Cash McCall (1960) - full transcript

Money in the kitchen
Money in the hall

Got more money than Cash McCall

He's got money

I've got none

Put him in the jailhouse just for fun

Come on, now, get out of here.
You think you're in a park?

Come on. Come on, now.
No, no, let's go, now.

- Come on. Come on, now.
- You're mean.

Now, get out of here. Come on.

One at a time.

What do you mean,
you can't reach McCall?



- You're his lawyer.
- Not his nursemaid.

Mr. Conway, will McCall be going
to Mr. Thompkins' funeral?

Mr. McCall hardly knew
Mr. Thompkins.

He knew him enough
to get control of his business.

That's why Thompkins
committed suicide.

An assumption. You don't know
why he committed suicide.

Do you know?

I know nothing of the man's
personal life. I can't guess at motives.

- I assume there were some.
- Why do you assume so?

Other people lost their businesses
and haven't jumped out of windows.

Do you keep a list of those
who do and don't?

I'll ignore that question.

Let me say this
in all fairness to Mr. McCall:

All of his actions
in reference to Mr. Thompkins...



...and the Thompkins Lamp Company
have been 100 percent legal.

There is a difference
between legal and moral.

I'm not a moralist, I'm a lawyer.

Now that Mr. McCall has control
of the Thompkins Company...

...what does he plan to do with it?

Spin it off?
Throw a whole town out of work?

You'll have to ask Mr. McCall.

That brings us back
to the original question.

- Where is Mr. McCall?
- I don't know where he is.

- Why don't you try his office?
- His office?

That's a laugh.
He hasn't been near that place in years.

That's his privilege.

Boys, this is where we came in.

This is where I go out.

- Thank you, Mr. Conway.
- Thank you very much.

Does he remind you of...?

Try his hotel. See if he's arrived yet.

Try Mr. McCall's private number again
at the Hotel Ivanhoe.

- Yes, sir.
- I'm gonna have it out with him.

He's sticking his neck too far out,
exposing himself unnecessarily.

What he needs is somebody
to front for him.

Somebody who can at least
look respectable.

What you mean is a fall guy. A patsy.

Well, yes.

You have a sharp mind.
Criminal but sharp.

Good morning, Mr. McCall.

Oh, Mrs. Kennard, wonderful breakfast.

- We must make this an institution.
- Thank you, Mr. King.

I don't think you've met our president,
General Danvers.

This is Mrs. Kennard,
assistant manager of the hotel.

How do you do?

Mrs. Kennard arranged our breakfast
for us this morning.

Well, Mrs. Kennard, you're the prettiest
mess sergeant I ever saw.

- Excuse me.
- Of course.

- We open up on Grant Austen today, sir?
- We do, indeed.

We shell the beaches and move right in.

Good morning, general, Mr. King.

- Mrs. Kennard.
- See you.

- What is it?
- Mr. McCall just went up.

I know Mr. McCall just went up.

I wish you'd get it through your head.
He's a guest in this hotel, not a manager.

Neither are you, sister.

Do I know him?

No.

Have you got a minute
to step into my office?

Hmm.

- What's wrong, Mr. Pierce?
- That was a government agent.

Hmm?

- Federal Bureau of Internal Revenue.
- Huh?

They're investigating Cash McCall.

He said it was just a routine
investigation, but he didn't fool me.

Why? What was he asking about?

Does Mr. McCall occupy
a nine-room penthouse?

Does he pay
a thousand dollars a month rent?

Did he have it completely done over
at his own expense?

Do his phone calls
go through our switchboard?

And why not?

Does he use his suite for
business purposes, for entertaining?

And we've got to protect the hotel.

Mr. Atherson and the people at the bank,
they wouldn't want any scandal.

Well, I wouldn't worry. There was talk
at the Kefauver investigations...

...about where Costello got his hair cut.

- The Waldorf-Astoria.
- Well, they're still doing business.

I'll tell you what,
let's get a Lockwood on him.

- Lockwood?
- Lockwood report.

Tells you everything
you wanna know about a man.

Financially, personally, socially.

Even tells you how many fillings he's got
in his back teeth.

How do they do it? Detectives?

- Well, I suppose so.
- No.

- No, that sounds too risky to me.
- Don't you worry about a thing.

Handle this discreetly.
The hotel cannot afford--

Of course, don't worry.

- Mr. Austen, I hate to bother you--
- Get to the point.

- Well, Schofield Instrument called again.
- Gil, I'll be with you in just one minute.

Excuse me.

Now, what's this about
Schofield Instrument?

They called about that television cabinet
they want us to make.

General Danvers is putting
the pressure on.

- If we're not interested--
- I'm not interested.

Danvers may be out of his mind,
but I'm not.

I'm not gonna mortgage everything,
put in presses...

...without even a guarantee as to
how many cabinets they're going to buy.

Well, would you like to talk to them?
Jim King's on my line now.

Uh.... Miss Burkes,
give me that call on Mr. Bronson's line.

Jim, it's Grant Austen.

Yes, Mr. Austen, how are you?

Fine. Fine, thank you.

Jim, about this new
T-21 console cabinet...

...you are going to have to tell
General Danvers--

I'm with General Danvers now.

You wanna talk to him?

Sure, sure, you bet.

Put him on.

Austen, what about
my television cabinet?

What are you people trying to do,
hold up the wheels of progress?

Well, there are a few little points
that still have to be worked out.

Now, this new television cabinet
you want...

...we'd need to put in a 2500-ton press
to turn out a job like that.

So? You've put in new presses before.

Well, sure, you know,
but the press that we're talking about...

...this is an investment of-- Well, of
at least a quarter of a million dollars.

That's lot of money to spend
without some guarantee...

...as to how many cabinets you'll buy.

Guarantee?

From us?

Austen, do you realize that 60 percent
of your business comes from us?

Well, I realize that. Sure, yes, sir.

But nobody, nobody would put in
that much new equipment--

Austen, let's not say that nobody would.

I don't follow you.

I, uh....

I have a letter before me...

...from the Heckendorf Molding Company
in Newark.

Heckendorf is eager to take
what you call a gamble.

All right, ahem, let them have it.

Of course...

...there's just one little consideration
that they want in return.

They want all the rest of our business.

Business that normally goes to you.

That's a pretty outrageous bluff.

It's not a bluff
and there's nothing outrageous about it.

Look, Austen, I'll tell you what I'll do.

Suppose I put off calling Heckendorf
until, well, let's say the first of the week.

Give you a few days to think it over.

Yes, yes.

He's gotta be bluffing.
He's just gotta be bluffing.

Well, if he isn't, it means the end of us.

He went for it.

Sell your company, huh?

I have your banker...

...Mr. Atherson, on the line.

- Hi, Will.
- Hi, Grant.

I was wondering
what you're doing for lunch tomorrow.

Oh, nothing very stimulating. Why?

A few things on the Schofield situation
I'd like to sound you out on...

...if you've got the time.

How about 1:00 over at the Ivanhoe?

In the lobby. I'll meet you at 1:00.
Fine. Thank you, Will.

Yes, Mr. Austen?

Will you ask Mr. Clark to come in?

Oh, thank you.

Well, it looks as though
they've got you on the run today.

That idea you had on taxes.

I went over it with our tax man.
He doesn't think they're gonna allow it.

No, let's not go into that.

If you don't listen to the advice
of your business consultants...

...I don't know why you pay us
a $5000 retainer.

Don't worry about that, Gil.

There's something else
I'd like to get your slant on.

Strictly in confidence...

...what would you say if I told you
I was thinking of selling the company?

Selling?

Selling, yes, yes.

I've been behind this desk
for over 30 years now, Gil...

...and I've worked hard at it,
and I've got a lot to show for it.

I built this factory from two little presses
to what we've got now...

...and, well, I think it's about time
that I was getting out.

Getting out and enjoying the years
I have left to me.

What do you think?

I'd say it was worth considering.

I wouldn't sell unless I could
make the right kind of a deal.

If it's all right with you,
I'd like to mention it to Harrison Glenn.

You know, even if you have
a deal brewing already...

...it takes more than one bidder
to get the price up.

It was Austen himself
who opened the subject?

- That's right, sir.
- Mm-hm. And you said...?

I told him it was worth considering.

Do you know why he wants to sell?

I think he's running out of gas.

You wouldn't sell, would you?

No, sir, I wouldn't.

What you'd really like is a crack
at managing the company yourself.

You have to watch that.

It's like a doctor
falling in love with a patient.

You handled this extremely well, Gil.

I think I've got Austen a buyer.

What do you know about Cash McCall?

Cash McCall?

Do you know him?

I know the type.

What type is that?

Vulture, sir.

Jackals.

They prowl around looking for a good
company that's having a little difficulty...

...buy it up for practically nothing,
and then they start pulling it to pieces.

Close the plant down,
spin it off for a tax loss.

They throw a whole community
out of work just to make a fast buck.

