Disclosure (1994) - full transcript
Sexual harassment is the theme, but here it is the man who is harassed by his new female boss. A high-flying executive, Meredith, is out to ruin her former lover, who she's just beaten to the top job in an electronics company, using every trick in the book.
[ELlZA READlNG ON-SCREEN TEXT]
"Spot-checks on....
[MUMBLlNG]
Speaking of the merger,
are you rich and famous yet?
Congratulations in
advance on your promotion.
Arthur."
Dad, you got a e-mail.
SUSAN: l'm not a pain in the ass,
l'm being a lawyer.
There's a difference.
TOM: No more computer games, Matt,
it's time for school. Eliza, where are you?
ELlZA:
You got a e-mail, Dad.
SUSAN: Matt's got toothpaste all over!
TOM: Matt.
SUSAN: lf you can't get them ready
for school, don't say you'll take care of it.
TOM: You're welcome.
SUSAN: Yeah, l'm here.
-And Liza needs a jacket.
TOM: l know. Liza!
ELlZA:
A jacket doesn't go, Dad.
TOM:
Matt, put on a sweatshirt.
MATT:
That's for girls, a white sweatshirt.
TOM: Since when? Liza!
ELlZA: Dad, leave me alone.
TOM:
Liza, l am the father.
When your father says put your jacket on,
you put your jacket on.
ELlZA: Ariel doesn't have a father.
She has two mothers.
TOM:
That's interesting.
SUSAN: He's in a hotel with his secretary
patched in from New York...
...while l'm brushing the Cheerios
out of my file folders.
lt's insanity.
TOM: Put your jacket on.
ELlZA: No.
SUSAN: Put this on, sweetie.
ELlZA: No.
SUSAN:
You can take it off when you get to school.
TOM:
When l say listen to Mom, listen to Mom.
SUSAN: Matt, did you pee?
MATT: Yes.
SUSAN: l don't know why
you said you'd help me out...
...on a day like today,
with your promotion.
MATT:
What's dad wearing around his neck?
TOM:
You don't know what this is?
This is a tie.
SUSAN:
Daddy's getting a promotion.
ELlZA: Dad, you got a e-mail.
TOM: Thanks. Let's go.
We're late.
Did you call about those
Disneyland tickets?
-With everything l have to do today?
-lt's just one call.
Who are they for?
Mohammed Jafar.
He's foreman of the Malaysian plant.
You're the one person l know
who sucks up to the people below you.
Matt, don't kick the seat.
-What's that on your tie?
-Toothpaste. Let's go.
SUSAN: The one day you wear a tie,
it shouldn't look like a bib.
Hi, Cindy, what's up?
Garvin came by the office this morning?
About the promotion?
Matt, will you stop that?
He was surprised l was late?
What does that mean?
Did he say it in passing,
or like he really meant it?
l wonder why Garvin's coming by
the office at 8:00 in the morning.
To congratulate you.
That's not like him.
He treats everyone like dirt.
Except the top guys.
Yeah. Except the top guys.
When this merger with Conley-White
goes through...
...and they spin off our division,
we're gonna be rich, Susan.
-We're already rich, if you ask me.
-No, l mean-- l mean really rich.
My grandmother used to have
this expression:
"Don't climb up there too close to God,
He might shake the tree."
Tom!
Thanks for this morning.
Go! Go, go, go!
[BELL RlNGlNG]
[PEOPLE CHEERlNG]
[HORN BLOWlNG]
PRlCE: Smaller, faster, cheaper, better.
TOM: Yeah, heh.
PRlCE: Remember the first ones,
the way you lugged it around?
People were amazed. lt was like
showing a Polaroid to a bushman.
Now, if it's bigger than a credit card,
it's too inconvenient.
Keeps you on your toes.
Eddie, it's Tom. Cindy said you called.
Sure, l can hang on.
How's the job search?
28 years with lBM.
Did l tell you what they told me?
l was "surplussed."
Ever hear that word?
What's going on down there, Eddie?
What? That's crazy.
They should've said, "sodomized."
They're not gonna sell the Austin plant.
That's just a rumor floating around.
You don't see it coming. You go along,
and then one day there's no room.
Boom. No more room for you.
Smaller, faster, cheaper, better.
l won't mention names, l'm on a cellular.
No names. l'm just telling you,
it's not true. lt's a rumor.
l was making 1 50 a year.
Big money. Boom.
lt's probably what you make, huh?
One fifty?
Eddie, hang on.
Why don't you call Cindy...
...make an appointment?
l'll see if l can help out.
Eddie, they are not
gonna sell Austin.
lf l'm telling you,
who else are you gonna believe?
Cindy. Pretty name.
Used to have fun with the girls.
Nowadays she probably wants your job.
[PHONES RlNGlNG]
[PEOPLE CHATTERlNG]
Good morning.
-What did Garvin say? Want me to come up?
-He didn't say.
-He growled.
-Yeah.
He was flirting. Did you get Arthur?
He's standing by on the DVL.
Lunch with Conley-White
got pushed up to noon.
We'll probably have those sandwiches
with the crusts cut off.
Their jaws were wired shut
at the same prep school.
-The merger's still going through?
-Why, you heard something?
No. Just, l....
What's that on your tie?
Garvin didn't say anything
about my promotion?
l thought you'd be in early today.
People from "Father of the Year"
haven't called?
-No.
-That's a joke.
[LAUGHS]
COMPUTER: Five seconds to Malaysia.
-Want me to close your door?
-Do l ever ask you to close my door?
-Never.
COMPUTER:
Malaysian video linkup.
-Tom. You look, uh, frighteningly awake.
-What's wrong with Arcamax?
The drives are very slow. We're
getting seek times in the 1 40-1 60 range.
140 isn't a sexy CD player anymore.
140 is what everyone else has got.
My guys think there's
a compatibility problem...
...between the controller chip
and the driver's software.
lf it's the chip,
that puts us back a year.
The screen flickers. The current cuts
in and out. lt's a design problem.
What do you mean? Every laptop
in the world's got the same design.
I sent you out some drives.
You should get them today.
This is bad, Arthur.
How could this happen?
Gonna bury it until the merger?
Don't you say anything.
Does anyone else know?
l'm a grave. What, are you kidding, Tom?
I still think, really, that Arcamax
will be a major, major hit.
l'll talk to you when l see the drives.
-Tom, did you get the macadamia nuts?
-Good night, Arthur.
They are so good.
He's off the phone. l gotta go.
Do you know a Meredith Johnson?
-Meredith? Yeah, years ago.
-She wanted to see you.
She's here for the lunch.
The entire company invited up
for this lunch?
Garvin brought the Operations Group
up with him.
Meredith is in Operations?
What should l tell her?
Bad day, in-laws in town?
l'm gonna see Lewyn about the 900s.
Get that worried look off your face.
lf there was bad news,
Garvin would've sent Phil Blackburn.
Hey, Phil. You're not
coming to see me, are you?
-No. Why?
-Nothing. How are you?
Jesus. How are you, Tom?
You look all beat up.
l do?
You're letting it get to you. Don't.
lt's Garvin, you can't take it personally.
Take what personally?
Look, maybe it's just a rumor.
What's a rumor?
l don't wanna spread rumors.
That's how these things get started.
-Talking about Austin?
-Who said Austin?
What am l missing?
l can't believe he didn't tell you.
He's so perverse.
Didn't tell me what?
-So how's Susan?
-Susan's good.
-How's Lonnie?
-Great.
-Do you know she got tenure? Ha, ha.
-That's great.
[ELEVATOR DlNGS]
Well, here's my stop.
l tried to explain to Garvin.
You know what he's like.
He's like a child.
Fuck your feelings if they
get in the way of his big surprise.
-What surprise?
-Rumor is you're getting passed over.
-l'm not getting the VP job?
-That's the rumor. All l can tell you.
Rumors are always true.
Garvin hasn't said anything?
Came by the office. l was late,
Susan had a conference.
-You were late? Today?
MAN: What brings you to Seattle?
-Good to see you again. Ha-ha-ha.
-Nice to see you, Mr. Blackburn.
Somebody tells Garvin
l was talking to you, phew.
You know how he is about leaks.
Now it's a leak?
l thought it was a rumor.
lt was different when we were in the
Valley together. l could watch your back.
Who gets the job, Stephanie Kaplan?
Rumor is he's going outside the group.
You'd still head up Manufacturing...
...presumably.
Wait a minute.
l might be out of a job?
-Don't get paranoid all of a sudden.
-l'm a quick learner.
You wouldn't make somebody VP
and not let them appoint their own team.
How would that look?
Phil, am l out of a job?
Come on, Tom.
l'm already out on a limb.
You gonna be okay? You want a Prozac?
No, l'm fine. l'm, uh--
l'm disappointed, but l'm fine.
You sure?
Don't have to worry about me.
l'm a stockholder. Whatever's...
...best for the company.
[PHONE DlALlNG]
SUSAN [ON MACHlNE]:
lf you wanna leave a message...
...for Susan, Tom, Matt and Eliza...
...please do after the beep.
Thanks for calling. Bye.
[MACHlNE BEEPS]
-Obviously, he's disappointed.
GARVIN: But he took it well?
