The Whistle at Eaton Falls (1951) - full transcript
With the closing of the Granite State Shoe Company's factory, Doubleday Plastics is the last major manufacturing employer in the town of Eaton Falls, New Hampshire. Having lost their last major contract due to lower priced competition, Daniel Doubleday, who has never faced labor problems in his twenty years in this business, feels the company's only way out is to modernize and temporarily lay-off half the plant's labor workforce, hopefully a short term measure until they win more contracts, the potential lay-offs which do not sit well with the factory's union, the Plastics Workers Union Local 145. Upon Daniel's unexpected passing, his wife, Helen Doubleday, makes the equally unexpected decision not to sell the company upon advice from the family lawyer, or hire the heir apparent, Production Manager Dwight Hawkins, as the new company President to replace her husband, but rather install Brad Adams in the position of President, Brad the factory's Chief of Machine Maintenance, the President of Local 145, and the only person who seemed willing to look at the entire picture of the company in Daniel's plan in balancing the welfare of it with that of its employees in the way he would have negotiated with Daniel. Brad realizes that the job will be difficult in both management and union not fully trusting him in believing he doing something good for one side will be at the expense of the other, especially in the eyes of such people like Hawkins, or "labor first and only" plant employee Al Webster. Beyond that issue, Brad has to find a way to be a good President in the new machines already bought, first payments on the bank loans for said machines soon due, and a warehouse full of unsold inventory with no contracts in which to sell that inventory let alone produce new products.
More than half the people of the USA
live in small towns,
places no larger than ours,
Eaton Falls, New Hampshire.
With most of us here in Eaton Falls,
our ties are so strong we just
couldn't be happy living any place else.
But you never know how tightly chained you
are to a town until real trouble sets in.
Like that morning last fall
when our whistle didn't blow.
Why, as long as anyone could remember,
that whistle marked the beginning
and end of every working day.
It was our curfew and our fire alarm.
Why, we even set our clocks by it.
Well, we soon found
out the whistle was silent.
The old Granite State Shoe
Company had closed down.
Closed down for good.
And that meant a lotta
folks had lost their jobs.
Therefore, the court directs the sheriff
of Rockingham County
to sell the said property
of the Granite State Shoe
Company at public auction.
This is now up for sale.
What am I offered?
I knew this would happen when
those strangers bought the plant.
What do they care about us?
How can you keep 'em from
carrying off the machines?
Now they can open some place
with cheap labor and no union.
Sold one time.
Sold two times.
Sold three times.
And sold to the First National Bank.
That whistle had become a kind of symbol,
I guess you'd call it, that
everybody in town went by.
So, it was shifted over to
the only place left going,
Doubleday Plastics.
About 20 years ago, Dan
Doubleday took over the empty
textile mill for his new
up and coming business;
Turning out buttons, combs,
toothbrush handles and
a lot of other fancy things.
Nobody knew what moving
that whistle was going to mean.
It was just the beginning to what
you might call a drama of real life.
And before it was over, every single person
in Eaton Falls was a part of it.
Especially Brad, Brad Adams,
Chief of Machine Maintenance
and President of the
Plastics Workers Union.
It began the last day
of October, Halloween.
Kinda funny that it should be Halloween.
Good morning, boys.
- Brad.
- Good morning, sir.
- Good morning, Mr. Doubleday.
- Mornin', Miss Russell.
Sit down.
Brad, I want the union to
know what we're up against.
The company's headed for trouble.
Miss Russell's just made
up our quarterly statement.
Business is way off.
If this nose dive keeps
up, we're going to bust wider
than the Granite State Shoe Company.
Why, what's happened?
Every customer I talk
with says the same thing,
our prices are too high.
And they can't come down
until we lower our costs.
We can do that by
junking our old equipment,
installing new molding machines,
high speed, semi-automatic.
Take a look, Brad.
They'll boost production 30%.
Don't know yet when we get delivery.
But once they're here,
we can meet competition.
Abbie, Bill, come here.
Ah, gee, this is terrific, Mr. Doubleday.
The fellas in the shop are
really gonna go for this layout.
There's a catch to it, Brad.
One man has to operate two machines.
It means laying off half the men
in the molding department.
Hawkins and I have discussed
every conceivable plan with the engineers.
This is the only way
we can stay in business.
What happens to these men?
Who's gonna pay their
bills, feed their kids?
Brad, I don't like this
any better than you do,
but we either install modern
electric saving equipment
or our competitors put us outta business.
I can't buck the future, neither can you.
But junking half the workers
along with the old machines?
Bill, this layoff won't last forever.
If we're able to get new business,
new business means more production
and the men'll be hired back.
It's just a matter of time.
But time is one thing you
can't pay back, Mr. Doubleday.
If you lay these men off even
for a few months they're sunk.
And with so many out of work,
somebody's bound to get
the bright idea to lower wages.
It's happened before, Mr. Hawkins.
Not in my company, you know that.
Won't you try to convince the
men that we've got to do this?
I can't very well convince them
if I'm not convinced myself.
Local 145 is supposed
to protect all of its workers.
The union can't oppose new equipment.
Read your contract.
I don't have to read
it, I know it by heart.
We don't have to argue with you.
We can go right ahead... Oh, now, Hawkins.
Only a scab would be
run two machines for ya.
Easy, Brad.
Do you think for one
minute that I'd hire scabs?
You wouldn't want to, Mr. Doubleday,
but you might have to.
Think what would happen to us.
Why, this layoff would
split the union wide open.
It could break us.
Which is better, half of 'em working
or the whole company bankrupt
and everybody out of a job?
Well, you'll have to figure
other ways to cut your prices.
Go without your profits for a while.
You can stand the loss
better than the men can.
Our profits have gone
right back into the business,
and we've borrowed money besides.
Look here, Brad.
If the union will go along,
you'll see more money
and more jobs for everybody in town.
That's a theory, Mr. Doubleday.
And I won't let my men lose
their jobs to prove a theory.
Mary, can you spare Jean for a little bit?
I got some new ideas we
wanna work on at the shop.
Sure.
Ted, will you tell your
sister there's a tall,
skinny, ugly looking ghost waiting for her.
Okay, Eddie.
Look, Brad, if costs have to come down,
let the union find ways.
We're not dopes.
There's not a single thing about running
that plant that our people don't know.
Suppose that 200 of us come up
with ideas for saving a buck a week.
Eddie.
I've come to your rescue.
Hey, my hair!
What's the matter with your hair?
It's beautiful.
So, the trouble with the Doubleday products
are they all lack imagination.
Hey, lift up.
Can't get much eye appeal
outta combs and toothbrushes.
Put your arm up.
Yeah.
That's pretty.
Now stay just like that.
Products oughta be
jazzed up a little bit more,
made a lot more dramatic.
What Doubleday really needs
is a high power idea man.
That's me.
Jean, couldn't you look more tropical?
You know, gentle waves
lapping at the rocks.
You're in Bermuda.
Bermuda my foot, I'm in Eaton Falls
and there's a draft in here.
Now, can't you hurry?
Hey, that's it.
Hawkins is right, you know?
We can't stop 'em from
bringing in that new stuff.
Nobody wants to.
But he can't make one man run two machines.
As a matter of fact there's even gotta
be an agreement before we work one.
Mr. Doubleday should know what would happen
to this town if he laid off half his men.
Oh, I asked him to forget layoffs
if we could show him
other ways of cutting cost.
What'd he say?
He'd give me Hawkins'
job if we could figure
how to save 2,500 bucks a week.
2,500?
Ah, the old man's got his troubles, Joe.
You know, the Gibson
Company is our biggest customer,
takes more than half our output.
They're not renewing their contract.
Why, what happened?
Our prices.
Doubleday and the sales manager
are flying to Cleveland tonight.
Wish him luck.
He's one of the first guys to be laid off.
You got a good union fighting for you now.
You know who this is?
Could be my grownup daughter.
You know, Mary and I are wondering whether
we'll wind up with a Thomas Edison,
Irving Berlin or a Fire
Chief for a son-in-law.
You'll get 'em all, and an
industrial designer besides.
Doubleday's plastic mermaids.
Management, that's just
a fancy name for bosses,
and you can't change a boss anymore
than you can change a mule.
There's nothing wrong
with us trying to help him.
Look, Doubleday's out
for every penny he can get.
Just what do you think the union's for?
To look out for the workers,
get 'em fair pay, decent
working conditions, job security.
Then what business have you got asking us
to worry about Doubleday's headaches?
Because if he can't
compete with other outfits,
we're all washed up.
Hawkins is getting a good,
fat salary to look after those problems.
If the factory don't make
money that's his hard luck.
You wouldn't last 10
minutes in a real union town.
I was a boy scout once, but I grew up fast.
Nah, don't tell me about management.
Pretty?
A fink in Seattle gave me that back in '45.
That was a real fish fry.
It started over layoffs.
Brad says he won't stand for none here.
I say Brad Adams ain't got it in him.
Everybody knows he and old
man Doubleday are palsy walsy.
That stuff don't go.
Maybe we oughta run you
for union president at the next election.
Yeah.
Say, no kidding.
You've made a lot of friends
since you've been around here.
You could sure dish it
out to Doubleday okay.
There's one thing for sure,
you wouldn't catch me cow tailing to him.
And I'll tell you something else.
A labor leader don't belong
in fancy pants at a gab fest.
The company'll walk all over us
if we just sit around and talk.
Labor's gotta fight for every inch it gets.
Fight or you don't eat.
The new equipment should
be ready in a few weeks.
I'm going to tell Gibson that
we'll cut our prices beginning tomorrow.
And gamble on the union
going along with you?
We've never had labor trouble
and I doubt we're going to now,
provided we can keep Hawkins quiet.
He hates unions and he
doesn't care who knows it,
but Brad sees what we're up against.
He's asked everyone for
suggestions on cutting costs.
Well, you can't blame
him for fighting layoffs.
We don't want them either.
There's George now.
Good luck, darling.
I know everything's going
to work out just as you want.
Good night, sweet.
Hey, fellas!
The new machines are here.
Take a gander at the babies
that are gonna put half
of us on the bread line.
Starvation Annie's, I call 'em.
You mean one guy's
gotta handle both of them?
Brad says never.
- Got the bugs out yet?
- I think so.
Okay, get 'em started.
Hey, Joe.
Start number two.
Watch this.
Nothing to it.
Try it, Joe.
No thanks, Mr. Hawkins.
That's right, Joe.
You're trying to get
him to set a precedent.
The union hasn't accepted
these new machines yet.
Read your contract.
I'm making this a grievance.
It's under protest, go ahead.
Well, what are you waiting for?
Okay, Joe.
Start it.
You're kiddin', aren't you, Mr. Hawkins?
Mind your own business.
Go find Brad.
He's the man to decide.
Operate that machine,
London, or draw your pay.
Okay, boys.
Let's walk.
Come on, Joe.
You men, stay on your machines!
Ah, come on, let's walk.
What's the matter, fellas?
Joe's been fired.
Are we gonna lay down and walk all over us?
Wait a minute, Brad's
the head of Local 145.
Pull that switch.
- Come on, let's go.
- Come on, let's walk.
Yeah, we're walking.
Hey, boys, they fired
Joe London, we're walking.
You stay here, Joe.
Hey, fellas, come here.
They fired Joe London,
we're all walking out.
- Who are they?
- Hawkins.
I'm going down to spread
the message about what's-
- Go.
- Goin' on around here.
- We're walking.
- Why?
Ask Al, he'll tell you what's going on.
They fired Joe London, we're walking out.
We're walking, are you
coming with us or not?
- What?
- They fired Joe.
Told everyone to pull their keys and walk.
I ain't walking... It's unavailable.
Hey, Bob, come here.
We're walking out, they fired Joe London.
Hawkins fired him for not
running the new machine.
- Are you with me?
- Yeah!
- All right, let's walk.
- Come on!
- Walk.