I'd sure hate to see
one of those ruthless characters...

...get his fat destructive hands
on Austen Plastics.

Your opinion of Mr. Cash McCall...

...is a matter of complete indifference
to all concerned...

...because you've never even
met the man.

Yes, sir.

But you will.

You're having lunch with him tomorrow.

One o'clock, Hotel Ivanhoe.

You know, Lory, when I try to explain
things to you and make them clear...

...that helps me
to make them clear for myself.

And it doesn't really happen that way
with anybody else.

Think you could get
what the company's worth?

Well, Gil Clark thinks that a million and
a half is the least we could get for it.

- We might even get 2 million dollars.
- Wow.

- That's a lot of money.
- Yes, isn't it?

It depends on our finding the right buyer,
of course.

But a million and a half,
that's not to be sneezed at. Mm-hm?

Dad, do you think you could be happy
without the company?

Well, Lory, I am the company.

It's getting to be too much.

You know what's it like
running a company like ours now?

- It's like--
- Let somebody else take over the grief.

It's too much for you
and it's too much for Mother.

Anyway, you both ought to be off
someplace having a good time again.

Yes, and it's not as though I were saving
the company for a son to carry on.

Or a son-in-law.

I'm sorry, baby. I'm very sorry.

No, Dad, it doesn't matter.

Well, of course it does.
It matters a great deal.

I don't know what happened up in Maine
last summer, but whatever it was...

...you have got to put
that whole experience out of your mind.

You'll find someone else.

Forget it, Dad, really.

- Mother?
- Yes, dear.

- Hi.
- Hi.

Not disturbing you, am I?

Mm-mm.

I have to stop pretty soon anyhow.

I'm driving into Philadelphia.

- Oh?
- Yeah, I have a luncheon date.

And then I have to pick Dad up
and drive him back.

Luncheon date?

Anyone interesting?

Oh, some people at the publisher's.

Business.

This time, they want me
to illustrate a book about space travel.

Space travel for children, of course.

It seems so odd
to have a daughter who's an artist.

Well, don't brood about it, Mother.

I'm just an illustrator.

It's very striking.

Very striking, indeed.

I think you're right not to take
your painting too seriously.

There are so many
important things in life.

It's pleasant work and they pay well.

There's nothing wrong
with women having careers.

When I was your age,
I was already married.

I've decided I'm not gonna get married
until quite late in life.

When I'm 24, say...

...or maybe even 25.

All I'm saying
is that you ought to get out more.

Do things. See people of your own age.

Young people, Lory.

- Oh, Lory.
- It's all right, Mother.

- Just awkward of me.
- No, no, it's okay.

- I'm so sorry.
- No, it's just a bunch of old sketches.

Not even worth keeping, really.

It's just that I want you
to meet someone you'll love, Lory.

And when you do,
I want you to drop everything else.

Go with him wherever he goes.

I'll do my best.

I don't know why I'm being so gloomy.

It must be something in the air.

Come, now. A few more days
and you'll both be at the convention...

...and you'll have the beach
and the hot sun...

...and you'll feel like a new woman.

Why don't you go somewhere
for a holiday?

You haven't been anywhere since
you got back from Maine last summer.

I better hurry up and change. Bye.

I'll see you later.

Mr. McCall's room number, please.

May I have your name?

Gilmore Clark.

Mr. McCall, please.

Mr. McCall, I'm sorry to trouble you.

There's a Mr. Gilmore Clark
to see you, sir.

Yes, sir. Very good, sir.

You may go up. Tenth floor.

And the room number?

Mr. McCall occupies the entire floor
and part of the ninth.

- Mr. McCall, please--
- Gil Clark, I'm Cash McCall.

Come in.

Yours, I'd say, would be a martini?

Nothing at all. Thank you.

You shouldn't make
an important decision in such a hurry.

It's your duty
to make a good impression.

That's what martinis are for.

Gilmore Clark. Is Gilmore a family name?

That's right.

My mother's maiden name.

Well, at least it's harmless.
My mother's maiden name was Cash.

Oh.

I always assumed....

Most people do.

Tell me, Gil,
what do you know about me?

Not much.

- None of it good, huh?
- Well--

There's no need to get your guard up.
Not yet.

Is that dry enough?

I'm sort of a secondhand dealer.

I buy old tired companies and whip them
into shape, and then sell them again.

- What's your line of work?
- Corporation Associates.

We're management consultants.

That's a prissy way
of saying efficiency experts, isn't it?

I mean, you go out to a company
with a slide rule and an Ouija board...

...you sit off to one side in the shade
and tell them how to run it by the book.

We can usually see more
from the sidelines...

...than they can
from the middle of the field.

Well, that's nice. It's like going to a
ball game and having the players pay you.

And they pay you pretty well, I hear.

Our fees are big. But when we charge our
clients thousands, we save them millions.

And we have a waiting list a mile long...

...because my firm
operates strictly on the level.

And do you know why it operates
that way? Because I own it.

Sit down.

Hadn't you guessed?

No, I hadn't.

At least now you're certain
your worst suspicions are confirmed.

I wouldn't say that.

But you do feel my position
is slightly unethical.

Well, I'm surprised, naturally.

In case there's any doubt in your mind,
I don't belong to the better circles.

I'm a thoroughly vulgar character.
I enjoy making money.

Come on, let's eat.

Have you any other prospects lined up?

Oh, yes, yes. Gil Clark has someone
that he thinks might be interested.

Gil Clark?

- That's Corporation Associates?
- Yes, yes.

- You know, they have a lot of contacts--
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Grant, when are you gonna
drive back to the country?

Well, Lory's picking me up here
at 3 this afternoon. Why?

Oh, I just thought I might have a buyer.

Uh....

Look, have you an asking price in mind?

Two million dollars.

Two million? Heh.

That's a little steep, isn't it?

Well, not for asking, no.

Look, if anybody offers you 2 million,
you grab it.

Who's your prospect, Will?

Well, I can't tell you that now.

But, look,
if I had your authority to go ahead...

...well, I could find out if he's in town.
Shall I?

Well, certainly. Sure, you go right ahead.

Waiter, check, please.

Well, what do you think?

- About what?
- Going to work for me.

As far as I can see,
I've been working for you for some time.

Well, this wouldn't be quite the same.
You'd leave Corporation Associates.

I'm afraid I'm a little vague
about what my job would be.

What you do now is,
you go into a company...

...and try to find out
what's wrong with it?

That's usually the starting point.

Well, that'd be the starting point
with us too.

When there's a company for sale,
there's always a reason.

There's always something wrong.

The tax structure we have now sets
everything up like pins in a bowling alley.

You take your small manufacturer
like Mr. Austen.

The only way that he can cash in
is by selling out.

And the tax situation, or rather because
of it, the country is full of Mr. Austens.

I'm sorry, Gil, I don't make the rules.
I just play the game.

From what I know about Austen Plastics,
Austen is tired.

He's also overloaded
with Schofield Instrument business.

And General Danvers can make it tough
on him any time he wants to.

You still think it's a good property?

With the right management,
it can be operated at a very good profit.

I don't buy businesses to operate them.

I thought you understood that.
I buy them to sell.

Put those right over there, on the right.

Excuse me.

Oh. Heh.

We had this set of Royal Norwegian
that wasn't in use...

- ...so I thought I'd bring it up for you.
- Oh, fine, oh....

This is our assistant manager....

- Maude Kennard.
- Gilmore Clark.

- Hello, Mr. Clark.
- How do you do?

Nice to meet you.

These are more personal,
don't you think?

Yes.

If there's anything you want,
let me know, Mr. McCall, any time.

Well, thank you very much.

She's attractive.

Mm-hm.

I may be interested in buying this plastics
factory and I may not. I don't know.

At the moment, I'm interested in you.

I don't even know
whether I like you or not.

That's your problem.
I don't hire people to like me.

I hire them to work for me.

I want to tackle something bigger
than anything I've done. I'll need help.

I need somebody to feed me ideas,
to follow through on detail...

...pick up the ball if I fumble.

And kind of warn me
in case I commit a foul.

I really don't know what to say.

This is my unlisted telephone number.

It's the only way you can reach me.

If you decide you wanna talk,
give me a call.

What about Grant Austen?
What do I tell him when he calls?

Tell him you got a buyer,
but don't tell him who.

Get him to quote a firm price.
We don't wanna haggle.

And don't be too disappointed
if I turn it down.

We can't buy them all.

Gil, in case you are interested
in switching hats...

...your salary will be $25,000 a year.

- Father, I'm sorry if I kept you waiting.
- Hi, honey.

- Hi.
- Keep your fingers crossed, Lory.

Atherson thinks he might have a buyer.
He's talking to him right now.

- A buyer?
- For the company.

And if I get my price, your share alone
could come to almost $200,000.

- That's incredible.
- Of course not.

Between the shares
that your grandfather left you...

...and what I've been taking
out of your allowance...