Overall, l'd say yes.
l don't want any bumps before the merger.
l don't want him quitting.
lt's up to you.
Just one big happy family.
You got that?
l have to tell you, going down to see him
this morning was a masterstroke.
lt really put him on the defensive.
I'll keep an eye on him.
He'll get on the program.
When push comes to shove,
he doesn't have the guts.
[SlGHS]
Let me ask you something.
You know Susan.
lf l heard a rumor about the...
...future of the company...
...my future...
...you know, nothing crazy,
a real rumor...
...what would Susan say?
You think she'd say go see Garvin?
Hey. Here's a guy you should meet.
Tom Sanders.
He heads up our Manufacturing.
Steven Chase, Crescent Capital.
John Conley.
You're John Conley?
Junior. Dad's coming on Friday
with members of the Board.
-Catch you at the lunch.
-Tom, come on in.
You wanted to see me about something.
Yeah, sorry about this morning.
-You know how it is with kids.
GARVlN: Yeah.
-Have you ever met Meredith Johnson?
-Hi.
What's the matter?
That's a hello you'd give to a rash.
l'm preoccupied.
lt's nothing to do with you.
Sanders and l go way back.
He broke my heart.
She's making that up.
l thought your heart was made of
that plastic they use for helmets.
He said l could be anything l wanted.
GARVlN: He got that right.
-lt was a line.
-lt wasn't a line.
-l had no idea you knew each other.
What's that Wilde line? "l like a man
with a future and a woman with a past."
Somebody said you were in Operations.
l don't know. Bob, am l?
The last few years,
l've been cleaning up the mess...
-...Bob's made of this company.
-Ha-ha-ha.
lf it's such a mess,
how come l'm so rich?
MEREDlTH:
Yes, but you're a lot richer now.
We should catch up. Get together.
l'd love that.
GARVlN:
Plenty of time for that now.
l remember flying over Wyoming,
l thought this merger was dead.
Conley was choking on the valuation.
The spin-off was Meredith's idea.
Don't say that too loud.
Conley thinks it was theirs.
-Really?
-Lit them up like a Christmas tree.
Meredith saved the merger.
You have money now.
You could even buy yourself a new tie.
[LAUGHlNG]
So, what was it
you wanted to see me about?
Meredith-fucking-Johnson!
Son of a bitch. Goddamn Garvin.
-What?
-l didn't get it.
-You're not the new VP?
-He announced it?
lt was a secret.
He's got her installed in the office...
...bouncing back and forth
like it's the Tonight Show.
-Who's Meredith Johnson?
-Will this affect the spin-off?
This is a technical division.
She doesn't know the difference
between software and a sweater.
What aren't you telling us?
l might be out of a job. ls that enough?
You know what it's like out there?
-He said something about the spin-off.
-They didn't tell me about me!
Think they'll tell me about the spin-off?
l'm sorry.
This is the worst day of my life.
All right?
Who is she?
Let me guess: attractive?
-What does that have to do with anything?
-Nipples like pencil erasers?
She's attractive. Very attractive.
-Sleeping with Garvin?
-That's why he bought the Nordic Track.
lt's a curse to be me.
Life holds no surprises.
This is such a cliche.
How do you think a cliche
becomes a cliche?
You mean like, "Size doesn't matter"?
l have such a thing for you.
All right, please,
can we get some work done?
We got a small problem with Arcamax.
-lt isn't the design.
-lt's not the code.
Any woman has to be twice as good
as a man and work harder for less pay.
See that, Hunter? Cliche grande.
How do you think a cliche
becomes a cliche?
Hunter, it is very weird.
We don't know anything about this woman.
l do. l had a thing with her.
Ha, ha, you are amazing.
-lt was years ago.
LEWYN: Tommy.
You've seen more ass than a rental car.
Get a few more women in your life
so you can be a census.
Maybe you can sleep your way up.
Yeah, right.
Wait, why? Why her and not Tom?
He's not attractive?
Because men and women are different.
Not in a way that matters to you.
Are you saying l'm a virgin?
Meanwhile, you were asking me
about the spin-off.
Garvin said it was her idea.
GARVIN: lt's always such a pleasure
to come to Seattle...
...and spend time with the
Advanced Products Group.
l feel such a warmth for the people here.
On the cutting edge. l feel a kinship.
And l've always wanted to give you....
ls this seat taken?
GARVlN: ...the most advanced original
leadership that l could. Push the envelope.
How are you?
-Sorry you didn't get your promotion.
-l'm sorry you didn't get it either.
How long have you known?
Really? That long?
Every time l've wanted
to promote a woman...
...to break the glass ceiling...
...it's always been the same story:
"But, Bob.... But, Bob...."
l've thought about it often since
my daughter's death, that had she lived...
...it would be extremely rare...
...that she ever got to run a company.
So it has a special meaning
for me when l tell you...
...that Friday,
when we announce the merger...
...we will also announce that the new VP
for Advanced Operations and Planning...
...here in Seattle...
...will be Meredith Johnson.
[MOUTHS]
Unbelievable.
Thanks, Bob. Can l have the lights?
The Advanced Products Group has been
the heart of DigiCom for the last 1 0 years.
Advanced Products has historically
consisted of four divisions....
You seem to be spending
a lot more time up here.
My son's a freshman at the university.
This way l get to see more of him.
l thought it had to do with the merger.
This merger means everything to Garvin.
Give a man a $1 00 million
and you create a frustrated billionaire.
The new compression algorithms
should shift industry standards...
...to full-res digitized video
at 60 fields per second...
...with platform-independent
RlSC processors supported by...
...a 32-bit color-active....
Conley's a conservative company.
ls Meredith conservative?
l don't know.
l thought you knew her.
ls there anything you don't know?
We offer, through technology...
...what religion and revolution
have promised but never delivered:
Freedom from the physical body.
Freedom from race and gender...
...from nationality and personality,
from place and time.
Communicating by cellular phone
and hand-held computer...
...PDA and built-in fax modem...
...we can relate to each
other as pure consciousness.
[SPEAKlNG lNDlSTlNCTLY]
Smart, touching base
with all the division heads.
Especially since she didn't name them
in her speech.
Does it mean something?
Only if she plans to make changes.
Phil said she wasn't planning
on making any changes.
You know Meredith.
Stephanie, wait a minute.
l gotta know, am l out of a job?
What was she bending your ear about
all lunch?
Uh, Stephanie? Um, nothing.
Just small talk.
What, all of a sudden
there's Stephanie Lite?
She's, uh, talking about her son
at the university.
-Sorry l didn't get to mention you.
-That's okay. That's fine.
l'm jammed all day but why
don't you come up around 7?
We'll have a drink
and catch up on business.
Sure, that'd be great.
l remember how you liked
a good bottle of wine. l'll get one.
-What's she want to see you at 7 about?
-l'm sure it's the problems with Arcamax.
We gotta get in sync before
these Conley guys ask questions.
She doesn't give you a boner?
Because, you know,
l definitely have lift-off.
What about you? You got a woody?
She's very nice.
-l'll tell you what the company line is.
-Don't do that.
You have a sexual urge every 20 minutes.
lt's a physiological certainty.
lt's hard-wired into your limbic brain.
You can't fight it.
Why would you want to? Live a little.
Ten years from now,
you'll need a forklift to get a hard-on.
-Ha-ha-ha. l'll call you.
-l'm counting the minutes.
[ALL LAUGHlNG]
TOM: There you are.
Where've you been all day?
l didn't get it.
No, they went outside the division.
Someone from Operations.
What can l say? l got passed over.
Yeah. What can l say?
So did you get those tickets
for Disneyland?
No, l know,
but l promised the guy and it's....
Mohammed Jafar.
Right, so it's one F.
Thanks a lot. Probably won't be home
for dinner tonight. Don't wait up.
Okay.
l love you too. Bye.
Are there any asset sale triggers?
ln the indenture?
Mm-hm.
[WHlSPERS]
Will you do me a favor?
[lN NORMAL VOlCE] Look, Alan,
Brown will go 250 on this, easy.
Let's just do this thing
as a top-down recap.
Not a bad idea for a girl, huh?
[LAUGHS]
Let's talk first thing. Okay, bye.
'91 Pahlmeyer. How'd you know?
l've been looking all over for it.
l like all the boys under me to be happy.
-Congratulations.
-Thank you.
Mm. l brought the files up for Arcamax
if you wanna go over them.
Let me see your pictures.
The, uh, diagrams?
Your family. You have pictures?
Yeah, sure.
[SlGHS]
Here's, uh.... Here.
That's Matthew.
That's Eliza at Halloween.
-And here's Susan with the kids.
-Ah.
She looks like she always has
food in the refrigerator.
-She never lost the baby weight--
-l didn't say she looks like a refrigerator.
-Ha-ha-ha.
-l mean, she's made a home for you.
ln my fridge l've got bottles
of champagne and an orange.
Doesn't Eliza look beautiful?
She looks like Susan.
lt can be inhibiting.
-What's that?
-Domesticity.
Ah. You'd be surprised.
l don't imagine
you can jump her from behind...
...because you get excited by the way
she bends to pick up the soap.
Remember that?
l remember that.