- Walk!
- Walk!
- Walk!
Walk, walk, walk, walk, walk.
- Let's go!
- Walk, walk, walk, walk!
- Walk, walk!
- You got no right
- to simply walk out.
- Walk, walk, walk.
- Come on back, you fools.
- Walk, walk, walk.
- Go back to your machines.
- Walk, walk, walk.
- Come on!
- Walk, walk, walk, walk.
What's wrong with you?
Hey, what's happening here?
Oh, Hawkins fired me for refusing
to work with them Starvation Annie's.
- Fired you?
- Yeah.
Well, I'll talk to Mr. Hawkins.
Wait a minute, wait a minute.
Why are the rest of you fellas off the job?
They wouldn't listen.
I told 'em I'd take full responsibility.
- Al's right!
- No, no, he isn't.
- Are you crazy?
- It's the only way.
Walk and call a strike.
No, you listen, you'll wreck us.
This is just what Hawkins wants.
What are we, a sewing circle?
We're not moving.
If you stay out you'll break your contract
and the union won't be
able to do a thing about it.
Come on, get back to your jobs.
- Come on, fellas.
- Come on, boys.
I'll take care of this.
I'll talk to Hawkins.
- Come on.
- That's it, fellas.
You're chicken if you go back to work.
Stay here!
Quite acting like a hothead.
Grow up, Al.
I want Joe London hired back.
Nothing doing, he disobeyed orders.
The walkout's a violation
of the union contract.
It was a misunderstanding.
They're all back now.
I've got the right to
fire every one of 'em.
You better not try it, Mr. Hawkins.
Let's stop kidding each other.
Kidding?
Four new machines will be ready next week.
One man'll work two of 'em.
That's final.
Are you sure it's final?
Okay, Mr. Hawkins, you
want a fight you'll get it.
- A good one.
- Yeah?
Why don't you and your
union get wise to yourselves?
I've been in touch with Mrs.
Doubleday's lawyer, Dunbar.
He wants the old lady to sell the plant.
Kit and caboodle.
If you fellas don't get in
line I'll recommend it too.
I've got a buyer.
Is that a threat?
Whoever buys can close
the plant, wait till you're all
down and out and then
rehire on their own terms.
Think it over, Adams.
I don't have to think it over.
But Helen, as your lawyer,
I must urge you to sell the plant.
Put the money into a trust fund
that will provide you with
a comfortable income.
No, Horace.
I might if someone in town could buy it,
but we know that people from outside
aren't interested in Eaton Falls.
I am.
Good for you, Mrs. Doubleday.
I'm not worried about the future.
With the money due to the bank
and serious labor trouble on our hands,
a strike mostly likely.
This meeting was to discuss
the appointment of a new president.
Well, since you insist on
holding on to the company,
I guess Dwight Hawkins
would be the logical candidate.
He'll keep a firm hand on the labor force.
I've worked closely with him
for a long time, Mrs. Doubleday.
You couldn't make a better choice.
My choice for president is Brad Adams.
Adams?
Well, you can't be serious.
Well, the union would like him of course,
but he's completely unqualified;
No managerial experience,
no knowledge of finance.
It's impossible.
He'll need help, certainty.
But he has you to guide him with finances.
However, as you say, we
do have a labor problem,
and Brad is better equipped
to handle that than anyone else.
I think my husband would
have agreed with me too.
Mrs. Russell, would you
ask Mr. Adams to come in?
He's in the library.
Helen, I want it clearly understood
this is entirely on
your own responsibility.
Naturally, Horace.
Good morning, Mrs. Doubleday.
- You've met Mr. Dunbar.
- Yes.
Sit down.
Brad, I'd like you to be
the new president of Doubleday Plastics.
President?
Oh, Mrs. Doubleday, I...
You really think that I'm
qualified to run your business?
You can learn and you're
the one man the union trusts.
You're putting me on the spot.
How can I switch sides
when I'm just getting ready
to negotiate on the new equipment?
It's either you or Dwight Hawkins.
Hawkins?
I want you because we need someone
who understands our labor problem.
But it may look as though I've sold out.
And without the respect of the workers,
I wouldn't be any use to the company.
Well, will you give me
24 hours, Mrs. Doubleday?
I'd like to talk it over with the union.
Certainly, Brad.
Well, now's your chance to
be the kind of management
that labor says it wants.
You need to get some sleep.
I'll be expected to do
a lot of entertaining.
We can get a new car now.
Oh, Brad, Brad, you know
that beautiful old house
out on the edge of the river?
It could be bought for practically nothing.
Just wait a minute.
- Not so fast.
- Oh, why not?
Oh, darling, I feel wonderful.
Well, I'm scared stiff.
That doesn't sound like you.
Holy smokes, sweetheart.
The head of Local 145
stepping into the boss' shoes.
If I have to do something
that's good for the company,
the union'll say I've sold out.
If I make a decision the
boys would cheer about,
Hawkins, Russell and
Dunbar'll say the union's
got me in its here pocket.
Look, I'm not worried
about this one one bit.
Not one single bit.
Does Mrs. Doubleday think we'll take
the layoff if you're head of the company?
I hope not.
I've already told her that
Joe has to be hired back.
Thanks.
She won't have no picnic.
Right now you've got a lot of friends,
and some of 'em just ain't happy
unless they're battling with bosses.
Don't make much difference to them
whether the name's Adams or Hawkins.
Oh, Brad, you've gotta take it.
Doesn't he, fellas?
Labor to management's a big jump,
but I think you can make it.
You can't blame me for wanting to try it.
I'm for it.
Second the motion.
Oh, can't you just see him sitting
there behind old Dan's desk?
Right now I can hear Dan sayin',
That old lady of mine, that Helen,
by golly for 35 years she
made me a mighty clever wife.
Now who'd of thought she'd
make a downside smarter with her?
- Oh, congratulations.
- Hi.
Thank you.
Hello, sweetheart, how are ya?
- Bye.
- Bye.
Hey, Al, I uh-
- After the whistle blows, mister.
I got no time to talk to
the boss outside of hours.
Oh, Al, let's forget about what happened-
- I'm forgetting nothing.
In this game, you pick sides early
and play on your own team.
Anybody who changes is a traitor.
Make way for the finishing department.
Honker down.
This curves right now ain't doin' it.
Sit down.
Morning', Chief.
Brad, we all chipped in
and bought something we think you'll need.
Just like Mr. Doubleday's.
Oh, read what it says, Brad.
"To Brad Adams, from his
devoted friends in Local 145."
- Speech, speech.
- Speech.
- Speech.
- Speech.
Thank you, Abbie.
All of you, thanks very much.
I never thought I'd have a
job that needed one of these.
Oh, all big shots carry 'em.
You can bring your lunch in it.
It looks better than a dinner pale.
Meet the Local's new president, Brad.
Bill, congratulations.
- Thanks.
- He beat Al Webster
- by a landslide.
- Oh, yeah he did.
I'm gonna need a lot
of help on this job, Bill.
I wanna form a labor management committee.
You'll get the pick of the union.
- Thanks.
- You sure will.
Hey, Brad.
Are you gonna use the briefcase
for other things besides sandwiches?
Yeah, a couple of blackjacks.
I may need 'em to beat a new contract
out of the Gibson Company tomorrow.
'Atta boy, Chief.
- Go get 'em.
- Thanks, Bill.
- Good look, Brad.
- Come on, everybody.
We'll all be rooting for you.
- Congratulations, Brad.
- Abbie, thanks.
- Good morning.
- Mr. Adams.
Uh, the name's still Brad.
Hey, why don't you sit down?
This the report?
Financial statements.
They're a little technical.
Thank you.
Morning.
I thought you'd like to put
your initials on a few things.
Hi.
These are discharge notices.
Sure.
Some of the men in the molding department.
Six new machines are ready,
so three men have to go.
Those men are staying and
I'm hiring Joe London back.
You think you can run this
plant with men standing around
getting paid for doing nothing?
There are other ways of cutting costs.
Did you look these over?
Those dopey things?
Soap's being wasted in the lavatories.
Remove the pay stations so the girls
won't fiddle away time on the telephone.
Some of them are very good.
How about this one?
Grind scrap at the machines.
A conveyor belt to the
finishing department.
What of it?
Shows that everyone wants to help.
Have you forgotten?
You're not in Local 145 anymore.
Meaning what?
That being the patsy
to a bunch of union men
is no way to run a business.
Before you fire me, buster, I quit.
I got myself a good job with
a real company yesterday.
That suits me fine.
Your check will be mailed to you.
Have your fling, union boy.
It won't last long.
You'll never find
anybody to fill his shoes.
Yes, Mr. Adams?
- Get me Jim Brewster.
- Certainly.
How do we stand with the bank?
We owe them $150,000.
- 150,000?
- For the new machines,
plus interest at 4%.
A payment of 25,000 is due next month.
If not met, the entire amount
becomes payable at once.
What do you suggest?
Try to get an extension at the bank.
- Congratulations, Brad.
- Thanks, Jim.
- You wanted to see me?
- Yeah.
Hawkins just resigned.
- Well, that was quick.
- Hey, Jim,
you've always been a very good foreman.
How'd you like to be our
new production manager?
Me take Hawkins' job?
Well... Okay, sit down.
We got a lotta work to do.
You know, Glenn Sewell, the fella that
put Martin Plastics on the map?
Well, I heard of him.
Well, Mrs. Doubleday
suggested him for sales manager.
Glenn Sewell?
He's tops, but you can't get him.
He wouldn't work for a small outfit.
I hired him last night by phone.
Now, I've cut the price
to the bone, Mr. Gibson.
You can't get a better
finish at double the price.
Can you tell me which one
of these your company made?
No.
Why should we pay Doubleday
more than we do other manufacturers?
Would you if you were in my place?
No.
We're assembling television sets.
I can buy these for less money
than it would cost you to make 'em.
Adams, I'll tell you just
what I told Dan Doubleday.
Get your new equipment
operating efficiently.
When your prices are down,
we'll be able to do business again.
- Hello, Brad.
- How do you do?
That's just like Dan's.
Oh, yes, the union gave it to me.
That's as of the 30th.
Sales still falling.
Costs up.
Did you renew the Gibson account?
No, sir, but we'll get somebody else.
We've got to.
I'll be frank, sir.
We can't make the payment next month
and still meet our payroll.
So, you want an extension?
Yes, sir.
I'd like not to make any
payments for the next three months.
Well, after all, the bank's money is safe.
The way I understand it,
the machines are worth
a lot more than the loan.
I wish it were that simple, but it isn't.
No?
The money your company
borrowed belongs to our depositors.
If Doubleday should do a Granite State,
the people in this town would start
drawing out their savings.
Business would drop to nothing
and every merchant would go broke.
Would you extend the loan
if a man with more
experience was in charge?
We'll go along with you for 90 days.
Thank you.
If we don't start showing
a profit by then, I'll resign.
Sure glad you're here, Mr. Sewell.
I found out at the Gibson
Company that I'm no salesman.
Selling can be an easy game,
unless the other fellow rings
the doorbell when you do,
and offers the lady a
brush at half your price.
When I called you I
didn't know this company
would be fighting for its life.
I hope you won't regret coming with us.
Right now we have no business.
Give me a quality product
at a competitive price
and I'll sell more than you can produce.
These high speed machines
will take care of that.
We've only got six of 'em.
It may be spring before they're all here.
That's not too far away.
A lot of Fridays between now and spring.
And every Friday a payroll comes due.
This is what I'm counting on.
An invitation, a bid and a big order.
Buttons for Navy uniforms.
Doesn't take a sales
manager to sell to the Navy.
You're a low bidder or you're sunk.
We'll be the low bidder.
That's all there is to it.
Well, we can't make these buttons
for less than 45 cents a thousand.
- Are you sure, Jim?
- I am.
44.98 to be exact.
And if you bid more
than 47 you won't get it.
Is that the correct time up there?