...you own almost 10 percent.

Well, I am very impressed.

Uh, Grant.

- Hello, Lory.
- Hello, Uncle Will.

He'll be here in a second.

We haven't seen much of you lately.
I was talking to Mrs. Atherson--

Oh, excuse me, I've got to call Gil Clark.

Grant, I'm afraid you'll have to
do it later. Here's our man now.

- Glad I caught you.
- Hello.

Cash McCall, Grant Austen.

- Mr. McCall. Pleasure.
- How do you do, sir?

My daughter, Lory.

- Miss Austen and I have met before.
- Oh?

Yes, we have.

Oh, you two are old friends, huh?
Ha-ha-ha.

That's good. Fine.

- Do you have a minute to spare, sir?
- Sure, you bet.

I think we can speak better in my suite.

Oh, surely.

- Oh, Father, I'll wait for you here.
- Well, no, nothing doing.

You're practically
an officer of the company.

- If you have no objections, Mr. McCall.
- Not at all.

Let me know how you make out.

Sure, sure, Will, you bet. Thanks.

Care to sit down?

Well, well. Heh.

This is a real pretty place you got here.
Who's your decorator?

The cheapest one I could find, me.

Gil Clark tells me you may be interested
in selling your company.

- Would you care for a drink?
- No, no, thank you.

- Miss Austen?
- No, thank you.

Gil Clark?

I thought Will Atherson told you that.

While you were having lunch
with Atherson...

...I was having lunch with Gil Clark.

Mr. Austen, you have been a client
of Corporation Associates...

...for several years, haven't you?

Oh, yes, yes, indeed.
They're very fine people.

Well, there's something I think
I ought to tell you before we go on.

I own the controlling interest
in Corporation Associates.

You do? Well....

I'll be darned.

I'd like you to tell me something,
unless you'd rather not.

No. Anything.

Schofield people, General Danvers, how
interested are they in buying you out?

Well, I think that's more a question...

...of how interested I'd be
in what they have to offer.

They'd want me to take stock.
I don't want stock.

We're only interested in an outright sale.

Aren't we, Lory?

Yes.

I see. You want cash.

- Yes, cash.
- How much cash?

Two million dollars.

And that includes all the stock?

Yes, yes. That includes all the
stock in the company.

Lory here owns about 10 percent
and I own the rest of it.

And Miss Austen is in favor of the sale?

If I weren't, I wouldn't be here.

I don't know whether you saw
our year-end statement.

I gave Gil Clark a copy of it last week.

But that will give you
the complete picture on Austen Plastics.

No change since
the statement was drawn?

Except profits since
the first of the year?

Well, uh-- No.

Well, good enough.

When you're ready
to hand over the stock...

...I'm ready to hand over
the $2 million.

If you want to call someone, your lawyer,
there's a telephone right through there.

Well, yes, I will. I'll phone. Excuse me.

Lory, you've gotta listen to me.
There's something I--

- Don't bother.
- Don't bother?

Let's leave things
the way they were...

...before we happened
to bump into each other.

Happened?

Yes, you haven't thought about me
since last summer.

And I certainly
haven't thought about you.

You haven't?

Let go of my arm.

Me, Maine, everything,
you just swept it all out of your mind?

Let go of my arm.

Well, go ahead, call your father.

That's your work, isn't it?
That's your signature?

Where did you...?

Who's it supposed to be,
Abraham Lincoln?

Lory, you have to listen to me.

I can explain.
This whole thing is a stupid mistake.

- I've kicked myself--
- Oh, I'll bet you have.

I'll bet you're just black and blue
all over.

Poor suffering Cash McCall.

Well, please,
don't tell me your sad story...

...because I'm still laughing
from the last time we met.

I tried several times,
but he must still be out to lunch.

- Where's Lory?
- She suddenly remembered something.

I think she plans to meet you
down in the lobby.

- Oh.
- Now, if you'd like to call me later on....

No, I don't really need
to talk to anybody.

You've made me a good offer
and I'm ready to accept it.

All right, sir,
you've made yourself a deal.

Oh, you'll be hearing from my lawyer,
Winston Conway.

If you need any help on a tax breakdown,
Conway's the best man in the business.

- He'll be glad to give you a hand.
- Well, thank you.

We'll be taking over the first
of the month. That'll give us a week.

So I'll send Conway,
Gil Clark and few others for a fast audit.

Good. I wanna say this, Mr. McCall,
you've bought yourself a good company.

- I'm happy if you're happy, Mr. Austen.
- I couldn't be happier.

Good afternoon, sir.

Goodbye.

- Wait here.
- Yes, sir.

Good morning. I must apologize...

- Isn't there any way of losing you?
- ...for barging in like this.

I was driving by, and I thought,
while I was in the neighborhood--

Dad.

It's your Mr. McCall.

Well, for pity's sake.

- How do you do, sir?
- Fine.

Miriam, you've heard me
speak of Mr. McCall.

- This is Mrs. Austen.
- How do you do?

My daughter you already know.

Yes. I had a few things
I wanted to go over with you.

I thought I'd save you
the trip downtown.

- If you'll excuse me, please.
- No, please don't go.

You're the main reason I'm here.

Your 10 percent of the stock.

Oh. Oh, well, let's go into the library.

I have a cab waiting outside. I was
on my way to the airport from here.

Why, that's only over the hill.

Lory can run you there in no time.

- Well, in that case--
- Sure, sure, that's a fine idea.

- I'll take care of the cab.
- Thank you.

Shall we go into the library
and be comfortable?

Miss Austen?

Mr. McCall, may I get you something?
A cup of coffee?

Oh, no, thank you.

Mr. Conway tells me
you're planning a trip around the world.

Oh, heavens, no.

Lory's been talking
about going to Europe.

Mr. Austen and I are only going
to the plastics convention.

My husband was so pleased
with how quickly everything was settled.

I hope you haven't found something
that needs to be changed.

No, everything is just fine.

Mr. McCall, I said to Miriam yesterday
when we got home...

...you remind me of somebody, and
I can't for the life of me remember who.

Well, I'm afraid I can't help you, sir.

Well, sit down.
Make yourself comfortable.

Thank you. Mr. Austen...

...it seems part of your daughter's stock
came from her grandfather's estate.

- That was my father.
- That's right, yes.

As I told Mr. Conway, I gave
my father-in-law a block of stock...

...with the agreement it was
to come back to Lory after his death.

I see. I assume it's been approved
by the probate court.

Oh, sure, sure, you bet.

Well, it seems I've made a trip
for nothing.

Mrs. Austen,
I wanna thank you for asking me in.

We must have you to dinner soon.

I'd love to meet Mrs. McCall.

- Well, I'd love to meet her myself.
- Oh.

Lory, you're driving Mr. McCall
to the airport.

It would be very kind of you,
Miss Austen.

Not at all. I'll bring the car around.

- Sorry to put you to all this trouble.
- No trouble at all.

A man like that for Lory.

Oh?

Do you want me to drop you
at the terminal or one of the gates?

I'm a normal, healthy American boy.
I don't wanna be dropped at all.

You don't seem to understand,
I'm pursuing you.

That's a wholesome change, isn't it?

She's a hardhearted woman.

But she's awfully pretty.

And she's awfully bored
with the conversation.

Well, it probably doesn't make
much sense...

...but it's hard for people to make sense
when they're in love.

We turn in here.

- Oh. Oh.
- Lory, you hurt?

No, I'm fine.

Let's see if you still got an automobile.

Hey, Pete, come over
and take a look at this car.

Sure thing, Mr. McCall.

- Sure you're all right?
- I'm fine.

- Get out. Take it easy.
- Sorry, it's silly of me.

What should I do,
make a tunnel under the fence?

It'll take a few minutes
to check the car over.

- I'm all right.
- Let's go get a drink.

Put this car in my stall
when you get through tinkering.

Sure thing, Mr. McCall.

- This isn't yours?
- Why not?

This looks like a yacht.

I'm glad you didn't say "trailer."

Bottoms up.

- Still a little shaky?
- No, I'm fine now.

You'd better sit down.

No, the good seats are up front.

Sit down.

All passengers,
please fasten your seat belts.

Remember, no smoking during takeoff.

What are you talking about?
We're not going anywhere.

Oh, but we are.

- N-36B--
- Where are we going?

I can't hear you.

N-36B to tower, please.
Requesting taxi instructions.

Sit down, fasten your seat belt.

Thank you.

Well, what's this supposed to be,
Shangri-la?

No, this is the Arroyo Valley.

One of the many mysterious holdings
of Cash McCall.

And the only place that I can talk to you
whether you want to listen or not.

Charming thought.

Lory, I'd like to tell you a story.

It's about a girl.

And I'd like you to listen carefully and
visualize it as though you were the girl.

Last summer, I went up to Maine
to spend a weekend with some friends.

And I guess I'm not the party type.