And you miss it.
l have my compensations.
Of course. Life's a series of trade-offs.
l wouldn't trade what l have.
l wouldn't want you to.
That's exactly why l can trust you.
You have a lot more to lose than l do.
l'll bring you up to speed
on the problems with the drives.
You kept in good shape, Tom.
Nice and hard.
Thank you.
Meredith, it's different now.
You're my boss.
lt's different.
Okay.
Rub my shoulders and l'll listen
to your problems.
[SlGHS]
The specs and the seek times
call for 1 00 milliseconds.
We have that on the prototypes.
But the drives coming off the line--
-Do you have the drives here?
-lt might be a chip.
-Answer my question.
-l'm trying to.
Understand the controller chip
positions the split optics.
l'll show you the schematic.
No, no, no. Rub.
-You can't understand the problem--
-Do you have the drives?
Arthur sent five units--
[KNOCKlNG ON DOOR]
MEREDlTH: Did l say no calls?
-lt's Mr. Garvin.
But after that, nobody.
ls it all right if l leave for the day?
That's fine, Mrs. Ross.
You'd rather talk about
a million different things...
...than answer my question,
because you don't know.
You don't know what the problem is.
But you can't say, "l don't know"...
...because in your mind that means
you lose. You're worthless. Men.
-What will you tell Conley?
-l can't lie to them.
Talk about the prototypes. They work.
Focus on the positive.
We're on-line. lt's not
about the prototypes.
They wanna know you're
confident you can build it.
-l understand that, but l--
-Do you have a problem working for me?
No. l, uh....
Hi, Bob. No.
You don't wanna hear
about my hard day.
Yes, that's hard work.
-Let me get my docs together.
-Meredith--
The merger is not about Arcamax,
it's about people.
They're comfortable with me and Bob.
This isn't about some CD-ROM
that'll be obsolete in a year.
lf they ask,
then you tell them you don't know.
Hi, Bob, l'm here.
l've got a great idea about that.
Go ahead.
Lewyn, this is Sanders.
l've discussed the drives with Meredith.
She says don't tell the Conley people...
...until we found exactly
what the problems are.
That is the line for the 8 a.m.
meeting tomorrow--
Let's get down to business.
Wait a sec, wait a sec.
Meredith, wait a second.
-There, was that so bad?
-That's not so bad, it's just--
Come on, while there's still
a chance we might get caught.
No, no.
Oh, yes, l think so.
Meredith, no, no, no.
Some things never change,
and some things just get better.
TOM:
Meredith, come on.
Meredith, Meredith, no.
-Remember all the things we did?
-l remember.
Things nobody knows about you but me.
All our secrets.
[MOANS]
Just lie back and let me take you.
l could've had anybody and l picked you.
Now you've got all the power.
No, no, no. No, no, no.
You've got something l want.
-What are you doing?
-Doesn't that make you feel good?
-No.
-Just let me. Come on.
-Unh. No, no, no.
-Don't worry, l'm not gonna bite.
Let me do whatever l want.
-You just lie back and let me be the boss.
-No, no, no.
[GROANlNG]
No.
Meredith. Meredith. No.
Mere--
[GRUNTlNG]
No, no, no.
Wait a second. Wait a second.
Wait a minute.
-Shh, shh.
-Listen to me. What?
Look, nobody has to know.
Nobody gets hurt.
lt's just a meeting
between two colleagues.
Just another dull day
in the computer business.
Meredith, no.
No.
[GROANlNG]
No.
Don't!
No! No, no.
Huh? Here.
-Want to get fucked?
-Do it.
ls that what you want?
Come on.
-ls that what you want?
-Uh-huh.
[BOTH MOANlNG]
You just stay hard.
Oh, God.
[FABRlC TEARS]
Unh, heh.
You bad boy.
Come on, baby.
-Unh. Ooh.
-Yeah. Uh-huh.
-Yeah.
-Unh.
-Oh, yeah.
-Uh-huh. Uh huh.
Come on. You gonna fuck me?
[GRUNTlNG]
Put it in.
God, look at us.
-l want you inside me. Come on.
-No, no, no.
-l can't do this.
-Put it in.
-l'm not gonna do this.
-Now!
-l'm not gonna do this! No!
-Now!
You can't just stop!
-Come on.
-No! Goddamn!
[GRUNTlNG]
[PANTlNG]
You stick your dick in my mouth
then you get an attack of morality?
This never happened.
You never used to be this way.
l have a family now.
A family made you stupid.
You take those two champagne bottles
in your refrigerator...
...and you go fuck them.
You son of a bitch.
You get back here
and finish what you started.
You hear me? Do you hear me?
Get back and finish what you started
or you are dead!
Hear me? You are fucking dead!
Shit, it's dead.
SUSAN: You are hereby notified
that we will hold your client liable--
-Hi, honey.
-l didn't hear you come in.
l'm gonna take a shower.
-No kiss?
-l just feel kind of shitty, you know.
Screw them.
-They don't deserve you.
-Can you get me a beer?
Thanks. Before l forget,
could you do me a favor?
The, uh, battery went dead in my cellular.
Sure. l thought they
were supposed to last all day?
That's what l thought.
-Who's Meredith Johnson?
-What?
Meredith Johnson.
She called just before you got home.
Meredith called?
Yeah, about 1 0 minutes ago.
She said the 8 a.m. had been pushed
back to 8:30.
-Who is she?
-She's the one, the, uh-- The new VP.
She's the one?
Yep. She came from the Valley.
-How old is she?
-l don't know, um, 33, maybe.
That's young for that job.
-Had you ever heard of her?
-She's a face guy.
She made the merger happen. Now
she's Garvin's fair-haired, uh, whatever.
Where did she come from?
Has she any technical background?
No. That's the thing with the merger.
Everything's changed.
That's not the worst thing in the world.
She'll crash and burn.
Then maybe they'll appreciate you.
Things aren't easy out there.
So quit...
...rather than let them treat you this way.
We might lose everything,
including the stock options.
l don't care about the stock options.
-l'll go back to work full-time.
-l'm capable of supporting our family.
Just trying to help.
You're too nice sometimes.
l don't need you to fight my battles
for me, thank you very much.
[PEOPLE SPEAKlNG lNDlSTlNCTLY
ON TV]
WOMAN: Right now some lucky girl
in the building will come after me.
l deserve that, but ask yourself...
...why does a man run around with
another girl? He's unhappy at home.
Because he's lonely.
But that was before you, Fran.
l've stopped running.
Why are you wearing a T-shirt?
You never wear a T-shirt to bed.
l don't know. Just a little cold.
Tom, what are you gonna do?
Grin and bear it, like l usually do.
Hope it doesn't get any worse.
-Morning.
-Good morning, Bob.
-That's a nice suit.
-Thank you.
-Nice fabric. Can l feel it?
-Sure.
-What is that, a tropical wool?
-With a little bit of viscose.
That's what makes the pants
drape so well.
You work out, Tom?
When l get a chance, Bob.
lt's been busy lately. But, uh....
l've always liked you, Tom.
-Bob....
-Now you have the power.
-You have something l want.
-Come on, Bob.
[YELLlNG]
CHERRY: The computer takes
the information from the database...
...and constructs an environment
which is projected in the headset.
When the user walks on the pad,
he or she...
...feels like they're walking through a
corridor with drawers of files on all sides.
The user can stop at any time,
open any file...
...and thumb through the data. The laser
scanners are for body representation.
-That's amazing. Ha, ha.
CHERRY: lt's cool, isn't it?
Where is everyone?
They left 1 5 minutes ago.
Don Cherry's demo-ing the Corridor.
The meeting was pushed to 8:30.
No, 7:30. lt got pushed up.
-Nobody told you?
-No.
CHERRY: lf someone wants to log on with
a regular computer, what they'll see...
...is a model of themselves with a photo
that's pulled up from the data file.
JOHN:
Oh, hey, l know you.
The photo bears some
resemblance to me, l admit.
A little inside joke here at the company.
We've also constructed virtual help.
Users always need on-line help.
We've created an angel to help you.
Welcome to the Corridor.
[GASPS]
The same face. Ha-ha-ha.
Angel, how do l open this drawer?
FURlLLO:
What's the angel saying?
CHERRY:
That's between him and his angel.
We don't see the Corridor
as a product in the marketplace now.
This is something that we worked
up to demonstrate the potential...
...of virtual reality technology.
This looks good. Ha-ha-ha.
Hold on. What's that?
l believe it's your financial records. Ha, ha.
-Turn that damn thing off.
-Ha, ha. Sorry.
ln the final system there will be
safeguards that will control access.
Tom.
So glad you could join us.
That was a sweet entrance, my friend.
Ferry hit an iceberg? You were supposed to
call me after your meeting with Meredith.
l called you from her office.
Left a message.
There was nothing on my machine.
Then you're late again.
Thank God Meredith
took over the discussion.
Hey, pal, l left a message
on your machine, all right?
Check it out.
Did you get my message?
You told Susan the meeting
had been moved to 8:30.
l said 7:30. lf your wife can't take
a fucking message, get a machine.
Meredith.
-There you go, Mr. Sanders.
-Thank you.
You're welcome.
-Full house today, huh?