We're opening our bids by it.
Some outfits here I never expected.
Look at 'em sweat it out.
They trimming their bid?
Probably.
Is 47 as low as we can go?
Can you knock off another penny?
Not and pay off the bank loan.
But you wanna get the plant running.
Okay, make it 46.
Here we go.
Make it 45.
Bid opening for invitation 102S-7842,
plastic buttons.
Hench and Lee, 48.
Philadelphia Plastics, 48.
Maybe I didn't have
to take off that last one.
Hutchins, 47.
Doubleday, 45.
Maryland, 46.5.
How long does this last?
Northern Industrial Chemical, 44.3.
Let's go.
Ajax, 45.
Hello, Ruth.
Hello, Mr. Sewell, how are you?
What, I'm driving.
Are you crazy, we can't afford a new car.
Our car's in the garage
getting a new clutch.
They let me borrow this to meet you.
I'm sorry.
Guess you didn't get the Navy contracts?
Let me off at the office.
I've got a lot of work to do.
Not tonight.
You promised to go to
the Granite State benefit.
- I'll have to skip it.
- You can't!
Everybody's expecting you.
Okay!
Get down with me, folks.
Get your longways sets in order.
Think we sang all right?
Oh, I don't know, I got
sorta scared the last minute.
Oh, me too.
Hey, I almost forgot.
What?
Here.
What's the occasion?
Oh, just 'cause I love you.
J.L.
You like it?
I was wondering what the consumer reaction
was gonna be like.
If this nosedive keeps up,
we're going to bust wider
than the Granite State Shoe Company.
Our prices are too high
and they can't come down
until we lower our costs.
This is the only way
we can stay in business.
I can't buck the future, neither can you.
Cut prices, cut costs, cut, cut, cut.
Brad?
Brad, darling.
Come on, fella, you need some sleep.
Joe, our ideas, they're not enough.
I know.
You're up against it.
Things look different I
guess when you're on
the other side of the fence.
A lot of people are gonna get hurt.
I've been thinking about you and Mary.
It's not your fault.
Last hired, first fired,
that's labor's rule.
Oh, no, Joe.
Brad, there must be some other way.
No.
Old Dan was right.
Brad's gotta layoff half
the molders, don't you?
Worse than that, Joe.
The warehouse is jammed
with stuff that we can't sell.
We're losing money in
everything that we make.
I've gotta close down the
plant and layoff everybody.
Everybody?
- Everybody.
- For how long?
For as long as it takes to
turn our inventory into cash
so that we make the payment on the loan.
To get delivery on the
rest of the new machines,
and they're held up for motors,
probably for a couple of months.
Then we've gotta get enough new business
to take care of our costs
and meet the payroll.
You can't buck the future.
You've got to become a part of it.
Send them in.
Hello, Chief.
The job seems to be agreeing with you.
- Sit down.
- Abbie, Pete.
What's the news, Chief?
Everyone here?
Yeah, I think so.
The management regrets to advise you that
because of critical business conditions,
all manufacturing activities
are being suspended
for an indefinite period.
The plant will reopen as soon
as the new machines ordered
for the molding department
are delivered and installed.
This drastic action is necessary
to protect not only the
future of the company,
but also the welfare of its employees.
That's a lotta hooey.
Bill.
Mr. Doubleday only
wanted to layoff half of us.
You come along and throw us all out.
Either we close down
temporarily or for good.
Why didn't you tell us this before?
I made this decision at
three o'clock this morning.
Let's get outta here.
I'm sure glad I don't have to live
with your conscience, Mr. Adams.
This is how Brad gives
us a vote of confidence.
First Granite State, now Doubleday.
What do you say, Joe, Brad
Adams still your best friend?
He's a prince, ain't he?
Bradford Adams, you're a hero.
I just hope the credit
company don't carry off
my new Chevy before I can
crash it into Brad's rear end.
When all our bellies are empty,
Brad'll have one man run three machines.
Well, they wouldn't listen to me.
I guess they see now Brad's
just out to make a fast buck.
Why don't the union do
something before it's too late?
You know if we stick together,
Brad's racket'll blow up in his face.
How's it going?
Eddie, you'll have to
look for another artist.
Why, don't I pay you enough?
No, I'm serious.
With Pop laid off, Mom
and I have to find jobs.
Ah, don't be silly.
It's not gonna be for long.
We can't wait, honest.
On the 15th, there's a
payment for the house.
Next, the oil burner and on
the first, Pop's life insurance.
Ah, if we could only hit the
market with these babies.
A cigarette lighter in every
lamp's a wonderful idea.
Yeah, kinda corny though.
Doubleday's plastic mermaids.
Now, that's really a hot number.
Look, if you don't start doing something
about selling these things, I will.
We will never have that fortune
you're always talking about
unless we cash in on our creations.
Ah, if you'd only run off
a few thousand mermaids
we coulda been out on
the road now selling 'em.
Might've helped some.
Here.
How many box tops do you
have to send in for one of these?
Oh, I'm sorry you don't like it.
If Doubleday had anything
half as good as this
the town wouldn't be in the dumps now.
Oh, Eddie, I didn't say that.
Oh, I think it's swell.
Premium houses'll really go for it.
For prizes on giveaway programs.
Well, that's not much of a compliment.
Hey, hey, what's this?
Oh, nothing special.
No, what's it for?
- Hey, Ruthie?
- Hm?
- Got a pie?
- I got a cake.
How many pieces you want?
- Uh, seven.
- Seven.
One, two, three, four,
five, six, seven pieces.
Exactly equal and cut clean.
Cutter, huh?
A cutter that cuts clean.
It's funny, I've been
thinking about a cutter myself.
You have?
The trick is to be able to sell your stuff
for less than the other fellas.
Let me sleep on it tonight.
I'll talk to you about
it in the morning, huh?
Okay.
I tell you what.
Get a hold of Jim Brewster and Ike Pinkery.
Tell 'em to meet us at your
shop first thing in the morning,
say seven o'clock.
Seven o'clock.
See you then.
- Night, Ruthie.
- Bye.
Thanks a lot.
Morning, fellas.
Before I explain why I asked you here,
I want you all to give me
your word that you won't talk.
Certainly.
I don't want any false hopes to build up
around town and then bust 'em.
Well, I'll go along.
No one's ever been able to find a way
to trim these sprues
automatically, have they?
We still have to do it by hand.
Every company has tried to
dope out an automatic cutter.
Uh huh, so did we, but
with a traveling slicer.
Eddie's pie cutter started me thinking.
I wonder what would happen if we built
the cutter right into the mold.
You know, a contraption like
that gives me a mighty poisonous idea.
What do you mean, Ike?
I'll tell you.
It could send every girl
in the finishing department
to the county poor house.
That's where you're wrong, Ike.
We'll be able to turn out stuff faster
and cheaper than anyone else.
Television parts, for instance.
- Ike.
- Yeah?
We'd get enough new
business for a second shift,
and that'll mean everybody works.
Automatic cutter, huh?
That'll take a mighty doing.
But good seed usually
sprouts a rich harvest.
Yeah.
You don't need the money.
Four, long.
Two of your are right, gentlemen.
I'm gonna need one bet.
- You're on.
- One bet here.
Four or an eight, four or an eight.
This brew gets worse and worse.
Sure, it's absorbing your personality.
With no paychecks to feed
your kids, you crack wise.
Paycheck, paycheck,
you sound like my old lady.
Yeah, can't blame her for throwing you out,
losing all your unemployment
dough on the whores.
Want your puss slapped too?
I, uh, I see it's about time
for Doubleday's to open up.
No kidding.
How do you know?
Just by looking at the two of you.
You've touched bottom.
So has the rest of the town.
Now, all Brad's gotta do is go to the union
and say take it or leave it.
That guy's not gonna
tell us where to get off.
That's the beer talking.
When Brad blows the whistle,
you and all the others'll come on the run.
Give me the thickness gauge.
Oh, what's the hitch, what's the hitch?
She's off three thousandths of an inch.
Open it up, Eddie.
You don't think we
oughta try the jukes, huh?
No, you'd smash the plate.
You know, sometimes I think we got a big,
fat goose egg here.
Here.
Tighten that lower bolt.
All right, Eddie, close it up.
It seems to do it.
All right, Eddie, turn it on.
All right, keep your fingers crossed.
There's still something wrong.
It's not cutting clean.
Well, at least it doesn't jam anymore.
Let's pull the mold up out again.
By morning, we're gonna
have this last bud licked.
Morning?
A lotta folks are climbing outta bed
and thinking it's that now.
South End, have to go.
Somebody else trying
to collect his insurance.
Three of 'em landed in the county jail
this week for trying that.
Yeah, I tell ya we're
in a race with the devil.
And if folks don't start
drawing wages pretty soon,
old lucifer is going
to take over this town.
Well, I'm hungry.
Let's get some breakfast.
After that, Brad, we'll help
you find that confounded bug.
Those are the very terms
you told Mr. Doubleday
the union would never agree to.
Yes, you've heard it before,
but you do it this way or
the plant folds for good.
What about those men who
will still be on the streets?
- The other half?
- Unemployment money
doesn't exactly nourish the soul.
- We've found that out.
- Abbie, if the union will
agree to one man at two machines,
I hope, and it's still just a hope,
that it won't be long before
everyone's back on the payroll.
Yeah, it's just a matter of time.
We've heard that one too.
Bill, the people in this
town are so badly off,
they'd take any offer that's made to them.
Why don't you admit it?
I don't know what you're aiming at,
but you haven't been
able to bust the union yet.
You think I've been trying to?
Well, do you?
I took this job with the union's blessing.
And what said then still goes.
I want a company where the workers
will prosper with the management.
What you don't know is
that I promised myself I'd quit
if I couldn't find a way to
keep the other half working.
If I don't succeed I'll
be without a job too.
Our policy is still the one you set.
One man to a machine.
Brad, we can't talk for the union.
There has to be a vote.
What are you grinning at?
Every one clean as a pickerel's tooth.
How do you like 'em, Brad?
We did it, huh?
We finally did it!
We licked it!
Well.
Well, I guess I oughta treat
you guys to something special.
A honeymoon in Bermuda.
You're entitled to it.
I'll settle for a ride down
to Portsmouth and a lobster dinner.
Okay, Ike.
I'd just like a long, cool glass of beer.
Anything you want, boys.
Anything you want.
We have all our new equipment
and the union's voting next Sunday.
I like your plan, Brad.
Now it's up to Mr. Sewell.
Does that mean you approve?
Of course it does.
Got a whole new line of
merchandise for you to sell,
TV parts, bushings, channel selectors.
I want orders for a million of
these units before we reopen,
and that may be next Monday.
Now, wait a minute.
Look what we're able to sell 'em for.
But a million?
It'll take me a month to
see enough customers
to ring up that much business.
Mr. Sewell, wouldn't it be easier
to find us one big customer?
You wanted a quality product
for a competitive price, didn't you?
Now you've got it.
Very few outfits'll buy in the millions.
I could put in a call for
Ted Wagner in St. Louis.
He's the head of the National Company.
Get to St Louis as fast as you can.
These prices are sure on the low side.
How can you do it?
It's still a secret.
Has to be until we find
out about the patents.
But you can't promise deliveries
until you hear from the union.
Will you please let me do the worrying?
I want an order for one million units
before we reopen next Monday.
I'll try to catch the last plane.
If it should take Sewell a month,
you stand to lose the
plant, your home, everything.
And if he's successful.
Well, that's another story.
But I want you to realize, Mrs. Doubleday,
just how a big a gamble
you're letting me take.
How soon can you start deliveries?
10 days.
We're way behind, Philco, Dumont, RCA,
must be six million units on order there.
Oh, excuse me, Dad.
The production chief wants
to see you for a minute.
We have a new plant, but it'll be months
before we can get in the equipment.
I'll be right back.
All right.
How long are you staying in town?
Long enough to get that business.