Anyway, the smoke and the drunken talk
began to get on my nerves...

...and so I wandered out
toward the lake.

Suddenly, as if my mood itself
had dreamed it up...

...there was a young girl in a white dress
walking beside the lake.

I just stood there staring.

She was beautiful.

She looked familiar somehow...

...even though I knew
I'd never seen her before.

I said to myself, she must be someone
from the party inside, and I said to her:

"I've been waiting for you.
Would you like to dance?"

We went into the party
and I was very proper and correct.

I didn't hold her too close.

Not at first.

We found a quiet corner of the house
and sat there...

...taking turns trying to talk
and breaking off...

...and just looking at each other.

After a while, the party began
to overflow into the corner...

... where we were
and we got separated somehow.

I found myself feeling very lonely.

I sneaked out
and I went back to my cabin.

A rainstorm blew up so I made a fire...

...and stood looking at the fire
and listening to the storm.

I kept saying to myself, "Go to bed.

Go to sleep. Forget about it."

But I couldn't.

I couldn't get that girl out of my mind.

Suddenly, the door
of the cabin opened...

...and there she stood,
drenched to the skin.

I still don't know
which of us moved toward the other.

I persuaded her to take some brandy...

...and I went to get something warm
to put around her.

It's supposed to be simple,
being a bachelor.

You meet a girl on a weekend
and the two of you play at love.

And on Monday morning,
she gets on a train and you get on yours.

But this wasn't one of those encounters.

This girl wasn't a casual pickup
whom you could drop that easily.

This was very serious,
and that made it frightening.

When I came back with a robe,
I could only stand and stare.

This was getting
completely out of control.

I gave myself a lot of noble reasons,
but not the real one.

Actually, I was afraid
of the way I really felt.

I was too busy to fall in love. There were
too many other important things.

I knew I had to get her out of there,
and I said, "You'd better go home, kid.

You're too young to be out this late."

She looked at me as if I had struck her...

...and I said it again
before I could change my mind.

"Go home."

She turned and ran out.

I stood in the doorway
with my stomach tied in one big knot...

...and watched her running
into the woods.

I was so embarrassed,
crying every step of the way.

I just wanted to run away and....

Yeah, I know.

Well, it isn't every day
that a woman falls in love with someone.

And then suddenly...

...she's made to feel cheap.

It isn't every day
a man discovers that he's still a child.

When you run away from something you
spent your whole life looking for, you....

Why don't we walk or something?

You know the girl
we were talking about?

You could forget that she was you.

It'd be a lot more exciting
if you'd remember.

- You didn't.
- Oh, I remembered.

I looked for you and I found you.

It was on Labor Day,
you were at a dance.

You were dancing with a very
nice-looking guy with a crew cut.

And you?

I was standing out on the terrace,
watching.

That's a very pretty house over there.

I wonder who owns it.

I do.

- Bought it?
- Built it.

Where did you get my painting?

I bought it
from the publisher you work for.

Why?

Sentimental, I guess.

I love you, Lory.

Let's take a look at the house you built.

Oh, Mr. Clark.

Mr. McCall came in
about five minutes ago.

He's expecting you.

Thank you.

Gilmore, come in, come in.
Hey, what do you got there, goodies?

No, just tell me.

Did you and Austen
ever discuss patents?

We never discussed much of anything.

I've discovered a prize in the package
that neither you nor Austen knew existed.

What are you talking about?

Years ago, Austen set up a routine.
He probably forgot about it afterwards.

Every design he worked out
was automatically sent to Washington.

Look.

Every single one of those patents
is assigned to Austen Plastics. Us.

Nobody can use that equipment
unless we say so.

What time did you call Danvers and tell
him we were washing out his business?

About quarter to 10 this morning.

Mm-hm.

He's been trying to get me on the phone
every half hour since 10:00.

That's why he was in such a lather.

Austen didn't remember that he owned
those patents, but General Danvers did.

And General Danvers can't operate
without them.

That's the house phone.

Five will get you 10, Gil.

McCall.

Oh, he is, is he?

Well, send him right up.

Ah. Major General Andrew D. Danvers,
U.S. Army, retired.

- You're not gonna see him?
- I'm gonna see the whites of his eyes.

Cash, you haven't signed the deal
with Austen yet.

Well, we shook hands on it,
that's good enough for me.

You just let me handle Danvers alone.

- Cash, I don't want--
- Go downstairs--

- Use the private-- Stay in the bedroom.
- Without a signed contract--

I want you to know that I consider you
unscrupulous, unethical and dishonest.

- Come in, General Danvers.
- I consider you a pirate and a blackguard.

I'm well aware
of how you feel about me...

...and I just can't find it in my heart
to blame you.

In your what?

- I don't have any affection for you either.
- Is that why you're out to ruin me?

Is that why you're out to destroy
the Schofield Instrument Corporation?

Nobody has to ruin you
or your company, general.

Not as long as you're around
to save them the trouble.

You've managed to get your hands
on a company...

...that I've supported for years,
60 percent of its product.

And the minute you've got it, you
refuse to supply me with molding parts.

What are you up to, McCall, extortion?

I hope you won't mind my saying it...

...but for a military man,
you don't have either a logical mind...

...or a very good memory.

You do have one very good
military talent, though.

You're very good at passing the buck.

- What's that supposed to mean?
- This isn't the first time it's happened.

About a year ago,
I sold you a cabinet factory...

...Padua Furniture Company.

It's a first-rate shop.
You got it at a good price.

Now, if I remember correctly...

...you thanked me warmly
for letting you have it.

Indeed I did.

I don't always recognize a thief
the first time I see him.

But when you found out...

...you had been offered
the shop before at half the price...

...you started shooting off your mouth
about how you'd been robbed.

You're damn right I did.

You didn't recognize
that a year before...

...it wasn't worth
half the price you paid for it.

Now you're starting it all over again.

You know the cost and trouble
it's going to be...

...moving those molds from the
Austen plant to Heckendorf's presses.

Please, general,
that's not what we're talking about.

Your cost and trouble
is going to be spent...

...in working out new presses
and new molds...

...because all the old ones
are covered by patents which I own.

And if you try any of that hanky-panky
with me, I'll beat your brains out.

You think you've got me outflanked,
don't you?

If I didn't, you wouldn't be here.

Now that I've covered one flank,
let's cover the other.

Namely, the Heckendorf
Molding Company.

If there aren't half a dozen letters in our
files from a company like Heckendorf...

...asking for the use of our patents...

...I'd be very disappointed.
In Heckendorf, that is.

And just where
is that supposed to leave me?

Up the well-known creek, general,
without a paddle.

Because if we stop supplying you
with parts, you're out of business.

I've heard about "dog eat dog" before...

...but I never imagined
even you could be this vindictive.

I can't.

Now, I'm willing to keep supplying you
with parts from Austen Plastics.

What?

At a 10 percent increase
across the board.

- Oh, that's robbery.
- No, I don't think so.

If Heckendorf wanted the business,
which he doesn't...

...he'd be charging you
at least 25 percent.

Now, as I see it, you have
a very wide choice there, general.

You can either take my generous offer
or go home and cut your throat.

No.

No, sir, I won't do it.

You won't?

I refuse to jeopardize
the Schofield Instrument Corporation...

...a fine company, a great company...

...by letting its sources of supply
get into the hands...

...of a cheap, unscrupulous operator
such as you are.

Well, it's none of my business, of course,
but what do you propose to do instead?

I propose to get those lines of supply
into Schofield hands.

I want to buy
the Austen Plastics Company.

Buy it with what?

With 300,000 shares of Schofield stock.

Three hundred thousand shares?

That's 3 million dollars.

A cool million-dollar profit.

Don't spend it all in one place.

Schofield common
is selling at $10 a share.

No, it isn't.
It's just lying there at $10 a share.

Nobody's been buying Schofield since
they missed their last two dividends.

But, you know, Gil,
this is getting to be intriguing.

If I could manage
to get control of the company--

Control of Schofield Instrument?

Well, why not?

I've got a hundred thousand shares that
Schofield paid me for Padua Furniture.

There's 300,000 that Danvers
is offering for Austen Plastics.

I'm sure I can get another hundred
thousand shares through Will Atherson.

That's a half a million shares.

I wonder how much I'd need
to get control.

Cash...

...this whole thing
could blow up right in your face.

Yeah, that's true.
If I tried to get control and I didn't get it.

I'd have all my money tied up in Schofield
stock and no way to get out from under.

That's not what I'm thinking about.
I'm thinking about the Austen deal.

When I was working for Corporation
Associates, your own company...

...Austen himself
could have sold out to Danvers.

Yeah, but for stock.
He didn't want stock.

He wanted cash. He told me himself.

No, Gil, I think in 18 months, we can
put this operation back in the black.

You know, one decent dividend
from Schofield...

...will put their stock up to $15.

Gil, get out of here,
I've got some thinking to do.

- Look, Cash--
- I'll give you a call.