-Yeah.
Meredith has been getting us
up to speed on the Arcamax.
Now that you're here,
we'd like your read on it.
Meredith told us, uh,
there's real problems.
You might have to go back
to the drawing board.
l'm sorry if l conveyed that
impression to Meredith.
l am convinced
we can manufacture them.
How many of the drives
off the line meet specs?
l don't have that information with me.
JOHN: Meredith told us
the line is running at 29 percent.
ls that approximately right?
-Yes.
JOHN: The seek times are off-specs.
There's a power flicker in the screen?
-Right?
-That's right.
JOHN: With this merger coming up, don't
you think you should have told someone?
The merger isn't about a CD-ROM
that might be obsolete in a year.
lt's about people.
FURlLLO: lt'll be obsolete in a year?
JOHN: The promise of the Arcamax...
...was a central factor in this merger.
l may be at fault. Tom said the
problem with the drives was serious.
-Not so serious.
-l didn't wanna cover anything up.
-l'm not covering anything up.
JOHN: Give us worst-case.
We go back to the drawing boards
and we're down for nine months.
Nine months? Meredith said six weeks.
Look, nobody likes to go back to
the board, but it can be an advantage.
ls there a problem?
This isn't an inquisition, Bob.
l feel like l'm pulling teeth.
John just wants to get a handle on
what the problems are with the lines.
-l don't know is the honest answer.
JOHN: Wait a minute.
You are the head of Manufacturing.
You are in charge of Arcamax.
There are problems with it...
...that could take nine months to fix,
which l assume means a year.
And the bottom line is...
...you don't know?
Goddamn it.
Goddamn it!
Jesus Christ!
-Tom.
-Just the man l wanted to see.
Phil, this is not
gonna work out with Meredith.
-Evidently not.
-She set me up.
-She set me up.
-l saw. Sit down.
-Why? What'd l do?
-Please, would you just sit?
Meredith told me
about your meeting last night.
What?
What'd she tell you?
She wants to handle the intervention
internally, which is best.
-She still cares about you.
-Wait a minute.
What'd she say?
Not to put too fine a point on it,
she said you sexually harassed her.
l sexually harassed her?
-What would you call it?
-Phil, she jumped me in her office.
She jumped you? You're in denial.
That's typical.
She almost raped me.
You need help.
You have to accept responsibility for--
What do you call this?
What about that?
Looks like she was
forced to defend herself.
Defend herself? The woman can
kick the shit out of both of us!
-lt may have seemed different to you.
-l didn't harass her.
She harassed me.
l've never even heard of a woman
harassing a man.
What are you doing here?
-l'm here as your friend.
-My ass, you're my friend.
When Garvin finds out about this, he's
gonna wanna throw you out on your ass.
l'm saying let's keep this quiet.
That's what Meredith wants too.
Resolve this quickly and quietly.
Want your wife to find out?
We're gonna have to tell her
at some point.
They'll get the whole thing,
and it'll be on the front page of the paper!
l'm offering you a chance
to make a new life.
Keep your family out of this mess.
Keep your job.
Obviously, some kind of lateral move.
Lateral? When you say lateral,
you mean out of the division.
You can't stay here.
She's scared out of her wits.
l'm not leaving this division.
l've spent 1 0 years here. l built this place.
-Now, we got a spin-off going on--
-We're thinking, you know, Austin.
Austin?
BLACKBURN: l told him what she said.
He claimed it was the other way around.
He said she harassed him.
What? He denies it?
You know how it is.
The man always denies it.
ls he crazy?
l offered him a lateral move to Austin.
To Austin. That's like a duck making
a lateral move to "á l'orange."
Phil, he's too smart for that.
Let's hope he's smart enough
to see he has no options.
Take care of this.
This is a goddamn bomb we're sitting on
that can blow everything sky-high.
Meredith is key to the merger.
l can't have her involved in a sex scandal.
And l won't say goodbye to $1 00 million.
You got that?
Yeah, l-- l get the picture, Bob.
Tenth floor.
Down the hall and make a right.
GEER: There were no witnesses?
-No.
Her assistant left earlier in the evening.
A cleaning lady was outside the office.
l don't know how much she heard.
-Did you report that to anyone?
-ln the morning, yeah.
What was the company's response?
They believed her.
They suggested l transfer to Austin.
l heard they were selling Austin.
The point is, if l go to Austin,
l lose everything, all right?
My stock options,
everything that l worked for.
-Did you call anyone after the incident?
-No.
-Did you tell your wife?
-No.
-Oh, boy.
-Why not?
l didn't wanna upset her. l felt guilty putting
myself in the position in the first place.
How would you characterize
Miss Johnson physically?
She's very pretty.
She was Miss Teenage New Mexico.
So you were kissing.
Yes. And then she began to rub me.
Rub you where?
You know....
Your penis?
Yes.
And?
l don't feel comfortable talking about it.
-Because l'm a woman?
-Because you act like it's a game.
-Mr. Sanders, why are you here?
-l want to know what my options are.
What your options are?
l wanna know whether l can sue her
for sexual harassment.
To do that, you have to convince a jury...
...you were alone with Miss Teenage
New Mexico and you said no.
Sexual harassment is not about sex.
lt is about power.
She has it, you don't.
lf you sue, you'll never
get another job in computers.
lf you don't, they'll bury you in Austin.
Sue, and it's news. Don't, it's gossip.
lf you sue, no one will believe you.
lf you don't, your wife won't.
They will make your life hell for the next
three years until this case goes to trial.
And for that privilege, it's gonna
cost you a minimum of $1 00,000.
Do you not think it's a game, Mr. Sanders?
lt's a game to them.
How do you feel about losing?
BLACKBURN:
That's what Meredith wants.
To resolve it, quickly and quietly.
They said she's not
gonna press charges. Why?
She's accused me. Why stop there?
Why not press charges?
Meredith didn't press charges...
...because she couldn't.
DigiCom is planning a merger
with Conley-White.
lt is supposed to happen this Friday.
They think that we are as conservative
as they are.
With a scandal, Conley going to bed with
Katie Couric, waking up with Jessica Hahn.
Garvin is out $1 00 million.
l think we might make a plaintiff
out of this guy yet.
No, a potential plaintiff.
l don't have to sue. l just threaten to sue.
That's a very dangerous game.
Are you willing to play it?
-Fuck them.
-Now you're talking my language.
For the next three days...
...this loose cannon is in a position
to put a lot of pressure on this company.
And they on you, Mr. Sanders.
They on you.
Call security.
Throw him out on the sidewalk.
Bob, we have to appear to be impartial.
Keep him in his job,
keep paying him, no hassles.
l made Tom Sanders.
Who the hell is he to sue me?
Sexual harassment, under Title Seven.
He'll file with the Human Rights
Commission if we don't fire Meredith.
lf he files, it becomes public.
lt'd blow the deal.
We realize that. So does he.
He's blackmailing us.
This is America, goddamn it.
The legal system is supposed
to protect people like me.
lt gets worse.
His lawyer is Catherine Alvarez.
Great. She'd change her name to
"TV Listings" just to get it in the paper.
l'm trying to get them to mediate.
Keep it quiet.
Mediate?
l want you to cut his balls off.
Did he say mediate
or split the difference?
l'm just hoping he'll agree.
Alvarez will tell him not to.
He'll agree.
He doesn't want this out in the open.
We pushed him too hard.
He has nothing to lose.
Really? He hasn't told his wife yet.
How do you know?
l know Sanders, remember?
He likes his secrets.
Excuse me.
-l'll be in diagnostics.
-Where were you?
They're pulling the drives apart.
-John Levin called.
-Levin with Sematach?
-He said it was important.
-Why didn't they come this morning?
Susan called to remind you
you had the benefit tonight.
-Call Susan and--
-She said don't think about canceling.
-The Lewyns paid a lot for the tickets.
-l'll be there at 7:30.
-Ask her to bring me a shirt and jacket.
-Sure. Tom.
-Yeah.
-ls everything all right?
Everything is fine, thank you for asking.
l'm gonna kill Arthur.
We gotta solve this before Friday,
and you get the drives an hour ago?
LEWYN:
What is Arthur doing over there?
All he does anymore is pass
macadamia nuts to people.
ls he a manager or a flight attendant,
for chrissake?
-He's sending you nuts?
-What's slowing it down?
Over here.
Let me show you something.
Arthur was right.
There's a compatibility problem
with the controller chip.
ls it a bug?
Don Cherry debugged Arcamax.
There are no bugs.
-Fabrication problem?
-lt could--
-What are you doing?
-Huh?
This is a sophisticated piece
of electronics, not a pickup truck.
Don, how bad is it? We have 4,000
of these. l gotta junk all of them?
l told Arthur to send me 1 0 units in
heat-sealed plastic bags. lt's a hunch l have.
Do what you can.
l don't understand it.
ln prototypes, we got no problems.
We go to manufacturing, it falls apart.
Mr. Garvin wants to see you.
He said not to tell anyone.
Catherine Alvarez on 2.
Thanks. Could you close the door?
Hello.
Hi. How are you?
They wanna mediate. We should agree.
l don't want this getting out either.
Mm-hm.