I think you should try to
buyout Doubleday Plastics.
What on earth would we do
with a factory in New Hampshire?
They're installing a lot
of new molding machines.
We could rip them out and
put them in our new factory.
I'd rather give them our business.
Their prices are just about
what it costs us to manufacture.
You know why?
These things weren't cut by hand.
You mean an automatic cutter?
Absolutely.
Look here, smooth.
We've spent a fortune trying
to develop something like that.
Mr. Wagner, I'm sure
we could buy Doubledays.
Patents, new machines, everything.
They'd be fools to sell.
I understand the new management
is causing a lot of
unhappiness around town.
The lawyers have always
been after Mrs. Doubleday to sell.
If they'd rather sell
than have our business,
I'll make them a good offer.
Let me go up there and scout around.
I'd like you stall off Sewell
on our orders for a few days.
Be just as well if no
one got wind of our plans,
especially about taking away the machines.
I couldn't take an offer
like this to Mrs. Doubleday.
It'd be different if the
plant were on the market.
I remember not so long ago
you were urging her
to get rid of the place.
Yes, but that's when we
seemed to be facing difficulties.
The Boston Trust Company
seems to think you still are.
Their money's on deposit.
Just waiting for the due date.
But your labor troubles are still with you.
Well, that's why we put Adams in there.
You know that if anyone can
handle a union, he's the boy.
Then, we can't get together?
No, Dwight.
Certainly not with an offer like this.
You know, Dunbar's a cagey old cuss.
He wouldn't go to Mrs.
Doubleday with such an offer.
Bet he had her on the phone
before I was outta the building.
Don't misjudge Yankee shrewdness, Dwight.
You may find you can't pay what he'll want.
I'm prepared to raise my offer.
Just to be working with you
again is worth something.
You don't fool me, Dwight.
Why after all these
months of complete silence
you suddenly come back?
You guess.
- Good morning, Horace.
- Good morning, Helen.
- Good morning, Miss Russell.
- Good morning.
I'm sorry to have kept you waiting.
Helen, I'm rather pleased with myself,
and I want you to know how
helpful Miss Russell's been.
Dwight Hawkins came
into my office this morning.
$400,000 he'll give us.
That's more than double his first offer.
Good heavens, Horace.
Who's putting up all that money?
Well, I haven't asked him.
But I checked, the cash is in Boston.
It's yours when we sign.
I presume Dwight Hawkins
will be in charge of the plant?
- Probably.
- Uh, if the sale goes through
he wants me to continue as treasurer.
Until Brad comes to me and admits failure-
- Helen, if you have
any further labor trouble,
you won't get enough for
the plant to pay your debts.
You may thank Mr. Hawkins,
but tell him I don't care to sell.
Well, I'll tell him you need
more time to consider.
You know, your predators
to force you to sell.
Horace, if this is a bonafide offer,
a few days delay won't make any difference.
I have complete confidence in Brad.
- Mr. Hawkins.
- Hello, Al.
Your message sorta surprised me.
Brought you some news.
I hope it's good.
We've got enough of the other kind.
I came up here with the
dough to buyout Doubleday.
Very interesting.
When we take over the
plant and we're going to,
there'll be jobs for everyone.
So, lets me and you start off
by understanding each other.
How do you mean?
Old lady Doubleday thinks
the union will do whatever Brad says.
She won't sell until
she finds out differently.
You oughta know how
to handle this situation.
You want all the men back on the job.
I'm in a position to do it
if the union turns down Brad's proposition.
There's not much time.
We're voting Sunday afternoon.
That's why I'd like you to get busy.
200 signatures demanding that.
Mrs. Doubleday sell her business.
And I'd wager that there's not one
of these people who
knows what he's signing.
Who originated this petition?
Look here, Sewell.
Tell Wagner that National either signs now
or we're going after someone else.
I don't care how much
business he's talking about,
it'll be no good to us
unless we get it now.
Well, you're darn tooting I'm impatient.
Okay, so long and good luck to you.
- Brad?
- Yeah?
Could you take an hour to go over these
with me at the house?
The contractor wants
to start working the 15th.
The 15th?
You'll have to put him off a little longer.
Look who's coming.
Our ex-boss, Mr. Bradford Adams.
Let's give it to 'em.
Come on, boys.
Would you look at that.
What do you say, Jack,
5% of his windshield.
How's that pretty boy?
Can you see us out here in the front line-
- How's that big fat paycheck?
What's the matter, can't
you take it anymore?
Come on back here.
Tonight's the most important
meeting we've ever had,
but a lot of 'em won't go.
Crap game means more
to them then the voting.
People are saying
things can't be any worse,
why worry about who's boss?
Mary, what do you say to our packing up
and moving to where I can get steady work?
Joe!
Good jobs are going begging
in places like Pittsburgh,
Detroit, Los Angeles.
Leave Eaton Falls and all our friends?
Take the kids out of school?
We wouldn't be happy living anywhere else.
That's just why we don't want
an outsider running Doubledays.
Most folks here are like us, natives,
they own property, have mortgages.
Let's admit it, we're tied to this town.
We can't escape, we're prisoners.
I keep asking myself why
Hawkins wants the plant.
One thing I'm sure of,
if he gets it he'll make
us work at his terms.
He'll move the machinery to some town
that's worse off than ours.
If the union votes yes,
half of you will still be outta work.
Vote no, the old lady'll have to sell,
then we know we'll go back.
- All right.
- Yeah.
Come on, all of you, you'll
be late for the meeting.
Get away, you're a jinx.
Just started, come on, let's go.
Outta here, Joe, before you're throwed out.
Look, we got a good union.
This is our last chance to
have good management.
What do we care?
Bosses are all alike.
Ah, come on up and vote.
You'll be playing with bottle caps.
That unemployment
money can't last much longer.
Mr. Hawkins is gonna see us through.
Aw, look, fellas.
Are you all right, Joe?
Yeah.
Now, why'd you have to hit him?
You might say history is repeating itself.
We've gotten together today
to deal with another Benedict Arnold.
And the funny thing is he's
got the same initials, B.A.,
Brad Adams is a traitor of Eaton Falls.
He's right!
Order, order, order, order!
This is before the union
is to hear the report
of the executive committee and vote on it.
- Go ahead, Al.
- I demand the point
of personal privilege.
And I'm gonna keep it anyway.
Is there anyone who hasn't
heard Brad Adams say no layoffs?
That he'd fight and die to
keep one man to a machine?
He's right!
All right, all right.
What'd he do?
- What'd he do?
- He sold us out!
That's right.
Order, order!
Quiet, quiet!
A speaker's out of order
and a sergeant in arms
will remove that man from this meeting.
Nobody's removing
anybody until I'm finished.
What'd he do?
He sells out.
And with the blood money,
he buys himself a new house.
He's gotta live in style
while the rest of us starve!
That's right!
We're all starving!
- Who's working, no one!
- Shut up, you guys, shut up.
- And you know it!
- You're crazy.
That's not so.
They've given us the house and once more,
Brad cut his salary
the day the plant closed.
We gotta stick together.
Either none of us goes
back or we all go back!
- Right.
- Right.
Wait a minute!
I say let Doubleday make jobs
and pay half of us out of its profits.
Isn't it better for half of us
to have a job then for all of us to starve?
Folks, folks, Brad's doing all he can
to take everybody back.
When he took this job,
we all gave him a present.
And it said, "to Brad Adams,
from his devoted friends in 145."
Tell us what Brad's
been giving you, junior.
I'll knock your teeth out... Hey, hey, hey.
Well, we're supposed to vote.
That's what the meeting is for.
Quiet, please, quiet, quiet.
I'm sorry to say that brother Joe London
has met with a serious accident.
What's happened?
Nobody knows yet.
He was taken out of
the river below the falls.
I guess we're ready for the vote.
No, we aren't.
I say let's postpone the
meeting till next week.
Then we can vote on
Mr. Hawkins's proposition.
I say we vote now.
We know Hawkins isn't buying
the place because he loves us.
The chair recognizes Brother Ike.
In case some of these
Johnny-come-lately's don't know it,
I was the first person of this Local.
Yes sir, some of us old
timers went up to Boston
to get the charter from the International.
Ah, sit down, you old goat.
Just a minute, squirt.
Now, I've been around a good bit.
And I generally size up
the bait before hooking on,
and I'm holding with Brad
because he's just doing
what old Dan woulda had to do anyhow.
- Oh, that's telling, Ike.
- Talking about right here.
Let's vote.
Hold it.
It's been moved and seconded.
All those in favor of going back to work,
signify by saying aye.
Aye!
- Oppose?
- No!
The aye's have it.
Yeah, well just try and make it stick!
Al Webster says that the whole thing
is just a stunt to make labor look bad.
Anything to say?
How about you, Dr. Payson?
I have a statement to make.
The death of Joe London
is needless, tragic waste.
Tell your readers that the same violence
and confusion that killed Joe
London can destroy this town.
So far, only one we can prosecute
is the fella who threw the bottle.
I'd better have a squad of men outside
the factory just in case there's trouble.
Thanks, Captain, I'd rather you didn't.
I'll call you if we need help.
Okay, we can get here in a jiffy.
You've sent for me?
Yes, I did.
Have you seen Dwight Hawkins lately?
My personal life is none of your business.
Mr. Hawkins happens to
be a very dear friend of mine.
I understand he's trying to buy this place.
Well that's no secret.
He's dealing legitimately
with Mrs. Doubleday's lawyer.
You'd like him to get it, wouldn't you?
Yes, certainly.
I've even urged Mrs. Doubleday to sell.
- Why does he want it?
- Ask him.
I don't need to.
He's production manager
for National Company.
They were ready to give us a big order
until he came into the picture.
I know nothing about any order.
But you do know that
he's here in town organizing
a campaign against me, don't you?
And he's trying to corrupt the union.
I hold your friend Hawkins
responsible for Joe London's death.
Don't you dare say that!
You've wrecked this town.
And unless Mrs. Doubleday
sells she'll be penniless.
I'm quitting.
I'm doing just what Dwight did, union boy.
Only now, you've had your
fling and it didn't last long.
Did it?
Operator, long distance please.
I wanna talk to Mr. Ted Wagner,
President of the National
Company in St. Louis.
What do you say, Bill?
I never crashed a picket
line in my life and I never will.
But this ain't picketing, it's wildcatting.
They're a bunch of goons
trying to wreck their own union.
- Let's go.
- Come on!
Duck down and hold tight.
Hey, wait, wait.
This is no ride for a lady.
Mr. Wagner?
This is Brad Adams
speaking, Doubleday Plastics.
You better send for your production manager
before he gets run outta town.
Yes, I mean Hawkins.
This company is not for sale, Wagner.
No, not at any price.
No!
You can all go home now.
We've been home long enough.
Why can't we work?
Why?
You see why.
They brought in scabs.
- That's a lie!
- Yeah?
Who do you suppose is
running those machines?
Who, the president of
our union, that's who!
What's the matter with you people?
Look, we voted didn't we?
Are you gonna let this
hooligan wreck our union?
Nobody's going to work until
the old lady gets rid of your hero.
Webster, I know all the words
and if I wasn't a lady
you'd be hearing them now.
Hello?
Who?
Yes, it is, Mr. Wagner.
I told Sewell to call on other customers.
Yes, those prices still stand,
but we'll have to have a deposit.
Yes, I'd be glad to.
Just a moment.
All right, what's your order?
You will give us the whole lot?
Yes, at the price that Sewell quoted.
Will you send us a check
for 30% with the order?
All right, thank you, Mr. Wagner.
Goodbye.
Yahoo!
National Company,
six million TV channel selectors.
R-U-S-H, rush!
Get me Mrs. Doubleday.
Get me my wife and I wanna
see everyone, everybody!
Isn't there a man here with
guts enough to follow me?
Come on!
Mrs. Doubleday, I wanna read you something.
Come on, let's start our jobs.