Lockwood Company.

Mr. Lockwood, please. Cash McCall.

- Hello?
- George? McCall.

I got a rush job for you.

Get a list of all the major stockholders
in Schofield Instrument.

See what you got in the files
on each of them. Thanks, George.

- Well, hello.
- Heh.

Hello.

You're the one who's been doing
these impressive flower arrangements.

- Mm-hm.
- I somehow didn't think it was Andrew.

There's nothing like a woman's touch.

It's thoughtful of you to take the time
to do it yourself.

Oh, I'm grateful for the diversion,
Mr. McCall.

Being a sort of glorified bookkeeper...

...I sometimes find it hard to remember
that I'm a woman.

I doubt that anyone around you
would have that trouble.

- May I?
- Oh, yes, of course.

As one bookkeeper to another...

...you should be doing things like that
in a home of your own.

Oh, very few women could find a home
as beautiful as this.

Is this the sort of surroundings
a woman could be happy in?

- With you?
- Naturally.

What I mean is, you don't think a woman
would find this place too masculine?

Well, I couldn't tell
without knowing the woman.

I'm afraid I don't know her
too well myself.

Let's just say our opportunities
have been limited.

But I plan to remedy that.

You've brightened my whole day.
Thank you. Good evening.

Good evening.

Well.... Uh-huh.

Everything certainly seems to be
in order here.

Just a moment, sir.

You're sure you're absolutely satisfied?

I couldn't be more so.

No regrets? No reservations?

It's not too late to change your mind.

Why do you say that now?
Is there anything wrong?

Oh, it's just a little superstition of mine.

Always give a man or a woman
one last chance to say no.

Oh. Ha-ha-ha.

Well, I've had mine.

Now let's sign the papers.

I can't really tell you
how delighted I am...

...and how very much...

...I appreciate the thoughtful way
this whole thing has been handled.

There we are.

Mr. McCall, it's a pleasure
to do business with you.

Well, sir, I imagine you're
looking forward to a long vacation.

Oh, by the way, when is
this plastics convention of yours?

I thought we might catch a train down
tomorrow morning.

Oh, nonsense. We made a date.
I'm supposed to fly you down.

- That's an awful lot of trouble, isn't it?
- Not at all.

Let's say I pick you up here,
9:00 in the morning?

Nine o'clock in-- Sure.

Oh, maybe Lory would like
to go down with us just for the ride?

Oh, she'd be delighted.

In the meantime, I could show you
the wild nightlife of Philadelphia.

How exciting.

Goodbye.

Mother, bye-bye.

Have a good time, darling.

- Good morning.
- Yes, indeed.

What do you know about
the Margaret Schofield Foundation?

- Not a thing.
- You know what this is?

This is a Lockwood report
of the Schofield stockholders.

"The Margaret Schofield Foundation
is a medical research institution.

It was established
by the late Andrew Schofield...

...founder of the Schofield
Instrument Corporation...

...and named in memory of his mother."

Well, that's very interesting.

You have no idea how interesting it is.

When old man Schofield died...

...he left all his personal holdings
to the Margaret Schofield Foundation.

And now it becomes
even more interesting, doesn't it?

Yes, it does.

If we could get this foundation
behind us...

...if we had their proxy, plus the stock
we already have or can get...

...then we'd have control
of Schofield Instrument Corporation.

Why should the foundation
give us its proxy?

The only money the foundation has...

....is what it gets in dividends
from the Schofield stock.

Now, you tell me,
what's the catch there?

Schofield Instrument
hasn't declared a dividend lately.

The head of the foundation
is a Dr. Martin Bergmann.

How do we get to Bergmann?

Now, wait a minute.

If he is in the Danvers camp,
the minute we talk to him...

...word would get back to Danvers
that we're trying to get control.

Right.

Now, we have two questions, Gil.

How does Bergmann feel about Danvers?
And how does he feel about Cash McCall?

Why should he feel any way at all?

Lockwood will have a report about
Bergmann on your desk at 10:00.

Get all the background
you can on Bergmann.

- Then go out and have a talk with him.
- Me?

You're the logical person.
You're the head of Austen Plastics.

If I muff this deal,
you have 2 or 3 million dollars at stake.

Don't think about money.

Think about other things,
like if you muff the deal...

...well, we can both sell apples
on Independence Square.

Wait a minute.
What if I have to get in touch with you?

Well, you can't. I'm taking the day off.

I can't tell you how grateful we are.
It's been a wonderful trip.

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Well, ha-ha, thanks for the ride
and all the rest of it.

- Bye, honey.
- Bye, Dad.

Bye, Mother. Behave yourselves.

- Bye.
- Have a good time.

- Come on, let's eat.
- Eat? Where?

A little place I know in Philadelphia
called Cash McCall's.

Oh. He's a charming man.

He certainly is.
He's done all right by us, hasn't he?

I made a point of sitting up front
with him on the flight.

Just to let him know
what a wonderful girl Lory is.

Let's not worry about that, honey.
Let them work it out.

Oh, just thinking of Lory's future.

You could do worse
than have Cash McCall for a son-in-law.

Yes, yes. Uh....

We're down here on a vacation.

Come on. Come on, honey.

Here's something interesting.

"There's an open house every year
at the Margaret Schofield Foundation...

...and General Danvers
is usually on the program for a talk."

That's interesting?

This year,
he wasn't even on the guest list.

Thin but encouraging.

There's another thing
I can't quite analyze.

The Lockwood boys phoned to say that
Dr. Bergmann had a call this morning...

...from General Danvers
that lasted 20 minutes.

It could be he's anxious about getting the
foundation's vote to buy Austen Plastics.

After the talk, Dr. Bergmann got into his
little car and got himself completely lost.

- Yes?
- Dr. Bergmann is here.

He's here? Outside?

Show him right in.

Dr. Bergmann, I'm Gilmore Clark.

And this is our counsel,
Mr. Winston Conway.

- How do you do?
- Yes, I've heard of Mr. Conway.

Oh, won't you sit down, doctor?

I'm not really sure
that you are the right man, Mr. Clark.

But this we'll soon find out.

I tried all morning to find this Mr. McCall.

At his hotel, they wouldn't
put me through on the telephone.

Well, perhaps I can be of help
to you, doctor.

I'm given to understand
that the Austen Plastics Company...

...actually belongs to Mr. McCall.

That is true, is it not?

That's correct, doctor.

If Mr. McCall is given
300,000 shares of Schofield stock...

...will that mean
he will take an interest...

...in the management
of the Schofield Company?

What do you mean, Dr. Bergmann?

Oh, I don't know what I mean.

All I know is that without
Schofield dividends, the foundation dies.

We can do great things, Mr. Conway.

We have some brilliant, brilliant men.

They need what the foundation
can offer them.

Freedom of work, equipment, facilities,
individual financial support...

...to keep body and soul together.

I ask nothing for myself.

I cannot let the foundation die.

Of course not, doctor.

When can I talk to Mr. McCall?

Well, probably sometime this evening.

Not before that?

Ah.

I promised General Danvers
I will give him word by 5:00.

If I could talk to Mr. McCall before that.

You know, Lory...

...no man should ask a woman
to marry him unless....

Well, unless there's a reasonable chance
he can give her solidity and security...

...the type of thing
she has a right to want.

But, well, it's just something
I can never offer. I'm....

I'm broke one day and I'm rich the next.

I always have been, I always will be.

It's-- Well, I've tried to change,
but it just doesn't work out.

Aww.

You can see what it would be.

An offbeat life
with an offbeat type of character.

And that's not what you want.

You're getting to be an expert
on what I want?

Well, my father
was a great company man.

He built up a wallpaper factory.

He spent his whole life doing it so I
could take over when he was through.

And I couldn't.

I get a wallop out of...

...taking a shaky company
and bracing it up.

Taking it apart
and see that it runs again.

But then, after about six months,
well, all the fun's gone out of it.

I don't enjoy it anymore. I don't belong.

I'm just not a company man.

Hello.

Yeah, Gil.

Bergmann?

He did, huh?

He does? Well--

Well, of course I wanna see him, but--
Why not?

Do I have to see him?
Can I see him tomorrow?

I'm in the middle
of a very important conference.

Oh, don't mind me.

Where are you, Gil?

You sure you don't mind?

Yeah, Gil,
20 minutes in Conway's office.

You know, I know it's very rude,
but this is something vital.

It's very important.

Yes, I can see that in your face.

You know, it's amazing.
Everything is falling right into place.

Keep your fingers crossed.

I think we're putting together one of
the greatest companies of modern time.

- You know what you look like right now?
- No.

You look the way my father used to look
when he just worked out a new invention.

- I do, huh?
- Mm-hm.

This somehow feels
like a festive occasion.

Did I tell you
that I make an excellent martini?

Oh, I make a better one.

- You do, huh?
- Mm-hm.

When do you plan to start
all of this feverish activity?