Yeah.
lf we get this all over in a week,
my wife doesn't have to know.
No, l do not wanna tell my wife.
l don't wanna upset her if l don't have to.
Yeah.
Wait a second.
Guess what.
They locked me out of my computer
and cleaned out my files.
l guess it's starting.
Mark, come in.
Sure l'm not interrupting?
No, not at all, sir.
Going down?
Aw, don't tell me you're scared of me.
l didn't want it to be this way.
Oh, yeah, we could be fucking
in the elevator right now.
-l think of you as a friend.
-Oh, come off it!
You called Blackburn--
To beat you to the punch.
l knew you'd play that card.
l wasn't playing a card.
You were the one that was supposed--
[ALARM BUZZlNG]
Uh-oh. Alarm. Alarm. Alarm.
This isn't a game.
Come on. You'd have a great job,
the spin-off would make you a millionaire.
We'd have a little fun.
lt's not like breaking rocks.
You don't get it.
Poor Sanders. You have no idea
what you're up against.
As usual.
By this time tomorrow
you'll wish you took that Austin job.
We'll see.
SUSAN: l'm trying to figure out whether
to get a fat Barbie for Eliza.
ADELE:
Mattel makes a fat Barbie?
SUSAN: Yeah. They call her
the "Happy to Be Me Barbie."
ADELE: Does she come with the
"Happy to Be Divorced Ken"?
SUSAN:
Heh. l'm serious.
Which is more stigmatizing?
Yeah, Barbie's stigmatized.
lt's that whole male,
36-24-36 image of beauty.
Women are oppressed.
lt's just a fact.
Women are oppressed? Ah.
Eighty percent of suicides are committed by
men. They're dropping from heart attacks.
-You're not as tough.
-Sorry. We're just fighting the wars.
You start the wars.
l'm sorry.
l don't have my own crisis hotline.
-You're taking this Meredith thing well.
-That doesn't have anything to do with it.
What was today's rumor?
She was once a man?
-Just tell her.
-Tell her what?
Tell her there's a lot of us
who have worked as hard as you...
...and you're blowing this merger
for all of us because you fucked up.
What happened?
-Who got to you?
-lt's not that simple, Tom.
The thought of losing millions happens
to get stuck right here in my throat.
This was my big shot, asshole.
lt's not like l'm being scouted by the NBA.
Mark, what happened?
Who knows? The old girlfriend,
the bottle of wine, the late meeting...
-...fill in the blanks.
-Thanks, pal. Thanks.
You're like these women...
...who think they're going back
to the hotel room, drunk, to watch HBO.
Could you possibly be more lame?
For your information, Mark,
Tom told me everything.
Everything that happened.
And l support him 1 00 percent.
-That is so sweet, but l don't think--
-l don't think we should talk about it.
Can we just enjoy the evening?
TOM: Susan--
-Obviously, something happened.
-Did you have sex with her?
-No!
-Think first. Because if you're lying--
-No, l said, no.
She kissed me, and she unzipped
my pants, and....
-And?
-And that was it. Nothing happened.
Nothing happened?
How did it get that far?
-You think l encouraged her?
-Her hand was in your pants?
-Yeah, but nothing happened.
-How did that happen?
Then she accuses me
of sexual harassment--
-She harassed you?
-You don't believe me?
-Mark doesn't believe you.
-Mark.
He's got, uh, stock options on the brain.
He's got fits of back-stabbing.
Everybody's sure you're having
an affair with Cindy.
-l'm not having an affair.
-How could you let this happen?
-Nothing happened.
-Something happened.
She's an old girlfriend of yours.
Like l'm surprised. That's as
exclusive a club as the white pages.
-l was gonna tell you.
-l can't believe everyone knows but me.
-Nobody knows it.
-You're so naive. Of course they know.
l'm old-fashioned.
l greet my subordinates with a handshake.
-l'll take care of it.
-Jesus.
What does she look like?
She's attractive.
One to ten.
Eight.
Nine.
What does the company say?
They want me to transfer to Austin,
do some therapy.
Austin? l'm not moving there.
-We're not moving to Austin.
-Texas?
TOM: Susan, l'm pressing charges.
SUSAN: For what?
Sexual harassment.
We have a mediation tomorrow.
When were you gonna tell me?
That's brilliant.
Show up without your wife, who's a lawyer.
l'll take care of it.
They'll try to destroy you.
-lt won't go that far.
-lt'll take over our life.
Depositions and whispering and legal fees
for some damn personal vindication.
And all anyone remembers is that
you were involved in something sleazy.
-Do you have a lawyer?
-Catherine Alvarez.
Great. When are we on Hard Copy?
But if it had happened to you--
You know how many times
it's happened to me?
-You never said this ever happened--
-You're so narcissistic.
Nothing ever happens
until it happens to you.
-You should've said something.
-l do what women always do.
l deal with it. l do not make a federal case.
Now go in there tomorrow and work it out.
Right. l should shut up and fuck her.
What the hell?
Apologize and get your job back.
-Apologize?
WOMAN: Shh, shh!
The children are sleeping.
Wait, l got a better idea.
Why don't l just admit it?
l'll be the evil white male
you're all complaining about.
-Then l can fuck everybody.
-Tom, stop it.
Chau-Minh, come on down,
l wanna exercise my dominance!
-You're scaring her.
-l have an urge!
-The children!
-My children that l provide for and protect!
They can come between me and my wife,
move us, take my job...
...and take the house we have made!
And l apologize to them, Susan?
They call me a rapist and l apologize?
Come on. This is a joke.
Sexual harassment is about power.
When did l have the power?
When?
MURPHY:
Good morning, l'm Judge Murphy.
This is a mediation, not a court of law.
Our proceedings will remain confidential.
Maintain a civil and courteous tone.
Our goal is to determine the nature
of the dispute...
...and how best to resolve it.
The parties have agreed that
Mr. Sanders will speak first...
...and be cross-examined by Mr. Heller.
Ms. Johnson will speak next,
and be cross-examined by Ms. Alvarez.
Any questions?
Good. Let's get started.
TOM: l had my cellular phone with me,
so when she called Garvin...
...l called Mark Lewyn to give him
the upshot of our meeting.
Then she approached you?
Correct. She took the phone
from me and she kissed me.
Where?
TOM:
She kissed me in my ear...
...on my neck...
...on my mouth.
She put her tongue in my mouth.
ALVAREZ:
When you asked her to stop, did she?
TOM:
No, no.
She, uh, unzipped my pants...
...and she massaged my penis.
ALVAREZ: Were you aroused?
TOM: Yes.
Then she slid down...
...and she...
...put my penis in her mouth.
ALVAREZ:
Did you climax?
TOM: l grabbed her by the wrists.
l threw her on the ground.
Then l wanted to get out of there.
At that point, what did Ms. Johnson do?
She threatened me.
She said, "You're dead."
And then, the next day,
Mr. Blackburn here told me that...
...she said that l had
sexually harassed her.
Mr. Heller?
HELLER: Sanders, would you like a break?
-No, l'm fine. Thank you.
HELLER: You say the bottle of wine
was Ms. Johnson's idea?
Yes.
But, uh, when you were living
with Ms. Johnson...
...didn't you discover wines together
on trips to the Napa Valley?
-Yes.
-Romantic trips?
Yes.
But you weren't expecting
anything romantic in her office?
No.
Did you have a conversation
after lunch about how...
...seeing Meredith gave you a...
...boner?
That wasn't me.
That was someone else.
-lsn't the term "boner" a slang for erection?
-Yes.
HELLER:
You had a conversation about...
...having an erection? A boner?
Yes, but l didn't say it.
But you laughed.
-Yes.
-So you condone it.
lt was harmless.
lf it's harmless...
...why are we sitting here today?
Well, it was just, um...
...what guys talk about.
About their boss?
No, not generally.
HELLER: Yet you expect us to believe that
after having a sexual conversation...
...that you didn't have sex on your mind?
That's correct.
HELLER: How would you characterize your
relationship with Ms. Johnson...
...in the good old days?
Highly sexual?
l wouldn't know how to rate it.
Every day?
Sometimes twice a day.
Sex in public places.
Sodomy. Viewing of pornography.
Vibrators and other mechanical devices.
Sometimes we sat on the couch
and watched television.
But when you became reacquainted,
you no longer saw her as a sexual object?
-She was just your boss now?
-That's correct.
And do you admit having an erection
during the course of your meeting?
She had her top open.
lt was an involuntary reflex.
Reflex?
Do you think Ms. Johnson's
gynecologist gets an erection...
...when he examines her breast?
l think that's completely different.
Do you admit putting
your erect penis in her mouth?
-She did it.
-Oh, l forgot.
You resisted.
Mr. Sanders, uh, during your
rather fantastic testimony...
...there was one moment that rang true.
You said, and l quote:
"l was angry.
l felt l was being pushed around."
-Correct?
-Correct.
The truth is, you felt that way all day.
You'd been expecting a promotion,
and she got it. You got angry about it.
l felt l deserved the job.
You took that anger up to her office.
You were gonna show her who's boss.
That's not true.
Mr. Sanders, did you tell your wife about
your 7:00 meeting with Ms. Johnson?
l told her l had a meeting
and l'd be home late.