Come on.
- Good to see you.
- Hey, same here.
Yes, Ruth.
Of course it's true, darling!
Yes, they're coming in now.
So long.
Come on in, everybody.
Come on.
Quiet, listen, listen, everybody.
- Everybody's here.
- And we're all ready
to go back to work again.
Everybody?
You don't mean that do you?
All those you need on the new machines.
Are you willing to go to
work in a night shift, Abbie?
- What?
- We're working at night?
The layoffs are over.
There will be jobs for everybody.
Starting right now, Doubleday Plastics
will work around the clock.
Three shifts!
Eight million?
Well, that's what happened in our town,
and it's happened in
a lot of other towns too.
With us here in Eaton
Falls, thank the good lord,
it turned out just fine.
live in small towns,
places no larger than ours,
Eaton Falls, New Hampshire.
With most of us here in Eaton Falls,
our ties are so strong we just
couldn't be happy living any place else.
But you never know how tightly chained you
are to a town until real trouble sets in.
Like that morning last fall
when our whistle didn't blow.
Why, as long as anyone could remember,
that whistle marked the beginning
and end of every working day.
It was our curfew and our fire alarm.
Why, we even set our clocks by it.
Well, we soon found
out the whistle was silent.
The old Granite State Shoe
Company had closed down.
Closed down for good.
And that meant a lotta
folks had lost their jobs.
Therefore, the court directs the sheriff
of Rockingham County
to sell the said property
of the Granite State Shoe
Company at public auction.
This is now up for sale.
What am I offered?
I knew this would happen when
those strangers bought the plant.
What do they care about us?
How can you keep 'em from
carrying off the machines?
Now they can open some place
with cheap labor and no union.
Sold one time.
Sold two times.
Sold three times.
And sold to the First National Bank.
That whistle had become a kind of symbol,
I guess you'd call it, that
everybody in town went by.
So, it was shifted over to
the only place left going,
Doubleday Plastics.
About 20 years ago, Dan
Doubleday took over the empty
textile mill for his new
up and coming business;
Turning out buttons, combs,
toothbrush handles and
a lot of other fancy things.
Nobody knew what moving
that whistle was going to mean.
It was just the beginning to what
you might call a drama of real life.
And before it was over, every single person
in Eaton Falls was a part of it.
Especially Brad, Brad Adams,
Chief of Machine Maintenance
and President of the
Plastics Workers Union.
It began the last day
of October, Halloween.
Kinda funny that it should be Halloween.
Good morning, boys.
- Brad.
- Good morning, sir.
- Good morning, Mr. Doubleday.
- Mornin', Miss Russell.
Sit down.
Brad, I want the union to
know what we're up against.
The company's headed for trouble.
Miss Russell's just made
up our quarterly statement.
Business is way off.
If this nose dive keeps
up, we're going to bust wider
than the Granite State Shoe Company.
Why, what's happened?
Every customer I talk
with says the same thing,
our prices are too high.
And they can't come down
until we lower our costs.
We can do that by
junking our old equipment,
installing new molding machines,
high speed, semi-automatic.
Take a look, Brad.
They'll boost production 30%.
Don't know yet when we get delivery.
But once they're here,
we can meet competition.
Abbie, Bill, come here.
Ah, gee, this is terrific, Mr. Doubleday.
The fellas in the shop are
really gonna go for this layout.
There's a catch to it, Brad.
One man has to operate two machines.
It means laying off half the men
in the molding department.
Hawkins and I have discussed
every conceivable plan with the engineers.
This is the only way
we can stay in business.
What happens to these men?
Who's gonna pay their
bills, feed their kids?
Brad, I don't like this
any better than you do,
but we either install modern
electric saving equipment
or our competitors put us outta business.
I can't buck the future, neither can you.
But junking half the workers
along with the old machines?
Bill, this layoff won't last forever.
If we're able to get new business,
new business means more production
and the men'll be hired back.
It's just a matter of time.
But time is one thing you
can't pay back, Mr. Doubleday.
If you lay these men off even
for a few months they're sunk.
And with so many out of work,
somebody's bound to get
the bright idea to lower wages.
It's happened before, Mr. Hawkins.
Not in my company, you know that.
Won't you try to convince the
men that we've got to do this?
I can't very well convince them
if I'm not convinced myself.
Local 145 is supposed
to protect all of its workers.
The union can't oppose new equipment.
Read your contract.
I don't have to read
it, I know it by heart.
We don't have to argue with you.
We can go right ahead... Oh, now, Hawkins.
Only a scab would be
run two machines for ya.
Easy, Brad.
Do you think for one
minute that I'd hire scabs?
You wouldn't want to, Mr. Doubleday,
but you might have to.
Think what would happen to us.
Why, this layoff would
split the union wide open.
It could break us.
Which is better, half of 'em working
or the whole company bankrupt
and everybody out of a job?
Well, you'll have to figure
other ways to cut your prices.
Go without your profits for a while.
You can stand the loss
better than the men can.
Our profits have gone
right back into the business,
and we've borrowed money besides.
Look here, Brad.
If the union will go along,
you'll see more money
and more jobs for everybody in town.
That's a theory, Mr. Doubleday.
And I won't let my men lose
their jobs to prove a theory.
Mary, can you spare Jean for a little bit?
I got some new ideas we
wanna work on at the shop.
Sure.
Ted, will you tell your
sister there's a tall,
skinny, ugly looking ghost waiting for her.
Okay, Eddie.
Look, Brad, if costs have to come down,
let the union find ways.
We're not dopes.
There's not a single thing about running
that plant that our people don't know.
Suppose that 200 of us come up
with ideas for saving a buck a week.
Eddie.
I've come to your rescue.
Hey, my hair!
What's the matter with your hair?
It's beautiful.
So, the trouble with the Doubleday products
are they all lack imagination.
Hey, lift up.
Can't get much eye appeal
outta combs and toothbrushes.
Put your arm up.
Yeah.
That's pretty.
Now stay just like that.
Products oughta be
jazzed up a little bit more,
made a lot more dramatic.
What Doubleday really needs
is a high power idea man.
That's me.
Jean, couldn't you look more tropical?
You know, gentle waves
lapping at the rocks.
You're in Bermuda.
Bermuda my foot, I'm in Eaton Falls
and there's a draft in here.
Now, can't you hurry?
Hey, that's it.
Hawkins is right, you know?
We can't stop 'em from
bringing in that new stuff.
Nobody wants to.
But he can't make one man run two machines.
As a matter of fact there's even gotta
be an agreement before we work one.
Mr. Doubleday should know what would happen
to this town if he laid off half his men.
Oh, I asked him to forget layoffs
if we could show him
other ways of cutting cost.
What'd he say?
He'd give me Hawkins'
job if we could figure
how to save 2,500 bucks a week.
2,500?
Ah, the old man's got his troubles, Joe.
You know, the Gibson
Company is our biggest customer,
takes more than half our output.
They're not renewing their contract.
Why, what happened?
Our prices.
Doubleday and the sales manager
are flying to Cleveland tonight.
Wish him luck.
He's one of the first guys to be laid off.
You got a good union fighting for you now.
You know who this is?
Could be my grownup daughter.
You know, Mary and I are wondering whether
we'll wind up with a Thomas Edison,
Irving Berlin or a Fire
Chief for a son-in-law.
You'll get 'em all, and an
industrial designer besides.
Doubleday's plastic mermaids.
Management, that's just
a fancy name for bosses,
and you can't change a boss anymore
than you can change a mule.
There's nothing wrong
with us trying to help him.
Look, Doubleday's out
for every penny he can get.
Just what do you think the union's for?
To look out for the workers,
get 'em fair pay, decent
working conditions, job security.
Then what business have you got asking us
to worry about Doubleday's headaches?
Because if he can't
compete with other outfits,
we're all washed up.
Hawkins is getting a good,
fat salary to look after those problems.
If the factory don't make
money that's his hard luck.
You wouldn't last 10
minutes in a real union town.
I was a boy scout once, but I grew up fast.
Nah, don't tell me about management.
Pretty?
A fink in Seattle gave me that back in '45.
That was a real fish fry.
It started over layoffs.
Brad says he won't stand for none here.
I say Brad Adams ain't got it in him.
Everybody knows he and old
man Doubleday are palsy walsy.
That stuff don't go.
Maybe we oughta run you
for union president at the next election.
Yeah.
Say, no kidding.
You've made a lot of friends
since you've been around here.
You could sure dish it
out to Doubleday okay.
There's one thing for sure,
you wouldn't catch me cow tailing to him.
And I'll tell you something else.
A labor leader don't belong
in fancy pants at a gab fest.
The company'll walk all over us
if we just sit around and talk.
Labor's gotta fight for every inch it gets.
Fight or you don't eat.
The new equipment should
be ready in a few weeks.
I'm going to tell Gibson that
we'll cut our prices beginning tomorrow.
And gamble on the union
going along with you?
We've never had labor trouble
and I doubt we're going to now,
provided we can keep Hawkins quiet.
He hates unions and he
doesn't care who knows it,
but Brad sees what we're up against.
He's asked everyone for
suggestions on cutting costs.
Well, you can't blame
him for fighting layoffs.
We don't want them either.
There's George now.
Good luck, darling.
I know everything's going
to work out just as you want.
Good night, sweet.
Hey, fellas!
The new machines are here.
Take a gander at the babies
that are gonna put half
of us on the bread line.
Starvation Annie's, I call 'em.
You mean one guy's
gotta handle both of them?
Brad says never.
- Got the bugs out yet?
- I think so.
Okay, get 'em started.
Hey, Joe.
Start number two.
Watch this.
Nothing to it.
Try it, Joe.
No thanks, Mr. Hawkins.
That's right, Joe.
You're trying to get
him to set a precedent.
The union hasn't accepted
these new machines yet.
Read your contract.
I'm making this a grievance.
It's under protest, go ahead.
Well, what are you waiting for?
Okay, Joe.
Start it.
You're kiddin', aren't you, Mr. Hawkins?
Mind your own business.
Go find Brad.
He's the man to decide.
Operate that machine,
London, or draw your pay.
Okay, boys.
Let's walk.
Come on, Joe.
You men, stay on your machines!
Ah, come on, let's walk.
What's the matter, fellas?
Joe's been fired.
Are we gonna lay down and walk all over us?
Wait a minute, Brad's
the head of Local 145.
Pull that switch.
- Come on, let's go.
- Come on, let's walk.
Yeah, we're walking.
Hey, boys, they fired
Joe London, we're walking.
You stay here, Joe.
Hey, fellas, come here.
They fired Joe London,
we're all walking out.
- Who are they?
- Hawkins.
I'm going down to spread
the message about what's-
- Go.
- Goin' on around here.
- We're walking.
- Why?
Ask Al, he'll tell you what's going on.
They fired Joe London, we're walking out.
We're walking, are you
coming with us or not?
- What?
- They fired Joe.
Told everyone to pull their keys and walk.
I ain't walking... It's unavailable.
Hey, Bob, come here.
We're walking out, they fired Joe London.
Hawkins fired him for not
running the new machine.
- Are you with me?
- Yeah!
- All right, let's walk.
- Come on!
- Walk.
- Walk!
- Walk!
- Walk!
Walk, walk, walk, walk, walk.
- Let's go!
- Walk, walk, walk, walk!
- Walk, walk!
- You got no right
- to simply walk out.
- Walk, walk, walk.
- Come on back, you fools.
- Walk, walk, walk.
- Go back to your machines.
- Walk, walk, walk.
- Come on!
- Walk, walk, walk, walk.
What's wrong with you?
Hey, what's happening here?
Oh, Hawkins fired me for refusing
to work with them Starvation Annie's.
- Fired you?
- Yeah.
Well, I'll talk to Mr. Hawkins.
Wait a minute, wait a minute.
Why are the rest of you fellas off the job?
They wouldn't listen.
I told 'em I'd take full responsibility.