As soon as I've had my drink.

But first, I'm gonna sell
the Austen Plastics Company.

Oh, well, that's quick.

- Who's the new owner going to be?
- Me, if I'm lucky.

Uh-- Would you mind flashing that
on the board again?

Well, it's a long, complicated story.

Actually, it's a whole new way of life.

I knew there was something
I meant to ask you.

Would you marry me?

That's a pretty iffy question.

All right, then, will you marry me?

What brought that on?
The raw hamburger?

Love brought that on.

A blinding flash of it all of a sudden?

What happened to all that talk
about security and solidity...

...and rich one day and poor the next?

What shot that out from under you?

You wanna stand around and argue
all day or do you wanna get engaged?

All it takes is a simple yes or no.

Well, all right,
if you wanna be snappish about it, yes.

I thought you were mixing a drink.

I'm drunk without one.

You're supposed to be meeting
those people.

- Oh, yes, those people.
- Yes. Oh.

Here.

All right. Go.

- You do make an excellent martini.
- Thank you.

Promise me you'll be here
when I get back?

I promise.

Oh, promise me one more thing.

Anything.

You'll clean up the kitchen?

Oh, you, go on.

Don't shove.

- Well, I'm off to the bank.
- We'll try to make out while you're gone.

Joe, I had no idea Mr. McCall was in.

Oh, yes, he got in around 1:00.

Well, I haven't looked
at the lunch orders yet.

Maybe they weren't hungry.

They?

He and that cute little number
he brought in with him.

She's still up there.

Well, back so soon?

No, why would...?

Would you mind
going to the bank for me?

I have a frightful headache.

Oh. I thought Cash was here.

- Mr. McCall.
- General Danvers, I was gonna call you.

- McCall, there's something--
- Shall we sit down?

But, McCall, just--

I've been wanting to talk to you, sir.

- Now, McCall--
- Sit down, sir.

McCall, something's going on
and I don't like the smell of it.

I've been trying to get ahold
of one of my directors, Dr. Bergmann.

I learned from his office
that he was with you.

- That's right, I just left him.
- I wanna know what you're up to.

Well, the deal is set.
Bergmann's all for it.

What?

I'm glad you're not the type
who can back out of a commitment.

- It's gonna be nice working with you.
- What are you talking about?

- You're not gonna be working with me.
- I'm afraid I am, general.

I've lined up Dr. Bergmann's vote.

As of 15 minutes ago, I control
Schofield Instrument Corporation.

You.... Uh....

That's not possible.
You're not gonna get away with this.

If you think you can take my company,
sell it for scrap--

I have no plans for scrapping
or selling anything, general.

I'm just tired of fighting you.
You're too much soldier for me.

You haven't really seen me
in action yet, McCall.

Here's something
I want you to think about.

I'd like you to appoint Gil Clark
president of Schofield.

Indeed.

And what happens
to the old president, me?

I'd like us to kick you upstairs,
chairman of the board.

If you're playing games, McCall,
so help me--

I'm playing big games, general.

I'm changing my whole style.

And I need a commander upstairs,
not a chief of staff.

First, we forget television.

We forget all thought
of mass merchandising...

...and consumer products.

We're already sitting
on the hottest thing, electronics.

So we concentrate on electronics.

Question.

Where is the big money
in that field today?

Why, military sale.

That's where you're gonna be
the biggest help for the next years.

You've got the contacts in Washington.
You've got salesmanship.

You're gonna be spending time there,
peddling the merchandise.

Sooner or later,
that market is gonna play out.

We'll have our research and development
worked out to a degree...

- ...and we'll be off and running.
- Oh....

Oh, you all right?

I-- I-- I-- I'm just a little bit dizzy.

Where do I fit
into this long-range picture?

I almost hesitate to tell you, general.

You're gonna be scooting around...

...flipping switches,
riding the panic button...

...and longing for the peace and quiet
of World War II.

Well, what do you think?

I think you're out of your mind.

Hell, I think we both are.

It's not a bad feeling, is it?

You sleep on it, general.
I'll call you in the morning.

You can let me off
at the penthouse, young man.

I'll fly the rest of the way.

Hey, Lory.

Lory.

Hello.

Hello.

What happened to Miss Austen?

Miss Austen?

Well, there wasn't anybody here
when I came in.

That's strange.

It's also strange coming in
and finding you here.

Oh, I wanted to see
that you were comfortable.

There's something I've been wanting
to suggest to you, Mrs. Kennard.

When you wanna check on my comfort,
you don't need a Lockwood report.

I don't know what you're talking about.

I'm talking about women
who are so smart they're stupid.

I've seen your letter to Lockwood
and his letter to you.

Mrs. Kennard,
I own the Lockwood reports.

You own a lot of things.

And I do not own the hotel.

If I did, you'd be downstairs now,
cleaning out your desk...

...and wondering
where your next job was coming from.

Mr. Atherson might arrange that anyway.

Mr. Atherson?

Yes, he owns the hotel.

You tell me
what you said to Miss Austen...

...that caused her
to leave in such a hurry.

You're such a big shot, aren't you?

You're so clever.

Well, you're not. You're just as big
a fool as every other man I've ever seen.

A woman with brains
isn't enough for you.

- A woman who could mean something.
- Like who?

What was all that double talk
about the woman's touch...

...about how I could be so happy
in these surroundings?

Why did you lead me on?

If you think every man who says "good
morning" is making a pass at you...

...you've led a very sheltered life.

When I wanna lead someone on,
I go looking for a woman...

...not a calculating machine
with a hat on.

I know what you go looking for.

You're just like my hus--

My ex-husband.

You want somebody like that cheap little
high school tramp I caught him with.

Somebody who could soften his head
and flatter his vanity.

Well, I straightened her out about men.

And I straightened out
your dear little Miss Austen.

I want you to get out of here
quietly and quickly.

If you so much as see me walking
through the lobby downstairs...

...you'd better duck out of sight.

Get out.

Mrs. Kennard, not that way.

You keep trying, will you, operator?

I'll be up in my room if anybody calls.

Yes, thank you.

I think it's gone up 10 whole points.

That's a rise of about two and a half
points in the past three weeks.

Grant Austen,
where are you sneaking off to?

- I'll see you later, Walt.
- See you later.

- Oh, hi.
- Harv Bennett.

- Yes, Harv, I know. Sure, sure.
- Ha-ha-ha.

- Weren't trying to avoid me, were you?
- No.

After all, there's nothing personal
about this, you know. Ha-ha-ha.

Where's Miriam? Don't tell me
she let you come here without her.

Oh, no, no, she's here.
She was tired, gone up to the room.

What you're trying to say is she got tired
of all this talk about the plastic business.

- Yes, yes. Ha-ha-ha.
- Ha-ha-ha.

- That's right.
- Yeah, Grant, you old horse thief, you.

I swear I didn't know you had it in you.

Boy, you really put old Danvers
over the barrel, didn't you? Ha-ha-ha.

- I don't know what you're talking about.
- Tell me all about it.

Now, you don't have to be cagey
with me.

Not anymore, you don't.

Don't forget I'm on the board
of Schofield Instrument.

Danvers had me on the phone about this.
He had to have my vote.

Had to have your vote for what?

Why, to give you those 300,000 shares
of stock for your company.

I'm afraid somebody's
got things confused.

I'm not selling out
to Schofield Instrument.

I've already sold the company
to somebody else.

You couldn't sell to somebody else
if you wanted to...

...not after you gave an option
to General Danvers.

I never gave Danvers any option
to buy my company.

I never even talked to Danvers
about selling out Schofield Instrument.

Well, then, why would he say
you had given him an option to buy?

I don't know, I don't know.

I suppose he thought he had me in
a spot where I'd have to sell to him.

Well, sir, I've got $2 million in the bank
says he figured wrong. Ha-ha-ha.

Two million...?

Yes, sir.

Grant, just who did you sell to?

Mr. McCall.

Not Cash McCall.

Yes, yes, why?

Is the deal closed?

The deal is closed. What's wrong?

Well, I'll give it to you in plain English.

You say McCall gave you $2 million
for your company.

Two million dollars. It was a good deal.

Oh, yeah? Who said it was?

I said it was.

My business consultants,
Corporation Associates...

...never thought I'd get much. Neither
did my own banker, Will Atherson.

Your own...?

Boy, Grant, they really saw you coming.
Ha-ha-ha.

I'll tell you who it was a good price for.

Cash McCall, that's who.

Why, this is the Padua Furniture Company
all over again, except it's bigger.

Look, McCall takes your company
off your hands for $2 million.

He turns around and, the very next day,
sells it to Schofield Instrument...

...for 300,000 shares
of Schofield stock.

Do you know how much
that stock's worth at the market price?

Three million dollars.

- Three million dollars--
- Did you have a lawyer helping you?

Mr. Conway, yes.

Winston Conway, McCall's lawyer.

You used a management firm
that McCall owns...