You expected to be late?
No, but if l got home earlier,
my wife would be surprised, pleasantly.
So you make it a rule to lie to your wife?
l didn't lie.
When you called your wife,
did you tell her that...
...Ms. Johnson was a
former lover of yours?
No.
When you got home,
did you tell her what happened?
No, l was hoping it would go away.
You hoped you'd get away with it?
MURPHY:
Mr. Heller.
Do not debunk the illusion that this
dispute might be settled amicably.
That's okay. l have no further questions.
MEREDlTH: l asked to see family pictures.
l thought if we put it on that basis...
...it would be clear
things had changed between us.
Mr. Sanders,
do you have those pictures now?
l'd like to Xerox them for the file.
HELLER:
You can continue.
He remarked his wife hadn't lost
all the weight gained from having children.
l said his children were beautiful...
...he said they made him feel old...
...and seeing me reminded him
of what it was like to be young...
...and that marriage
was a tough trade-off.
Go on.
My assistant, Mrs. Ross, came in
and asked if she could go home.
l wanted her to stay, but l felt guilty.
l'd been keeping her late for weeks
preparing for my new job.
And, uh, where was Mr. Sanders
at that point?
He began to rub my shoulders.
And you let him?
Well, it was awkward...
...but l thought we'd finish our discussion
and leave it at that.
ls that when he tried to kiss you?
No, l got a call from Mr. Garvin
and then l came back to Tom...
...and told him that was it,
and then he began to kiss me.
Did you try to stop him?
Yes. l struggled with him
and told him to stop. But he didn't.
Did he attack you physically?
Yes.
He grabbed me by my hair...
...and, uh, forced me down on my knees.
And, uh....
He put his...
...penis in your mouth?
This is making me very uncomfortable.
Would you like some water?
Here.
Thank you.
He put his, uh, penis in my mouth...
...and said that he was going to, uh....
To "fuck you"? Were those his words?
"Do you wanna get fucked?
ls that what you want?"
And then he reached down
and tore off my panties.
HELLER:
What did you do then?
He threw me down on the scaffold
and l kneed him in the groin.
HELLER:
And that was the end of it?
lt's strange. l'd think my instinct
would be to run, but l became angry.
l yelled at him. Called him names.
Told him l'd kill him.
Just yelling.
HELLER:
How did he react?
He seemed to realize what he'd done.
He pulled up his pants and ran out.
Did you call anyone afterwards?
No. l didn't know what to do.
l kept going over the day
in my mind, trying to figure out...
...if somehow this thing was my fault.
-You reported it the next morning?
-Yes.
But you didn't bring formal charges.
Why not?
l talked to Phil Blackburn.
l knew he was a friend of Tom's.
l didn't wanna destroy...
...Tom's marriage or his career,
but it's clear we couldn't work together.
l would be too frightened.
l'm frightened just sitting here.
l have nothing further.
MURPHY:
Ms. Alvarez.
ALVAREZ: Ms. Johnson,
l just wanna be clear on one thing.
Mr. Sanders suggested
the bottle of wine?
-That's right.
ALVAREZ: But you bought it.
l sent my assistant Mrs. Ross
out to buy a bottle.
-That afternoon?
-Yes.
Did you tell her what kind?
l said to get a nice Chardonnay.
l remembered that Tom liked white wine.
From those trips to Napa that he was
an amateur wine connoisseur.
-He'd be impressed by a nice bottle?
-Yes.
-Do you remember the wine?
-No.
The '91 Pahlmeyer?
Yes. That's right.
Do you know where your
assistant got that wine?
l assume she got it from
the liquor store down the street.
Would it surprise you to know...
...that there isn't a liquor store
in Seattle that carries that bottle?
Mrs. Ross is very resourceful.
Very resourceful?
A bottle of wine you can't find
within 500 miles of Seattle.
l have no idea where she
got the bottle of wine.
lsn't it true, Ms. Johnson, that you told
Mrs. Ross three weeks ago...
...that you wanted
a bottle of '91 Pahlmeyer...
...for your meeting with Mr. Sanders?
-That's not true.
-And when she couldn't find it, you said....
Oh, oh, what was that?
lt had such managerial brio.
Oh, here it is. Um....
"lf you don't find the wine...
...find a replacement."
MURPHY:
Do you have testimony from Mrs. Ross?
ALVAREZ:
Yes, l do.
MURPHY:
Ms. Johnson?
The fact is Mrs. Ross
has personal problems.
She has a drinking problem.
She tends to make up stories
to make herself seem more important.
l told Mrs. Ross to go buy a bottle
of wine after Tom and l spoke...
...at the luncheon.
For all l know,
she had that bottle at home.
Maybe in her wine cellar.
Ms. Alvarez, any more questions?
Mm, no, not for now.
l think this is a good time for a break.
l just got some information on Meredith.
You won't believe it, or maybe you will.
[lNAUDlBLE DlALOGUE]
GEER: Alan gave me a list,
we can't verify any of this.
-You told me you didn't have sex.
-l didn't.
-What about--?
-l didn't have sex with her.
What is it, Tom?
She's trying to quit smoking?
-l'm telling the truth.
-How could you do this?
She did it. That's the point.
You saw this woman alone.
You had wine, a back rub, you kissed.
And then this non-sex sex thing.
You took off her panties.
Those are facts.
So what? So what?
-Those don't happen unless the man wants--
-l was cornered.
-You let it happen!
-l did not let it happen!
How could you? How could you
let that woman into our lives?
-l did not!
-Get this.
Ten of her subordinates have transferred
in the last five years. All men.
-How's that for a red flag?
-Can we get hold of them?
Yeah, but nobody's gonna talk
and we can't subpoena them...
-...because this is just a mediation.
-Aw, damn it.
-Do you wanna have lunch?
-l gotta go back to the office.
ALVAREZ: How about you, Mrs. Sanders?
Are you hungry?
Yeah.
-How are you holding up?
-Are you married?
Chandler, Hogue and Alvarez.
-l married Chandler.
-You married your boss?
Classic case of sexual harassment. He
asked me out five times before l said yes.
Today, if l had said no once,
he would have been afraid to ask again.
-Tom tells me you're a lawyer.
-Ten years.
-Wanna switch hats, tell me what you think?
-l don't look good in hats.
You're afraid she's telling the truth.
Yes.
What he did, he did out of weakness.
Hardly makes it better, does it?
l can't get in the middle
of your relationship with Tom...
...but the fact is she broke the law,
and that makes the difference.
Ms. Alvarez, 48 hours ago, my husband's
penis was in another woman's mouth.
There's nothing in the law
that's gonna help me deal with that.
TOM: How long you had these?
CHERRY: Came in an hour ago.
Garvin had me send the Corridor to the Four
Seasons for the Conley people to play with.
lt's in the hotel?
Yeah. The Conley people
had such fun with it yesterday....
Getting anywhere with the drives?
l'm counting on you.
-l have a hunch.
-What is it?
-l don't know.
-What is it?
l don't know.
She got to you, didn't she?
What do you expect? They're stronger,
they're smarter and they don't fight fair.
lt's the next step in human evolution.
Like the Amazons.
Keep some of us for sperm
and kill the rest.
What do you have?
lf l know something for a fact,
l won't withhold it.
But l can't go out on a limb,
it's too intense around here.
"Spot-checks on....
[MUMBLlNG]
Speaking of the merger,
are you rich and famous yet?
Congratulations in
advance on your promotion.
Arthur."
Dad, you got a e-mail.
SUSAN: l'm not a pain in the ass,
l'm being a lawyer.
There's a difference.
TOM: No more computer games, Matt,
it's time for school. Eliza, where are you?
ELlZA:
You got a e-mail, Dad.
SUSAN: Matt's got toothpaste all over!
TOM: Matt.
SUSAN: lf you can't get them ready
for school, don't say you'll take care of it.
TOM: You're welcome.
SUSAN: Yeah, l'm here.
-And Liza needs a jacket.
TOM: l know. Liza!
ELlZA:
A jacket doesn't go, Dad.
TOM:
Matt, put on a sweatshirt.
MATT:
That's for girls, a white sweatshirt.
TOM: Since when? Liza!
ELlZA: Dad, leave me alone.
TOM:
Liza, l am the father.
When your father says put your jacket on,
you put your jacket on.
ELlZA: Ariel doesn't have a father.
She has two mothers.
TOM:
That's interesting.
SUSAN: He's in a hotel with his secretary
patched in from New York...
...while l'm brushing the Cheerios
out of my file folders.
lt's insanity.
TOM: Put your jacket on.
ELlZA: No.
SUSAN: Put this on, sweetie.
ELlZA: No.
SUSAN:
You can take it off when you get to school.
TOM:
When l say listen to Mom, listen to Mom.
SUSAN: Matt, did you pee?
MATT: Yes.
SUSAN: l don't know why
you said you'd help me out...
...on a day like today,
with your promotion.
MATT:
What's dad wearing around his neck?
TOM:
You don't know what this is?
This is a tie.
SUSAN:
Daddy's getting a promotion.
ELlZA: Dad, you got a e-mail.
TOM: Thanks. Let's go.
We're late.
Did you call about those
Disneyland tickets?