- Al's right!
- No, no, he isn't.
- Are you crazy?
- It's the only way.
Walk and call a strike.
No, you listen, you'll wreck us.
This is just what Hawkins wants.
What are we, a sewing circle?
We're not moving.
If you stay out you'll break your contract
and the union won't be
able to do a thing about it.
Come on, get back to your jobs.
- Come on, fellas.
- Come on, boys.
I'll take care of this.
I'll talk to Hawkins.
- Come on.
- That's it, fellas.
You're chicken if you go back to work.
Stay here!
Quite acting like a hothead.
Grow up, Al.
I want Joe London hired back.
Nothing doing, he disobeyed orders.
The walkout's a violation
of the union contract.
It was a misunderstanding.
They're all back now.
I've got the right to
fire every one of 'em.
You better not try it, Mr. Hawkins.
Let's stop kidding each other.
Kidding?
Four new machines will be ready next week.
One man'll work two of 'em.
That's final.
Are you sure it's final?
Okay, Mr. Hawkins, you
want a fight you'll get it.
- A good one.
- Yeah?
Why don't you and your
union get wise to yourselves?
I've been in touch with Mrs.
Doubleday's lawyer, Dunbar.
He wants the old lady to sell the plant.
Kit and caboodle.
If you fellas don't get in
line I'll recommend it too.
I've got a buyer.
Is that a threat?
Whoever buys can close
the plant, wait till you're all
down and out and then
rehire on their own terms.
Think it over, Adams.
I don't have to think it over.
But Helen, as your lawyer,
I must urge you to sell the plant.
Put the money into a trust fund
that will provide you with
a comfortable income.
No, Horace.
I might if someone in town could buy it,
but we know that people from outside
aren't interested in Eaton Falls.
I am.
Good for you, Mrs. Doubleday.
I'm not worried about the future.
With the money due to the bank
and serious labor trouble on our hands,
a strike mostly likely.
This meeting was to discuss
the appointment of a new president.
Well, since you insist on
holding on to the company,
I guess Dwight Hawkins
would be the logical candidate.
He'll keep a firm hand on the labor force.
I've worked closely with him
for a long time, Mrs. Doubleday.
You couldn't make a better choice.
My choice for president is Brad Adams.
Adams?
Well, you can't be serious.
Well, the union would like him of course,
but he's completely unqualified;
No managerial experience,
no knowledge of finance.
It's impossible.
He'll need help, certainty.
But he has you to guide him with finances.
However, as you say, we
do have a labor problem,
and Brad is better equipped
to handle that than anyone else.
I think my husband would
have agreed with me too.
Mrs. Russell, would you
ask Mr. Adams to come in?
He's in the library.
Helen, I want it clearly understood
this is entirely on
your own responsibility.
Naturally, Horace.
Good morning, Mrs. Doubleday.
- You've met Mr. Dunbar.
- Yes.
Sit down.
Brad, I'd like you to be
the new president of Doubleday Plastics.
President?
Oh, Mrs. Doubleday, I...
You really think that I'm
qualified to run your business?
You can learn and you're
the one man the union trusts.
You're putting me on the spot.
How can I switch sides
when I'm just getting ready
to negotiate on the new equipment?
It's either you or Dwight Hawkins.
Hawkins?
I want you because we need someone
who understands our labor problem.
But it may look as though I've sold out.
And without the respect of the workers,
I wouldn't be any use to the company.
Well, will you give me
24 hours, Mrs. Doubleday?
I'd like to talk it over with the union.
Certainly, Brad.
Well, now's your chance to
be the kind of management
that labor says it wants.
You need to get some sleep.
I'll be expected to do
a lot of entertaining.
We can get a new car now.
Oh, Brad, Brad, you know
that beautiful old house
out on the edge of the river?
It could be bought for practically nothing.
Just wait a minute.
- Not so fast.
- Oh, why not?
Oh, darling, I feel wonderful.
Well, I'm scared stiff.
That doesn't sound like you.
Holy smokes, sweetheart.
The head of Local 145
stepping into the boss' shoes.
If I have to do something
that's good for the company,
the union'll say I've sold out.
If I make a decision the
boys would cheer about,
Hawkins, Russell and
Dunbar'll say the union's
got me in its here pocket.
Look, I'm not worried
about this one one bit.
Not one single bit.
Does Mrs. Doubleday think we'll take
the layoff if you're head of the company?
I hope not.
I've already told her that
Joe has to be hired back.
Thanks.
She won't have no picnic.
Right now you've got a lot of friends,
and some of 'em just ain't happy
unless they're battling with bosses.
Don't make much difference to them
whether the name's Adams or Hawkins.
Oh, Brad, you've gotta take it.
Doesn't he, fellas?
Labor to management's a big jump,
but I think you can make it.
You can't blame me for wanting to try it.
I'm for it.
Second the motion.
Oh, can't you just see him sitting
there behind old Dan's desk?
Right now I can hear Dan sayin',
That old lady of mine, that Helen,
by golly for 35 years she
made me a mighty clever wife.
Now who'd of thought she'd
make a downside smarter with her?
- Oh, congratulations.
- Hi.
Thank you.
Hello, sweetheart, how are ya?
- Bye.
- Bye.
Hey, Al, I uh-
- After the whistle blows, mister.
I got no time to talk to
the boss outside of hours.
Oh, Al, let's forget about what happened-
- I'm forgetting nothing.
In this game, you pick sides early
and play on your own team.
Anybody who changes is a traitor.
Make way for the finishing department.
Honker down.
This curves right now ain't doin' it.
Sit down.
Morning', Chief.
Brad, we all chipped in
and bought something we think you'll need.
Just like Mr. Doubleday's.
Oh, read what it says, Brad.
"To Brad Adams, from his
devoted friends in Local 145."
- Speech, speech.
- Speech.
- Speech.
- Speech.
Thank you, Abbie.
All of you, thanks very much.
I never thought I'd have a
job that needed one of these.
Oh, all big shots carry 'em.
You can bring your lunch in it.
It looks better than a dinner pale.
Meet the Local's new president, Brad.
Bill, congratulations.
- Thanks.
- He beat Al Webster
- by a landslide.
- Oh, yeah he did.
I'm gonna need a lot
of help on this job, Bill.
I wanna form a labor management committee.
You'll get the pick of the union.
- Thanks.
- You sure will.
Hey, Brad.
Are you gonna use the briefcase
for other things besides sandwiches?
Yeah, a couple of blackjacks.
I may need 'em to beat a new contract
out of the Gibson Company tomorrow.
'Atta boy, Chief.
- Go get 'em.
- Thanks, Bill.
- Good look, Brad.
- Come on, everybody.
We'll all be rooting for you.
- Congratulations, Brad.
- Abbie, thanks.
- Good morning.
- Mr. Adams.
Uh, the name's still Brad.
Hey, why don't you sit down?
This the report?
Financial statements.
They're a little technical.
Thank you.
Morning.
I thought you'd like to put
your initials on a few things.
Hi.
These are discharge notices.
Sure.
Some of the men in the molding department.
Six new machines are ready,
so three men have to go.
Those men are staying and
I'm hiring Joe London back.
You think you can run this
plant with men standing around
getting paid for doing nothing?
There are other ways of cutting costs.
Did you look these over?
Those dopey things?
Soap's being wasted in the lavatories.
Remove the pay stations so the girls
won't fiddle away time on the telephone.
Some of them are very good.
How about this one?
Grind scrap at the machines.
A conveyor belt to the
finishing department.
What of it?
Shows that everyone wants to help.
Have you forgotten?
You're not in Local 145 anymore.
Meaning what?
That being the patsy
to a bunch of union men
is no way to run a business.
Before you fire me, buster, I quit.
I got myself a good job with
a real company yesterday.
That suits me fine.
Your check will be mailed to you.
Have your fling, union boy.
It won't last long.
You'll never find
anybody to fill his shoes.
Yes, Mr. Adams?
- Get me Jim Brewster.
- Certainly.
How do we stand with the bank?
We owe them $150,000.
- 150,000?
- For the new machines,
plus interest at 4%.
A payment of 25,000 is due next month.
If not met, the entire amount
becomes payable at once.
What do you suggest?
Try to get an extension at the bank.
- Congratulations, Brad.
- Thanks, Jim.
- You wanted to see me?
- Yeah.
Hawkins just resigned.
- Well, that was quick.
- Hey, Jim,
you've always been a very good foreman.
How'd you like to be our
new production manager?
Me take Hawkins' job?
Well... Okay, sit down.
We got a lotta work to do.
You know, Glenn Sewell, the fella that
put Martin Plastics on the map?
Well, I heard of him.
Well, Mrs. Doubleday
suggested him for sales manager.
Glenn Sewell?
He's tops, but you can't get him.
He wouldn't work for a small outfit.
I hired him last night by phone.
Now, I've cut the price
to the bone, Mr. Gibson.
You can't get a better
finish at double the price.
Can you tell me which one
of these your company made?
No.
Why should we pay Doubleday
more than we do other manufacturers?
Would you if you were in my place?
No.
We're assembling television sets.
I can buy these for less money
than it would cost you to make 'em.
Adams, I'll tell you just
what I told Dan Doubleday.
Get your new equipment
operating efficiently.
When your prices are down,
we'll be able to do business again.
- Hello, Brad.
- How do you do?
That's just like Dan's.
Oh, yes, the union gave it to me.
That's as of the 30th.
Sales still falling.
Costs up.
Did you renew the Gibson account?
No, sir, but we'll get somebody else.
We've got to.
I'll be frank, sir.
We can't make the payment next month
and still meet our payroll.
So, you want an extension?
Yes, sir.
I'd like not to make any
payments for the next three months.
Well, after all, the bank's money is safe.
The way I understand it,
the machines are worth
a lot more than the loan.
I wish it were that simple, but it isn't.
No?
The money your company
borrowed belongs to our depositors.
If Doubleday should do a Granite State,
the people in this town would start
drawing out their savings.
Business would drop to nothing
and every merchant would go broke.
Would you extend the loan
if a man with more
experience was in charge?
We'll go along with you for 90 days.
Thank you.
If we don't start showing
a profit by then, I'll resign.
Sure glad you're here, Mr. Sewell.
I found out at the Gibson
Company that I'm no salesman.
Selling can be an easy game,
unless the other fellow rings
the doorbell when you do,
and offers the lady a
brush at half your price.
When I called you I
didn't know this company
would be fighting for its life.
I hope you won't regret coming with us.
Right now we have no business.
Give me a quality product
at a competitive price
and I'll sell more than you can produce.
These high speed machines
will take care of that.
We've only got six of 'em.
It may be spring before they're all here.
That's not too far away.
A lot of Fridays between now and spring.
And every Friday a payroll comes due.
This is what I'm counting on.
An invitation, a bid and a big order.
Buttons for Navy uniforms.
Doesn't take a sales
manager to sell to the Navy.
You're a low bidder or you're sunk.
We'll be the low bidder.
That's all there is to it.
Well, we can't make these buttons
for less than 45 cents a thousand.
- Are you sure, Jim?
- I am.
44.98 to be exact.
And if you bid more
than 47 you won't get it.
Is that the correct time up there?
We're opening our bids by it.
Some outfits here I never expected.
Look at 'em sweat it out.
They trimming their bid?
Probably.
Is 47 as low as we can go?
Can you knock off another penny?
Not and pay off the bank loan.
But you wanna get the plant running.
Okay, make it 46.
Here we go.
Make it 45.
Bid opening for invitation 102S-7842,
plastic buttons.
Hench and Lee, 48.
Philadelphia Plastics, 48.
Maybe I didn't have
to take off that last one.
Hutchins, 47.
Doubleday, 45.
Maryland, 46.5.
How long does this last?
Northern Industrial Chemical, 44.3.
Let's go.
Ajax, 45.
Hello, Ruth.
Hello, Mr. Sewell, how are you?
