

with your tuxedo?

Yeah, well, they were shoes made of

sort of a non-strategic material.

Kind of a canvas or imitation leather.

I had a pair of these
that I liked very much.

I would wear them, and then they...

Some people called them
tennis shoes, but I...

I don't think they had anything to do
with being on a tennis court.

Can I ask you a couple of questions

relating to national security?

I don't think so.

You know, I don't care
to appear in public very often, but...

I really should get out more.

But it has been a pleasure
speaking to you, gentlemen.

Any time. Good evening.

I think that concludes

our press conference. Thank you,

Mr. Hughes.

I think there's a publisher
with a problem on his hands.

You were really good.

I have to go find my mom. Bye.

Kid! Kid!

Kid?

Things are looking up, Frank.

You did good.

We're going back to Hollywood.

I feel good!

I think it's time to go home!
You know...

Howard...

You've done a lot of great things,

and you've done a lot
of great things for me.

I think it is time
for you to go home.

And I think it's time
for me to move on.

What?

I'm quitting, Howard.

Where'd they go?

They kinda slipped out.

Keep an eye on him, Levar.

Frank?

Frank?

You think it's time we give it a try?

Let's get Matt.

Hey, you know what?
I got a really good idea!

What's in those bottles?

That's water.

From Maine.

Water.

From Maine.

He thought for a moment

Then he answered

He said the rules
don't apply to you

He said it very simply
and quietly too

But as if there wasn't any
doubt at all that he knew

He gave me a gift
that I would treasure

He said the rules don't apply to you

In the movies we see

In the shows on TV

And in anthems passionately sung

There's a message that you've got

To keep believing in yourself

But they generally
mean if you're young

Is it written in the air
as it seems to be

That we haven't long at all
to find our destiny

I'll always remember to be grateful

That the rules don't apply to me

One day I told my friend

I was terribly blue

Was it far too late to do

What I dreamed I could do?

He thought for a moment,
then he answered

He said the rules don't apply to you

He said it very simply
and quietly, too

That as if there wasn't any
doubt at all that he knew

He gave me a gift
that I would treasure

He said the rules don't apply to you

In the movies we see

In the shows on TV

And in anthems passionately sung

There's a message that you've got

To keep believing in yourself

But they generally mean
if you're young

Is it written in the air
as it seems to be

That we haven't long at all
to find our destiny

I'll always remember to be grateful

That the rules don't apply to me

I wouldn't lie

The rules don't apply

The rules don't apply

To you

Captioned by sferastudios