-With everything l have to do today?
-lt's just one call.
Who are they for?
Mohammed Jafar.
He's foreman of the Malaysian plant.
You're the one person l know
who sucks up to the people below you.
Matt, don't kick the seat.
-What's that on your tie?
-Toothpaste. Let's go.
SUSAN: The one day you wear a tie,
it shouldn't look like a bib.
Hi, Cindy, what's up?
Garvin came by the office this morning?
About the promotion?
Matt, will you stop that?
He was surprised l was late?
What does that mean?
Did he say it in passing,
or like he really meant it?
l wonder why Garvin's coming by
the office at 8:00 in the morning.
To congratulate you.
That's not like him.
He treats everyone like dirt.
Except the top guys.
Yeah. Except the top guys.
When this merger with Conley-White
goes through...
...and they spin off our division,
we're gonna be rich, Susan.
-We're already rich, if you ask me.
-No, l mean-- l mean really rich.
My grandmother used to have
this expression:
"Don't climb up there too close to God,
He might shake the tree."
Tom!
Thanks for this morning.
Go! Go, go, go!
[BELL RlNGlNG]
[PEOPLE CHEERlNG]
[HORN BLOWlNG]
PRlCE: Smaller, faster, cheaper, better.
TOM: Yeah, heh.
PRlCE: Remember the first ones,
the way you lugged it around?
People were amazed. lt was like
showing a Polaroid to a bushman.
Now, if it's bigger than a credit card,
it's too inconvenient.
Keeps you on your toes.
Eddie, it's Tom. Cindy said you called.
Sure, l can hang on.
How's the job search?
28 years with lBM.
Did l tell you what they told me?
l was "surplussed."
Ever hear that word?
What's going on down there, Eddie?
What? That's crazy.
They should've said, "sodomized."
They're not gonna sell the Austin plant.
That's just a rumor floating around.
You don't see it coming. You go along,
and then one day there's no room.
Boom. No more room for you.
Smaller, faster, cheaper, better.
l won't mention names, l'm on a cellular.
No names. l'm just telling you,
it's not true. lt's a rumor.
l was making 1 50 a year.
Big money. Boom.
lt's probably what you make, huh?
One fifty?
Eddie, hang on.
Why don't you call Cindy...
...make an appointment?
l'll see if l can help out.
Eddie, they are not
gonna sell Austin.
lf l'm telling you,
who else are you gonna believe?
Cindy. Pretty name.
Used to have fun with the girls.
Nowadays she probably wants your job.
[PHONES RlNGlNG]
[PEOPLE CHATTERlNG]
Good morning.
-What did Garvin say? Want me to come up?
-He didn't say.
-He growled.
-Yeah.
He was flirting. Did you get Arthur?
He's standing by on the DVL.
Lunch with Conley-White
got pushed up to noon.
We'll probably have those sandwiches
with the crusts cut off.
Their jaws were wired shut
at the same prep school.
-The merger's still going through?
-Why, you heard something?
No. Just, l....
What's that on your tie?
Garvin didn't say anything
about my promotion?
l thought you'd be in early today.
People from "Father of the Year"
haven't called?
-No.
-That's a joke.
[LAUGHS]
COMPUTER: Five seconds to Malaysia.
-Want me to close your door?
-Do l ever ask you to close my door?
-Never.
COMPUTER:
Malaysian video linkup.
-Tom. You look, uh, frighteningly awake.
-What's wrong with Arcamax?
The drives are very slow. We're
getting seek times in the 1 40-1 60 range.
140 isn't a sexy CD player anymore.
140 is what everyone else has got.
My guys think there's
a compatibility problem...
...between the controller chip
and the driver's software.
lf it's the chip,
that puts us back a year.
The screen flickers. The current cuts
in and out. lt's a design problem.
What do you mean? Every laptop
in the world's got the same design.
I sent you out some drives.
You should get them today.
This is bad, Arthur.
How could this happen?
Gonna bury it until the merger?
Don't you say anything.
Does anyone else know?
l'm a grave. What, are you kidding, Tom?
I still think, really, that Arcamax
will be a major, major hit.
l'll talk to you when l see the drives.
-Tom, did you get the macadamia nuts?
-Good night, Arthur.
They are so good.
He's off the phone. l gotta go.
Do you know a Meredith Johnson?
-Meredith? Yeah, years ago.
-She wanted to see you.
She's here for the lunch.
The entire company invited up
for this lunch?
Garvin brought the Operations Group
up with him.
Meredith is in Operations?
What should l tell her?
Bad day, in-laws in town?
l'm gonna see Lewyn about the 900s.
Get that worried look off your face.
lf there was bad news,
Garvin would've sent Phil Blackburn.
Hey, Phil. You're not
coming to see me, are you?
-No. Why?
-Nothing. How are you?
Jesus. How are you, Tom?
You look all beat up.
l do?
You're letting it get to you. Don't.
lt's Garvin, you can't take it personally.
Take what personally?
Look, maybe it's just a rumor.
What's a rumor?
l don't wanna spread rumors.
That's how these things get started.
-Talking about Austin?
-Who said Austin?
What am l missing?
l can't believe he didn't tell you.
He's so perverse.
Didn't tell me what?
-So how's Susan?
-Susan's good.
-How's Lonnie?
-Great.
-Do you know she got tenure? Ha, ha.
-That's great.
[ELEVATOR DlNGS]
Well, here's my stop.
l tried to explain to Garvin.
You know what he's like.
He's like a child.
Fuck your feelings if they
get in the way of his big surprise.
-What surprise?
-Rumor is you're getting passed over.
-l'm not getting the VP job?
-That's the rumor. All l can tell you.
Rumors are always true.
Garvin hasn't said anything?
Came by the office. l was late,
Susan had a conference.
-You were late? Today?
MAN: What brings you to Seattle?
-Good to see you again. Ha-ha-ha.
-Nice to see you, Mr. Blackburn.
Somebody tells Garvin
l was talking to you, phew.
You know how he is about leaks.
Now it's a leak?
l thought it was a rumor.
lt was different when we were in the
Valley together. l could watch your back.
Who gets the job, Stephanie Kaplan?
Rumor is he's going outside the group.
You'd still head up Manufacturing...
...presumably.
Wait a minute.
l might be out of a job?
-Don't get paranoid all of a sudden.
-l'm a quick learner.
You wouldn't make somebody VP
and not let them appoint their own team.
How would that look?
Phil, am l out of a job?
Come on, Tom.
l'm already out on a limb.
You gonna be okay? You want a Prozac?
No, l'm fine. l'm, uh--
l'm disappointed, but l'm fine.
You sure?
Don't have to worry about me.
l'm a stockholder. Whatever's...
...best for the company.
[PHONE DlALlNG]
SUSAN [ON MACHlNE]:
lf you wanna leave a message...
...for Susan, Tom, Matt and Eliza...
...please do after the beep.
Thanks for calling. Bye.
[MACHlNE BEEPS]
-Obviously, he's disappointed.
GARVIN: But he took it well?
Overall, l'd say yes.
l don't want any bumps before the merger.
l don't want him quitting.
lt's up to you.
Just one big happy family.
You got that?
l have to tell you, going down to see him
this morning was a masterstroke.
lt really put him on the defensive.
I'll keep an eye on him.
He'll get on the program.
When push comes to shove,
he doesn't have the guts.
[SlGHS]
Let me ask you something.
You know Susan.
lf l heard a rumor about the...
...future of the company...
...my future...
...you know, nothing crazy,
a real rumor...
...what would Susan say?
You think she'd say go see Garvin?
Hey. Here's a guy you should meet.
Tom Sanders.
He heads up our Manufacturing.
Steven Chase, Crescent Capital.
John Conley.
You're John Conley?
Junior. Dad's coming on Friday
with members of the Board.
-Catch you at the lunch.
-Tom, come on in.
You wanted to see me about something.
Yeah, sorry about this morning.
-You know how it is with kids.
GARVlN: Yeah.
-Have you ever met Meredith Johnson?
-Hi.
What's the matter?
That's a hello you'd give to a rash.
l'm preoccupied.
lt's nothing to do with you.
Sanders and l go way back.
He broke my heart.
She's making that up.
l thought your heart was made of
that plastic they use for helmets.
He said l could be anything l wanted.
GARVlN: He got that right.
-lt was a line.
-lt wasn't a line.
-l had no idea you knew each other.
What's that Wilde line? "l like a man
with a future and a woman with a past."
Somebody said you were in Operations.
l don't know. Bob, am l?
The last few years,
l've been cleaning up the mess...
-...Bob's made of this company.
-Ha-ha-ha.
lf it's such a mess,
how come l'm so rich?
MEREDlTH:
Yes, but you're a lot richer now.
We should catch up. Get together.
l'd love that.
GARVlN:
Plenty of time for that now.
l remember flying over Wyoming,
l thought this merger was dead.
Conley was choking on the valuation.
The spin-off was Meredith's idea.
Don't say that too loud.
Conley thinks it was theirs.
-Really?
-Lit them up like a Christmas tree.
Meredith saved the merger.
You have money now.
You could even buy yourself a new tie.
[LAUGHlNG]
So, what was it
you wanted to see me about?