What, I'm driving.
Are you crazy, we can't afford a new car.
Our car's in the garage
getting a new clutch.
They let me borrow this to meet you.
I'm sorry.
Guess you didn't get the Navy contracts?
Let me off at the office.
I've got a lot of work to do.
Not tonight.
You promised to go to
the Granite State benefit.
- I'll have to skip it.
- You can't!
Everybody's expecting you.
Okay!
Get down with me, folks.
Get your longways sets in order.
Think we sang all right?
Oh, I don't know, I got
sorta scared the last minute.
Oh, me too.
Hey, I almost forgot.
What?
Here.
What's the occasion?
Oh, just 'cause I love you.
J.L.
You like it?
I was wondering what the consumer reaction
was gonna be like.
If this nosedive keeps up,
we're going to bust wider
than the Granite State Shoe Company.
Our prices are too high
and they can't come down
until we lower our costs.
This is the only way
we can stay in business.
I can't buck the future, neither can you.
Cut prices, cut costs, cut, cut, cut.
Brad?
Brad, darling.
Come on, fella, you need some sleep.
Joe, our ideas, they're not enough.
I know.
You're up against it.
Things look different I
guess when you're on
the other side of the fence.
A lot of people are gonna get hurt.
I've been thinking about you and Mary.
It's not your fault.
Last hired, first fired,
that's labor's rule.
Oh, no, Joe.
Brad, there must be some other way.
No.
Old Dan was right.
Brad's gotta layoff half
the molders, don't you?
Worse than that, Joe.
The warehouse is jammed
with stuff that we can't sell.
We're losing money in
everything that we make.
I've gotta close down the
plant and layoff everybody.
Everybody?
- Everybody.
- For how long?
For as long as it takes to
turn our inventory into cash
so that we make the payment on the loan.
To get delivery on the
rest of the new machines,
and they're held up for motors,
probably for a couple of months.
Then we've gotta get enough new business
to take care of our costs
and meet the payroll.
You can't buck the future.
You've got to become a part of it.
Send them in.
Hello, Chief.
The job seems to be agreeing with you.
- Sit down.
- Abbie, Pete.
What's the news, Chief?
Everyone here?
Yeah, I think so.
The management regrets to advise you that
because of critical business conditions,
all manufacturing activities
are being suspended
for an indefinite period.
The plant will reopen as soon
as the new machines ordered
for the molding department
are delivered and installed.
This drastic action is necessary
to protect not only the
future of the company,
but also the welfare of its employees.
That's a lotta hooey.
Bill.
Mr. Doubleday only
wanted to layoff half of us.
You come along and throw us all out.
Either we close down
temporarily or for good.
Why didn't you tell us this before?
I made this decision at
three o'clock this morning.
Let's get outta here.
I'm sure glad I don't have to live
with your conscience, Mr. Adams.
This is how Brad gives
us a vote of confidence.
First Granite State, now Doubleday.
What do you say, Joe, Brad
Adams still your best friend?
He's a prince, ain't he?
Bradford Adams, you're a hero.
I just hope the credit
company don't carry off
my new Chevy before I can
crash it into Brad's rear end.
When all our bellies are empty,
Brad'll have one man run three machines.
Well, they wouldn't listen to me.
I guess they see now Brad's
just out to make a fast buck.
Why don't the union do
something before it's too late?
You know if we stick together,
Brad's racket'll blow up in his face.
How's it going?
Eddie, you'll have to
look for another artist.
Why, don't I pay you enough?
No, I'm serious.
With Pop laid off, Mom
and I have to find jobs.
Ah, don't be silly.
It's not gonna be for long.
We can't wait, honest.
On the 15th, there's a
payment for the house.
Next, the oil burner and on
the first, Pop's life insurance.
Ah, if we could only hit the
market with these babies.
A cigarette lighter in every
lamp's a wonderful idea.
Yeah, kinda corny though.
Doubleday's plastic mermaids.
Now, that's really a hot number.
Look, if you don't start doing something
about selling these things, I will.
We will never have that fortune
you're always talking about
unless we cash in on our creations.
Ah, if you'd only run off
a few thousand mermaids
we coulda been out on
the road now selling 'em.
Might've helped some.
Here.
How many box tops do you
have to send in for one of these?
Oh, I'm sorry you don't like it.
If Doubleday had anything
half as good as this
the town wouldn't be in the dumps now.
Oh, Eddie, I didn't say that.
Oh, I think it's swell.
Premium houses'll really go for it.
For prizes on giveaway programs.
Well, that's not much of a compliment.
Hey, hey, what's this?
Oh, nothing special.
No, what's it for?
- Hey, Ruthie?
- Hm?
- Got a pie?
- I got a cake.
How many pieces you want?
- Uh, seven.
- Seven.
One, two, three, four,
five, six, seven pieces.
Exactly equal and cut clean.
Cutter, huh?
A cutter that cuts clean.
It's funny, I've been
thinking about a cutter myself.
You have?
The trick is to be able to sell your stuff
for less than the other fellas.
Let me sleep on it tonight.
I'll talk to you about
it in the morning, huh?
Okay.
I tell you what.
Get a hold of Jim Brewster and Ike Pinkery.
Tell 'em to meet us at your
shop first thing in the morning,
say seven o'clock.
Seven o'clock.
See you then.
- Night, Ruthie.
- Bye.
Thanks a lot.
Morning, fellas.
Before I explain why I asked you here,
I want you all to give me
your word that you won't talk.
Certainly.
I don't want any false hopes to build up
around town and then bust 'em.
Well, I'll go along.
No one's ever been able to find a way
to trim these sprues
automatically, have they?
We still have to do it by hand.
Every company has tried to
dope out an automatic cutter.
Uh huh, so did we, but
with a traveling slicer.
Eddie's pie cutter started me thinking.
I wonder what would happen if we built
the cutter right into the mold.
You know, a contraption like
that gives me a mighty poisonous idea.
What do you mean, Ike?
I'll tell you.
It could send every girl
in the finishing department
to the county poor house.
That's where you're wrong, Ike.
We'll be able to turn out stuff faster
and cheaper than anyone else.
Television parts, for instance.
- Ike.
- Yeah?
We'd get enough new
business for a second shift,
and that'll mean everybody works.
Automatic cutter, huh?
That'll take a mighty doing.
But good seed usually
sprouts a rich harvest.
Yeah.
You don't need the money.
Four, long.
Two of your are right, gentlemen.
I'm gonna need one bet.
- You're on.
- One bet here.
Four or an eight, four or an eight.
This brew gets worse and worse.
Sure, it's absorbing your personality.
With no paychecks to feed
your kids, you crack wise.
Paycheck, paycheck,
you sound like my old lady.
Yeah, can't blame her for throwing you out,
losing all your unemployment
dough on the whores.
Want your puss slapped too?
I, uh, I see it's about time
for Doubleday's to open up.
No kidding.
How do you know?
Just by looking at the two of you.
You've touched bottom.
So has the rest of the town.
Now, all Brad's gotta do is go to the union
and say take it or leave it.
That guy's not gonna
tell us where to get off.
That's the beer talking.
When Brad blows the whistle,
you and all the others'll come on the run.
Give me the thickness gauge.
Oh, what's the hitch, what's the hitch?
She's off three thousandths of an inch.
Open it up, Eddie.
You don't think we
oughta try the jukes, huh?
No, you'd smash the plate.
You know, sometimes I think we got a big,
fat goose egg here.
Here.
Tighten that lower bolt.
All right, Eddie, close it up.
It seems to do it.
All right, Eddie, turn it on.
All right, keep your fingers crossed.
There's still something wrong.
It's not cutting clean.
Well, at least it doesn't jam anymore.
Let's pull the mold up out again.
By morning, we're gonna
have this last bud licked.
Morning?
A lotta folks are climbing outta bed
and thinking it's that now.
South End, have to go.
Somebody else trying
to collect his insurance.
Three of 'em landed in the county jail
this week for trying that.
Yeah, I tell ya we're
in a race with the devil.
And if folks don't start
drawing wages pretty soon,
old lucifer is going
to take over this town.
Well, I'm hungry.
Let's get some breakfast.
After that, Brad, we'll help
you find that confounded bug.
Those are the very terms
you told Mr. Doubleday
the union would never agree to.
Yes, you've heard it before,
but you do it this way or
the plant folds for good.
What about those men who
will still be on the streets?
- The other half?
- Unemployment money
doesn't exactly nourish the soul.
- We've found that out.
- Abbie, if the union will
agree to one man at two machines,
I hope, and it's still just a hope,
that it won't be long before
everyone's back on the payroll.
Yeah, it's just a matter of time.
We've heard that one too.
Bill, the people in this
town are so badly off,
they'd take any offer that's made to them.
Why don't you admit it?
I don't know what you're aiming at,
but you haven't been
able to bust the union yet.
You think I've been trying to?
Well, do you?
I took this job with the union's blessing.
And what said then still goes.
I want a company where the workers
will prosper with the management.
What you don't know is
that I promised myself I'd quit
if I couldn't find a way to
keep the other half working.
If I don't succeed I'll
be without a job too.
Our policy is still the one you set.
One man to a machine.
Brad, we can't talk for the union.
There has to be a vote.
What are you grinning at?
Every one clean as a pickerel's tooth.
How do you like 'em, Brad?
We did it, huh?
We finally did it!
We licked it!
Well.
Well, I guess I oughta treat
you guys to something special.
A honeymoon in Bermuda.
You're entitled to it.
I'll settle for a ride down
to Portsmouth and a lobster dinner.
Okay, Ike.
I'd just like a long, cool glass of beer.
Anything you want, boys.
Anything you want.
We have all our new equipment
and the union's voting next Sunday.
I like your plan, Brad.
Now it's up to Mr. Sewell.
Does that mean you approve?
Of course it does.
Got a whole new line of
merchandise for you to sell,
TV parts, bushings, channel selectors.
I want orders for a million of
these units before we reopen,
and that may be next Monday.
Now, wait a minute.
Look what we're able to sell 'em for.
But a million?
It'll take me a month to
see enough customers
to ring up that much business.
Mr. Sewell, wouldn't it be easier
to find us one big customer?
You wanted a quality product
for a competitive price, didn't you?
Now you've got it.
Very few outfits'll buy in the millions.
I could put in a call for
Ted Wagner in St. Louis.
He's the head of the National Company.
Get to St Louis as fast as you can.
These prices are sure on the low side.
How can you do it?
It's still a secret.
Has to be until we find
out about the patents.
But you can't promise deliveries
until you hear from the union.
Will you please let me do the worrying?
I want an order for one million units
before we reopen next Monday.
I'll try to catch the last plane.
If it should take Sewell a month,
you stand to lose the
plant, your home, everything.
And if he's successful.
Well, that's another story.
But I want you to realize, Mrs. Doubleday,
just how a big a gamble
you're letting me take.
How soon can you start deliveries?
10 days.
We're way behind, Philco, Dumont, RCA,
must be six million units on order there.
Oh, excuse me, Dad.
The production chief wants
to see you for a minute.
We have a new plant, but it'll be months
before we can get in the equipment.
I'll be right back.
All right.
How long are you staying in town?
Long enough to get that business.
I think you should try to
buyout Doubleday Plastics.
What on earth would we do
with a factory in New Hampshire?
They're installing a lot
of new molding machines.
We could rip them out and
put them in our new factory.
I'd rather give them our business.
Their prices are just about
what it costs us to manufacture.
You know why?
These things weren't cut by hand.
You mean an automatic cutter?
Absolutely.
Look here, smooth.
We've spent a fortune trying
to develop something like that.
Mr. Wagner, I'm sure
we could buy Doubledays.
Patents, new machines, everything.
They'd be fools to sell.
I understand the new management
is causing a lot of
unhappiness around town.
The lawyers have always
been after Mrs. Doubleday to sell.
If they'd rather sell
than have our business,
I'll make them a good offer.