...and a banker McCall carries around
in his hip pocket.

Oh, Harv, I'm sure you're exaggerating--

I don't have to exaggerate
where McCall's concerned.

Why, for all you know, he could have
your own family working against you.

- Heh. Good night, Grant.
- Yes, good night.

And try not to get lost
on your way upstairs, huh?

- Operator.
- Yes.

Operator, this is Mr. Austen.

Yes.

Will you get me the Hotel Ivanhoe
in Philadelphia right away, please?

- It did? Ha-ha-ha.
- Yes, I'll hold on right here.

Yes.

I'll see you soon, goodbye.

Desk.

All right, put him on.

Oh, hello. This is Mr. Austen.

Grant Austen, yes.

Will you ring Cash McCall's suite?

Oh, I'm sorry, this is an outside line.

You'll have to phone Mr. McCall direct.

Well, I don't have
that number down here, no.

Give me the manager, please.

No, our manager stepped out
for a moment.

Our assistant manager is in.

If you'll hold the line for a moment,
I'll connect you.

Yes?

Mrs. Kennard?

Oh, Mrs. Kennard,
there's a Mr. Austen on the line.

He wants to get through to Mr. McCall,
but I told him it was impossible.

He's very insistent.

It's something
about Mr. McCall and his daughter.

Austen? Oh.

Ahh.... Uh....

Yeah, yes, put him on.

Oh, hello, this is Mr. Austen.

How, are you Mr. Austen?

Oh, I'm sorry to have bothered you,
Mrs. Kennard, but I'm a little worried.

My daughter flew back
from Moon Beach with Mr. McCall...

...and we haven't heard from her.

And, uh, heh, I'm--
I worry about airplanes, yes.

I was wondering if she's all right.

Well, I suppose it's a matter of opinion
as to whether she's all right or not.

Oh, now, there hasn't been any
plane crash, if that's what you mean.

No, it was about, uh....

Uh....

Oh, I'd say it was about 1:15
that they went up to his suite.

One-fifteen this afternoon?

Oh, yes.

Oh, I wouldn't worry.

She's in and out of there all the time.

Oh! Ha-ha-ha.
Thanks, Pop.

- Come on, honey.
- Thank you.

Thank you.

- Penthouse, Mr. McCall.
- Thank you.

You're a cheery little group.

You all look like Santa Claus was dead.

It might very well be the case.

You certainly picked
a lovely time to disappear.

What is all this?

You'd better take this
sitting down, Cash.

I was dragged out of bed this morning
by a phone call from a lawyer...

...who's been retained by Grant Austen.

Austen wants to start legal action
against you and all the rest of us.

For what?

Fraud, deceit,
breach of confidential relationship.

Mr. Austen feels that everyone connected
with your buying his company...

...has conspired to cheat him
of $1 million.

Most ridiculous thing I ever heard.

It's not as ridiculous as you think.

Want to hear a run-through?

Yeah, I certainly do.

The plaintiff, Grant Austen, is
a conservative, successful businessman...

...honest and respected.

Until recently, he was president...

...of the Austen Plastics Company
of Suffolk, Pennsylvania.

To advise him
in the management of his business...

...he retained a man named Gilmore Clark,
an employee of Corporation Associates...

...a firm believed
to be headed by Harrison Glenn...

...but actually owned and controlled
by Mr. Cash McCall...

...a fact which we shall find significant.

Austen knew I owned it.
I told him so myself.

On Tuesday of last week,
Mr. Austen was approached by Clark...

...who advised him he would be smart
to sell the Austen Plastics Company.

- That's not true.
- And this is what Mr. Clark said to him:

"You might get as much as $2 million,
if you find the right buyer."

Seeking advice, Mr. Austen went to
an old and trusted friend, Mr. Atherson...

...president of the Freeholders Bank
and Trust Company of Philadelphia.

Mr. Austen rightly felt
the logical buyer for his plant...

...was the
Schofield Instrument Corporation.

However, Atherson advised him
not to approach the Schofield people...

...that they could not pay Mr. Austen
$2 million for his plant.

Now, Mr. Clark had said he had a buyer.

Atherson had a buyer too.

And it developed
that both these prospective buyers...

...were none other
than Mr. Cash McCall.

Pure coincidence.

Well, let us review another strange
and wonderful coincidence.

Now, Mr. Austen was dissuaded
from offering his firm to anyone...

...but Mr. McCall.

And then it developed that
the Schofield Instrument Corporation...

...could and would buy Austen Plastics
from Mr. McCall...

...for $3 million worth
of Schofield stock.

Austen didn't want stock
and he couldn't have got $3 million...

...from Schofield or anybody else.

Well, that's something Mr. Austen
never had a chance to find out.

Thanks to his own business consultant
and his own banker...

...men who were
supposed to be working for him...

...but who were actually hatchet men
for Cash McCall.

This is getting ridiculous.

It's not going to sound ridiculous...

...when their lawyers say it in court.

The further we dig into this, gentlemen,
the more insidious it becomes.

The trustworthy banker who arranges
a million-dollar loan for Mr. McCall.

The fortuitous meetings between
Mr. McCall and General Danvers...

...of Schofield Instrument Corporation.

Danvers?

Last year, Mr. McCall paid $600,000
for the Padua Furniture Company.

He turned around and sold it to Schofield
for $1 million worth of stock.

And now he has sold a plastics company
worth $2 million to the same firm...

...for $3 million.

Now, it could be merely
that General Danvers...

...is a surprisingly generous man
where Mr. McCall is concerned.

Or that Mr. McCall
has bought the general off.

Mr. McCall, yesterday afternoon...

...you made a proposal
to certain business associates...

...concerning General Danvers.

Something about appointing Danvers
chairman of the board of Schofield.

What sort of salary
would the general draw as chairman?

Probably
a hundred thousand dollars a year.

Gentlemen, the plaintiff rests.

Well, we have a lawyer on our side too.

If you mean me, don't count on it.

Austen is threatening to have me
disbarred for the advice I gave him.

Well, what would you gentlemen
have me do?

Give the company back to Austen?

Let him have the Schofield deal himself?

Well, under the circumstances,
it might be the wisest thing to do.

When I'm in the right?

I'm not guilty on a single count.

Atherson's right.
You have to be realistic.

There's nothing to be gained
by fighting it.

And there are reputations involved.
Mine, Will's, Conway's.

You can leave me off that list
because I don't like being realistic.

I'd rather feel good
than look good any day in the week.

Steady, boy.

I've been in on this from the start.
I know what's going on.

I know the plans McCall had
for Austen's future.

Nobody could've been more generous
than McCall.

And nobody could've been more
pleased about it than Grant Austen.

He had his cake.

Now he wants everybody else's.

Well, I wouldn't give it to him
just because he starts crying.

I suppose
this had to happen sometime, Cash.

You've always had your fingers
in too many pies.

You never seemed to mind, Glenn.

Not as long as you were getting
your share of the plums.

You gentlemen
are very generous with advice...

...but it comes a little late.

You might as well think it over, Cash.

You gain nothing
by being stubborn, you know.

You're a little upset now.

Maybe I'm too pessimistic. I hope.

You're waiting
for the mud in the face, Gil?

You're a little stupid, Gil.

I must say I like it.

I kind of like it myself.

Well, what do we do?

I've got personal problems.

As soon as I straighten those out,
I'll go down to Moon Beach...

...and see what I can do with Austen.

Good luck, Cash.

- Yeah?
- Cash?

- George Lockwood speaking.
- Yeah, George?

Austen just left his lawyer's office
and is on his way home.

Okay, George. Thanks.

I don't care if it costs me this million
and another million besides.

I am going to nail those crooks.

Every last one of them. Hmm?

You're damn right I'll be here all day.

All right, all right,
you go ahead and do just that.

Goodbye.

Lory, why didn't you answer the phone?
Hmm?

I kept calling and calling,
and calling and calling.

Honestly, your mother and I
were so disturbed and so worried.

You know, and this Mr. McCall--

Dad, this Mr. McCall
is the man I met in Maine last summer.

- McCall is the man that you--
- That's right.

You let him get his hands--

Dad, it isn't like that at all.

- I'll get rid of that--
- I'll get it, I'll get it.

Well, hello.

I've looked all over everywhere for you.

You promised me you'd wait.

Well, let's just say
your apartment became a little crowded.

What are you talking about?

She didn't climb in through the window.
She had her own key.

Is that what all this fuss is about?

Well, it just so happens that the lady--

It just so happens that I'm not interested
in hearing any more explanations.

Well, I am.

You've got a lot of nerve
showing your face here.

Grant, remember, hives.

Please don't get excited.

Why the hell shouldn't I get excited?

I can't stand to look at him.

I know why you can't
stand to look at me.

I don't see how any of you
can look anybody in the face.

You're throwing wild accusations--

Wild accusations. How could you
possibly, after what you've done--?