Let me go up there and scout around.
I'd like you stall off Sewell
on our orders for a few days.
Be just as well if no
one got wind of our plans,
especially about taking away the machines.
I couldn't take an offer
like this to Mrs. Doubleday.
It'd be different if the
plant were on the market.
I remember not so long ago
you were urging her
to get rid of the place.
Yes, but that's when we
seemed to be facing difficulties.
The Boston Trust Company
seems to think you still are.
Their money's on deposit.
Just waiting for the due date.
But your labor troubles are still with you.
Well, that's why we put Adams in there.
You know that if anyone can
handle a union, he's the boy.
Then, we can't get together?
No, Dwight.
Certainly not with an offer like this.
You know, Dunbar's a cagey old cuss.
He wouldn't go to Mrs.
Doubleday with such an offer.
Bet he had her on the phone
before I was outta the building.
Don't misjudge Yankee shrewdness, Dwight.
You may find you can't pay what he'll want.
I'm prepared to raise my offer.
Just to be working with you
again is worth something.
You don't fool me, Dwight.
Why after all these
months of complete silence
you suddenly come back?
You guess.
- Good morning, Horace.
- Good morning, Helen.
- Good morning, Miss Russell.
- Good morning.
I'm sorry to have kept you waiting.
Helen, I'm rather pleased with myself,
and I want you to know how
helpful Miss Russell's been.
Dwight Hawkins came
into my office this morning.
$400,000 he'll give us.
That's more than double his first offer.
Good heavens, Horace.
Who's putting up all that money?
Well, I haven't asked him.
But I checked, the cash is in Boston.
It's yours when we sign.
I presume Dwight Hawkins
will be in charge of the plant?
- Probably.
- Uh, if the sale goes through
he wants me to continue as treasurer.
Until Brad comes to me and admits failure-
- Helen, if you have
any further labor trouble,
you won't get enough for
the plant to pay your debts.
You may thank Mr. Hawkins,
but tell him I don't care to sell.
Well, I'll tell him you need
more time to consider.
You know, your predators
to force you to sell.
Horace, if this is a bonafide offer,
a few days delay won't make any difference.
I have complete confidence in Brad.
- Mr. Hawkins.
- Hello, Al.
Your message sorta surprised me.
Brought you some news.
I hope it's good.
We've got enough of the other kind.
I came up here with the
dough to buyout Doubleday.
Very interesting.
When we take over the
plant and we're going to,
there'll be jobs for everyone.
So, lets me and you start off
by understanding each other.
How do you mean?
Old lady Doubleday thinks
the union will do whatever Brad says.
She won't sell until
she finds out differently.
You oughta know how
to handle this situation.
You want all the men back on the job.
I'm in a position to do it
if the union turns down Brad's proposition.
There's not much time.
We're voting Sunday afternoon.
That's why I'd like you to get busy.
200 signatures demanding that.
Mrs. Doubleday sell her business.
And I'd wager that there's not one
of these people who
knows what he's signing.
Who originated this petition?
Look here, Sewell.
Tell Wagner that National either signs now
or we're going after someone else.
I don't care how much
business he's talking about,
it'll be no good to us
unless we get it now.
Well, you're darn tooting I'm impatient.
Okay, so long and good luck to you.
- Brad?
- Yeah?
Could you take an hour to go over these
with me at the house?
The contractor wants
to start working the 15th.
The 15th?
You'll have to put him off a little longer.
Look who's coming.
Our ex-boss, Mr. Bradford Adams.
Let's give it to 'em.
Come on, boys.
Would you look at that.
What do you say, Jack,
5% of his windshield.
How's that pretty boy?
Can you see us out here in the front line-
- How's that big fat paycheck?
What's the matter, can't
you take it anymore?
Come on back here.
Tonight's the most important
meeting we've ever had,
but a lot of 'em won't go.
Crap game means more
to them then the voting.
People are saying
things can't be any worse,
why worry about who's boss?
Mary, what do you say to our packing up
and moving to where I can get steady work?
Joe!
Good jobs are going begging
in places like Pittsburgh,
Detroit, Los Angeles.
Leave Eaton Falls and all our friends?
Take the kids out of school?
We wouldn't be happy living anywhere else.
That's just why we don't want
an outsider running Doubledays.
Most folks here are like us, natives,
they own property, have mortgages.
Let's admit it, we're tied to this town.
We can't escape, we're prisoners.
I keep asking myself why
Hawkins wants the plant.
One thing I'm sure of,
if he gets it he'll make
us work at his terms.
He'll move the machinery to some town
that's worse off than ours.
If the union votes yes,
half of you will still be outta work.
Vote no, the old lady'll have to sell,
then we know we'll go back.
- All right.
- Yeah.
Come on, all of you, you'll
be late for the meeting.
Get away, you're a jinx.
Just started, come on, let's go.
Outta here, Joe, before you're throwed out.
Look, we got a good union.
This is our last chance to
have good management.
What do we care?
Bosses are all alike.
Ah, come on up and vote.
You'll be playing with bottle caps.
That unemployment
money can't last much longer.
Mr. Hawkins is gonna see us through.
Aw, look, fellas.
Are you all right, Joe?
Yeah.
Now, why'd you have to hit him?
You might say history is repeating itself.
We've gotten together today
to deal with another Benedict Arnold.
And the funny thing is he's
got the same initials, B.A.,
Brad Adams is a traitor of Eaton Falls.
He's right!
Order, order, order, order!
This is before the union
is to hear the report
of the executive committee and vote on it.
- Go ahead, Al.
- I demand the point
of personal privilege.
And I'm gonna keep it anyway.
Is there anyone who hasn't
heard Brad Adams say no layoffs?
That he'd fight and die to
keep one man to a machine?
He's right!
All right, all right.
What'd he do?
- What'd he do?
- He sold us out!
That's right.
Order, order!
Quiet, quiet!
A speaker's out of order
and a sergeant in arms
will remove that man from this meeting.
Nobody's removing
anybody until I'm finished.
What'd he do?
He sells out.
And with the blood money,
he buys himself a new house.
He's gotta live in style
while the rest of us starve!
That's right!
We're all starving!
- Who's working, no one!
- Shut up, you guys, shut up.
- And you know it!
- You're crazy.
That's not so.
They've given us the house and once more,
Brad cut his salary
the day the plant closed.
We gotta stick together.
Either none of us goes
back or we all go back!
- Right.
- Right.
Wait a minute!
I say let Doubleday make jobs
and pay half of us out of its profits.
Isn't it better for half of us
to have a job then for all of us to starve?
Folks, folks, Brad's doing all he can
to take everybody back.
When he took this job,
we all gave him a present.
And it said, "to Brad Adams,
from his devoted friends in 145."
Tell us what Brad's
been giving you, junior.
I'll knock your teeth out... Hey, hey, hey.
Well, we're supposed to vote.
That's what the meeting is for.
Quiet, please, quiet, quiet.
I'm sorry to say that brother Joe London
has met with a serious accident.
What's happened?
Nobody knows yet.
He was taken out of
the river below the falls.
I guess we're ready for the vote.
No, we aren't.
I say let's postpone the
meeting till next week.
Then we can vote on
Mr. Hawkins's proposition.
I say we vote now.
We know Hawkins isn't buying
the place because he loves us.
The chair recognizes Brother Ike.
In case some of these
Johnny-come-lately's don't know it,
I was the first person of this Local.
Yes sir, some of us old
timers went up to Boston
to get the charter from the International.
Ah, sit down, you old goat.
Just a minute, squirt.
Now, I've been around a good bit.
And I generally size up
the bait before hooking on,
and I'm holding with Brad
because he's just doing
what old Dan woulda had to do anyhow.
- Oh, that's telling, Ike.
- Talking about right here.
Let's vote.
Hold it.
It's been moved and seconded.
All those in favor of going back to work,
signify by saying aye.
Aye!
- Oppose?
- No!
The aye's have it.
Yeah, well just try and make it stick!
Al Webster says that the whole thing
is just a stunt to make labor look bad.
Anything to say?
How about you, Dr. Payson?
I have a statement to make.
The death of Joe London
is needless, tragic waste.
Tell your readers that the same violence
and confusion that killed Joe
London can destroy this town.
So far, only one we can prosecute
is the fella who threw the bottle.
I'd better have a squad of men outside
the factory just in case there's trouble.
Thanks, Captain, I'd rather you didn't.
I'll call you if we need help.
Okay, we can get here in a jiffy.
You've sent for me?
Yes, I did.
Have you seen Dwight Hawkins lately?
My personal life is none of your business.
Mr. Hawkins happens to
be a very dear friend of mine.
I understand he's trying to buy this place.
Well that's no secret.
He's dealing legitimately
with Mrs. Doubleday's lawyer.
You'd like him to get it, wouldn't you?
Yes, certainly.
I've even urged Mrs. Doubleday to sell.
- Why does he want it?
- Ask him.
I don't need to.
He's production manager
for National Company.
They were ready to give us a big order
until he came into the picture.
I know nothing about any order.
But you do know that
he's here in town organizing
a campaign against me, don't you?
And he's trying to corrupt the union.
I hold your friend Hawkins
responsible for Joe London's death.
Don't you dare say that!
You've wrecked this town.
And unless Mrs. Doubleday
sells she'll be penniless.
I'm quitting.
I'm doing just what Dwight did, union boy.
Only now, you've had your
fling and it didn't last long.
Did it?
Operator, long distance please.
I wanna talk to Mr. Ted Wagner,
President of the National
Company in St. Louis.
What do you say, Bill?
I never crashed a picket
line in my life and I never will.
But this ain't picketing, it's wildcatting.
They're a bunch of goons
trying to wreck their own union.
- Let's go.
- Come on!
Duck down and hold tight.
Hey, wait, wait.
This is no ride for a lady.
Mr. Wagner?
This is Brad Adams
speaking, Doubleday Plastics.
You better send for your production manager
before he gets run outta town.
Yes, I mean Hawkins.
This company is not for sale, Wagner.
No, not at any price.
No!
You can all go home now.
We've been home long enough.
Why can't we work?
Why?
You see why.
They brought in scabs.
- That's a lie!
- Yeah?
Who do you suppose is
running those machines?
Who, the president of
our union, that's who!
What's the matter with you people?
Look, we voted didn't we?
Are you gonna let this
hooligan wreck our union?
Nobody's going to work until
the old lady gets rid of your hero.
Webster, I know all the words
and if I wasn't a lady
you'd be hearing them now.
Hello?
Who?
Yes, it is, Mr. Wagner.
I told Sewell to call on other customers.
Yes, those prices still stand,
but we'll have to have a deposit.
Yes, I'd be glad to.
Just a moment.
All right, what's your order?
You will give us the whole lot?
Yes, at the price that Sewell quoted.
Will you send us a check
for 30% with the order?
All right, thank you, Mr. Wagner.
Goodbye.
Yahoo!
National Company,
six million TV channel selectors.
R-U-S-H, rush!
Get me Mrs. Doubleday.
Get me my wife and I wanna
see everyone, everybody!
Isn't there a man here with
guts enough to follow me?
Come on!
Mrs. Doubleday, I wanna read you something.
Come on, let's start our jobs.
Come on.
- Good to see you.
- Hey, same here.
Yes, Ruth.
Of course it's true, darling!
Yes, they're coming in now.
So long.
Come on in, everybody.
Come on.
Quiet, listen, listen, everybody.
- Everybody's here.
- And we're all ready
to go back to work again.
Everybody?
You don't mean that do you?
All those you need on the new machines.
Are you willing to go to
work in a night shift, Abbie?
- What?
- We're working at night?
The layoffs are over.
There will be jobs for everybody.
Starting right now, Doubleday Plastics
will work around the clock.
Three shifts!
Eight million?
Well, that's what happened in our town,
and it's happened in
a lot of other towns too.
With us here in Eaton
Falls, thank the good lord,
it turned out just fine.