I am sick and tired of the whole thing.

- High-handed business.
- High-handed?

Who could be more high-handed
than you? I would like to know.

You and that sanctimonious pack
of thieves that you run around with.

The whole lot of you.
No principles, no decency.

You aren't talking about principles.

- Stop shouting.
- Your big concern is money.

- Money? You wanna talk about--?
- Stop shouting, Dad, now, please.

You wanna talk about money?
Let's talk about money, Mr. McCall.

All right, let's.

First of all, I should tell you
I just came from a meeting...

...with those sanctimonious thieves.

They advised me
to wash out the whole deal...

...and give the Austen Plastics Company
back to you.

They did?

Not because
they'd done anything wrong.

Because they can't afford
to be crucified in the newspapers.

You think I bought your company
for $2 million...

...knowing it was worth three million?

Well, actually, I figured it was worth
about a million and a half.

That's a likely story.

I didn't want
that rundown molding plant of yours.

- The country is full of plastics factories.
- Well, why'd you buy it?

I wanted a line of communication
with your daughter...

...whom I'm in love with
and had me on her drop-dead list.

I guess you thought you were doing
pretty good there for a while.

I thought I was.

Yesterday, I asked her to marry me
and she accepted.

Didn't know then how easily
an Austen commitment could be broken.

We're not talking about me
or my daughter, Mr. McCall.

We're talking about you.

You and your underhanded methods...

...and the spies that you had
on my company.

- Spies?
- Spies, yes.

Corporation Associates.

Wait a minute, Dad,
what are you talking about, spies?

You told him
about Corporation Associates...

...the day Dad and I
went to your apartment.

What am I supposed to do,
come in and call him a liar?

Well, it doesn't matter
whose father he is.

He's calling you a crook.

Do you have to be polite and agree? Do
you have to back down without a fight?

Honey, you just stay out of this now.

No, but, Dad, I remember that.

I was there and I remember
what was said and what wasn't said.

All these terrible things
that he's accusing you of doing...

...you didn't do them, did you?

You didn't do any of them.

Well, that's beside the point.

When it hits the paper, I'm the villain
and your father's the underdog.

What's the difference?

It's the difference between right
and wrong. That's what it is.

What do I lose, a little money?
I've been broke before.

You've been broke all your life,
whether you had money or not.

Up until yesterday afternoon,
you had nothing.

And now you've got something
that you've needed.

And if you throw it away now,
you'll never get it back.

Lory.

Lory, you're making with a lot
of talk now and very little sense.

Dad, you know, he thought
he had himself all figured out.

No talent, no aim in life.

He thought
that he could buy and sell things...

...but he couldn't make anything
except money.

And then all of a sudden,
yesterday afternoon...

...he found out that wasn't true.

Yesterday seems like a long time ago.

I shouldn't care what happens to you,
but I do.

And I care about my father.

I don't want you to do something
that you're gonna feel sorry for, Dad.

You can't give in to him on this.

You're not just washing out deals here.

You're ruining his life
and mother's and mine.

And you're washing out
your own future.

I'm not washing out anything.

And I'm not giving in on anything either.

I have a lot of respect for my money
and even more respect for my friends.

And I won't have
either of them abused.

What can you do?

I'm going to fight you in your lawsuit
and win.

My friends will come out
with some handsome scars...

...but there will be no dirt on them.

Well, thinking only of your friends
sounds pretty pious.

Well, it's true that I do have
$5 million tied up in it.

But there are a lot of people
depending on me.

The same people
that you didn't think about...

...when you took your $2 million
and ran.

The people who made up your business.

The personnel at the factory.
The town the factory supported.

You never knew,
you never once checked...

...under what sort of character
you were selling it to.

All you wanted to know was
how much is in it for Grant Austen...

...after taxes.

One day, a man's gonna
walk up to the undertaker and ask:

"How much do I save in taxes
if I die now?"

Well, you didn't worry
about your people.

- And now I've got them to worry about.
- Hello?

I also have the whole
Schofield Instrument Corporation...

...and General Danvers
and the stockholders...

...and the people from
Dr. Bergmann's research foundation.

I'm not gonna turn my back on them.

- I'll tell you another thing--
- Grant?

What is it, Mrs. Austen?

Oh, I'm so sorry.

Grant, it's a Mr. Parker.

- Who?
- Mr. Parker.

- He said he's your lawyer.
- Oh, oh.

Excuse me.

I'm pretty busy right now, Mr. Parker.

Yes. Mm-hm.

Oh, I'm not sure
I'm suing anybody for anything.

No, no. Mm-hm.

Yes. Yes, I know I did. Yes.

Now, now, now, Mr. Parker,
now, just calm yourself.

We'll talk about this later.
Yes. Goodbye.

Now go on. Go ahead.

There just doesn't seem to be any place
for me to go.

No, no, no, there was one point that
you passed over rather fast, Mr. McCall.

Did you say that you have control
of Schofield now?

- That's right.
- Mm-hm.

Then you don't have to worry
about losing the Schofield business?

No.

You know, that's a big relief to me.
That weighed very heavily on my mind.

I suspected it did.

Yes, sir, I was evasive about that.

See, I never told you
and I never told Gil...

...that General Danvers
had me over a barrel.

He threatened to take away
60 percent of my business.

It bothered me. It bothered me,
because I never told you about it.

It made me feel, you know,
small inside as well as outside.

And when you get like that, you, heh,
wind up being angry at everybody.

I think I know what you mean.

I wasn't really mad
about that Schofield deal...

...and about
your quick million-dollar profit.

That isn't really what troubled me.
You know what really bothered me?

- No.
- I was jealous.

Yes, sir, I was jealous of you.
That's right.

Because, well, you were doing
the one unforgivable thing.

You were busy.
You know, you were working.

You were functioning
and poor old Grant Austen wasn't.

You were working, all right.

Without you, there wouldn't have been
any million-dollar profit.

Oh?

What are these?

That's poor old Grant Austen,
functioning on all eight cylinders.

My goodness, my patents. Heh.
I hadn't given these a thought in years.

Nobody else had
except General Danvers.

Danvers?

He couldn't have done anything
to me after all?

- Hmm?
- No.

I had him over the barrel, didn't I?

You sure did.

You know,
maybe I'm not as fuzzy-headed...

...as some people think I am, huh?

Mr. McCall, I'm really very sorry
for all this mess that I've caused.

And if there's possibly anything which
I could do to help you straighten it out--

Oh, I think you've taken care
of that already, sir.

I'm sorry to have taken up all your time.

Is there anything you wanted to say?

Any questions you want to ask?

Well, I guess that about wraps it up.

Mrs. Austen, Grant.

Lory.

Lory, don't let him go. He loves you.

Come on, baby. Get out there.

Don't let him get out of that door.
Go on.

- McCall.
- Oh, yes?

All right, who was she?

Who was who?

The blond with the feathers.

- Feathers?
- With the crazy hat.

- With the key to your apartment.
- Oh, that one.

Well, she had a key to all the apartments.
She was the assistant manager.

- The assistant manager?
- Yeah.

- Why didn't you tell me that?
- You didn't ask.

You walk into the place,
you make an assumption.

- Something wrong?
- Yes, yes.

This McCall has proposed to me,
and now he's trying to run out.

That's an outright lie.

I've tried every way
to make an honest woman out of you.

Now I know why he looks familiar.

- He's the man in the pictures.
- Yes.

- In Lory's studio.
- That's right.

There's something
I wanna explain to you, Miriam.

Well, aren't you going to do something?

- Oh, yes.
- Psst!

Psst! Psst!

Gilmore.

Listen....

- Where did you come from?
- I came in the back way.

Whatever you said to him, apologize.

If you have to give another million,
steal the money.

- Gotta have the Austen plant.
- What are you babbling about?

I just had a call from Andy.

Andy?

General Danvers.

He knows where we can get the chemical
plant we need to round out the package.

- We can get it for about a million dollars.
- So?

In eight months, Andy and I can
have the whole thing running smoothly.

We'll have an operation
we can sell for $20 million.

I can even tell you where.

Is that all you and Andy
ever think about?

Buying and selling?

We're not putting an organization
like this together just to unload it.

The only way
you'll ever get anywhere...

...is to stay with it
and build and build and build.

Well, that's Cash McCall for you.

Once a company man,
always a company man.

Excuse me, Gil.
I couldn't help overhearing.

Did you say something
about a chemical plant?

Yes, he did.

Now, you go up there and build.

Grant, I need two things.

I need a good solid idea man
to run Austen Plastics for me.

I need somebody to invest
a million dollars in a chemical plant.

- I think you're just the man for both.
- Sounds good, very interesting.

- I'll tell you what the setup is.
- Let's talk it over.

You can have your old desk back
or work in the plant.

- I would like my old desk back.
- We're not gonna bother you with details.

Where are we going?

I'm gonna make
an honest woman out of you.

Oh.

I knew there was something I forgot.