Meredith-fucking-Johnson!
Son of a bitch. Goddamn Garvin.
-What?
-l didn't get it.
-You're not the new VP?
-He announced it?
lt was a secret.
He's got her installed in the office...
...bouncing back and forth
like it's the Tonight Show.
-Who's Meredith Johnson?
-Will this affect the spin-off?
This is a technical division.
She doesn't know the difference
between software and a sweater.
What aren't you telling us?
l might be out of a job. ls that enough?
You know what it's like out there?
-He said something about the spin-off.
-They didn't tell me about me!
Think they'll tell me about the spin-off?
l'm sorry.
This is the worst day of my life.
All right?
Who is she?
Let me guess: attractive?
-What does that have to do with anything?
-Nipples like pencil erasers?
She's attractive. Very attractive.
-Sleeping with Garvin?
-That's why he bought the Nordic Track.
lt's a curse to be me.
Life holds no surprises.
This is such a cliche.
How do you think a cliche
becomes a cliche?
You mean like, "Size doesn't matter"?
l have such a thing for you.
All right, please,
can we get some work done?
We got a small problem with Arcamax.
-lt isn't the design.
-lt's not the code.
Any woman has to be twice as good
as a man and work harder for less pay.
See that, Hunter? Cliche grande.
How do you think a cliche
becomes a cliche?
Hunter, it is very weird.
We don't know anything about this woman.
l do. l had a thing with her.
Ha, ha, you are amazing.
-lt was years ago.
LEWYN: Tommy.
You've seen more ass than a rental car.
Get a few more women in your life
so you can be a census.
Maybe you can sleep your way up.
Yeah, right.
Wait, why? Why her and not Tom?
He's not attractive?
Because men and women are different.
Not in a way that matters to you.
Are you saying l'm a virgin?
Meanwhile, you were asking me
about the spin-off.
Garvin said it was her idea.
GARVIN: lt's always such a pleasure
to come to Seattle...
...and spend time with the
Advanced Products Group.
l feel such a warmth for the people here.
On the cutting edge. l feel a kinship.
And l've always wanted to give you....
ls this seat taken?
GARVlN: ...the most advanced original
leadership that l could. Push the envelope.
How are you?
-Sorry you didn't get your promotion.
-l'm sorry you didn't get it either.
How long have you known?
Really? That long?
Every time l've wanted
to promote a woman...
...to break the glass ceiling...
...it's always been the same story:
"But, Bob.... But, Bob...."
l've thought about it often since
my daughter's death, that had she lived...
...it would be extremely rare...
...that she ever got to run a company.
So it has a special meaning
for me when l tell you...
...that Friday,
when we announce the merger...
...we will also announce that the new VP
for Advanced Operations and Planning...
...here in Seattle...
...will be Meredith Johnson.
[MOUTHS]
Unbelievable.
Thanks, Bob. Can l have the lights?
The Advanced Products Group has been
the heart of DigiCom for the last 1 0 years.
Advanced Products has historically
consisted of four divisions....
You seem to be spending
a lot more time up here.
My son's a freshman at the university.
This way l get to see more of him.
l thought it had to do with the merger.
This merger means everything to Garvin.
Give a man a $1 00 million
and you create a frustrated billionaire.
The new compression algorithms
should shift industry standards...
...to full-res digitized video
at 60 fields per second...
...with platform-independent
RlSC processors supported by...
...a 32-bit color-active....
Conley's a conservative company.
ls Meredith conservative?
l don't know.
l thought you knew her.
ls there anything you don't know?
We offer, through technology...
...what religion and revolution
have promised but never delivered:
Freedom from the physical body.
Freedom from race and gender...
...from nationality and personality,
from place and time.
Communicating by cellular phone
and hand-held computer...
...PDA and built-in fax modem...
...we can relate to each
other as pure consciousness.
[SPEAKlNG lNDlSTlNCTLY]
Smart, touching base
with all the division heads.
Especially since she didn't name them
in her speech.
Does it mean something?
Only if she plans to make changes.
Phil said she wasn't planning
on making any changes.
You know Meredith.
Stephanie, wait a minute.
l gotta know, am l out of a job?
What was she bending your ear about
all lunch?
Uh, Stephanie? Um, nothing.
Just small talk.
What, all of a sudden
there's Stephanie Lite?
She's, uh, talking about her son
at the university.
-Sorry l didn't get to mention you.
-That's okay. That's fine.
l'm jammed all day but why
don't you come up around 7?
We'll have a drink
and catch up on business.
Sure, that'd be great.
l remember how you liked
a good bottle of wine. l'll get one.
-What's she want to see you at 7 about?
-l'm sure it's the problems with Arcamax.
We gotta get in sync before
these Conley guys ask questions.
She doesn't give you a boner?
Because, you know,
l definitely have lift-off.
What about you? You got a woody?
She's very nice.
-l'll tell you what the company line is.
-Don't do that.
You have a sexual urge every 20 minutes.
lt's a physiological certainty.
lt's hard-wired into your limbic brain.
You can't fight it.
Why would you want to? Live a little.
Ten years from now,
you'll need a forklift to get a hard-on.
-Ha-ha-ha. l'll call you.
-l'm counting the minutes.
[ALL LAUGHlNG]
TOM: There you are.
Where've you been all day?
l didn't get it.
No, they went outside the division.
Someone from Operations.
What can l say? l got passed over.
Yeah. What can l say?
So did you get those tickets
for Disneyland?
No, l know,
but l promised the guy and it's....
Mohammed Jafar.
Right, so it's one F.
Thanks a lot. Probably won't be home
for dinner tonight. Don't wait up.
Okay.
l love you too. Bye.
Are there any asset sale triggers?
ln the indenture?
Mm-hm.
[WHlSPERS]
Will you do me a favor?
[lN NORMAL VOlCE] Look, Alan,
Brown will go 250 on this, easy.
Let's just do this thing
as a top-down recap.
Not a bad idea for a girl, huh?
[LAUGHS]
Let's talk first thing. Okay, bye.
'91 Pahlmeyer. How'd you know?
l've been looking all over for it.
l like all the boys under me to be happy.
-Congratulations.
-Thank you.
Mm. l brought the files up for Arcamax
if you wanna go over them.
Let me see your pictures.
The, uh, diagrams?
Your family. You have pictures?
Yeah, sure.
[SlGHS]
Here's, uh.... Here.
That's Matthew.
That's Eliza at Halloween.
-And here's Susan with the kids.
-Ah.
She looks like she always has
food in the refrigerator.
-She never lost the baby weight--
-l didn't say she looks like a refrigerator.
-Ha-ha-ha.
-l mean, she's made a home for you.
ln my fridge l've got bottles
of champagne and an orange.
Doesn't Eliza look beautiful?
She looks like Susan.
lt can be inhibiting.
-What's that?
-Domesticity.
Ah. You'd be surprised.
l don't imagine
you can jump her from behind...
...because you get excited by the way
she bends to pick up the soap.
Remember that?
l remember that.
And you miss it.
l have my compensations.
Of course. Life's a series of trade-offs.
l wouldn't trade what l have.
l wouldn't want you to.
That's exactly why l can trust you.
You have a lot more to lose than l do.
l'll bring you up to speed
on the problems with the drives.
You kept in good shape, Tom.
Nice and hard.
Thank you.
Meredith, it's different now.
You're my boss.
lt's different.
Okay.
Rub my shoulders and l'll listen
to your problems.
[SlGHS]
The specs and the seek times
call for 1 00 milliseconds.
We have that on the prototypes.
But the drives coming off the line--
-Do you have the drives here?
-lt might be a chip.
-Answer my question.
-l'm trying to.
Understand the controller chip
positions the split optics.
l'll show you the schematic.
No, no, no. Rub.
-You can't understand the problem--
-Do you have the drives?
Arthur sent five units--
[KNOCKlNG ON DOOR]
MEREDlTH: Did l say no calls?
-lt's Mr. Garvin.
But after that, nobody.
ls it all right if l leave for the day?
That's fine, Mrs. Ross.
You'd rather talk about
a million different things...
...than answer my question,
because you don't know.
You don't know what the problem is.
But you can't say, "l don't know"...
...because in your mind that means
you lose. You're worthless. Men.
-What will you tell Conley?
-l can't lie to them.
Talk about the prototypes. They work.
Focus on the positive.
We're on-line. lt's not
about the prototypes.
They wanna know you're
confident you can build it.
-l understand that, but l--
-Do you have a problem working for me?
No. l, uh....
Hi, Bob. No.
You don't wanna hear
about my hard day.
Yes, that's hard work.
-Let me get my docs together.
-Meredith--
The merger is not about Arcamax,
it's about people.
They're comfortable with me and Bob.
This isn't about some CD-ROM
that'll be obsolete in a year.
lf they ask,
then you tell them you don't know.
Hi, Bob, l'm here.
l've got a great idea about that.
Go ahead.
Lewyn, this is Sanders.
l've discussed the drives with Meredith.
She says don't tell the Conley people...
...until we found exactly
what the problems are.
That is the line for the 8 a.m.
meeting tomorrow--
Let's get down to business.
Wait a sec, wait a sec.
Meredith, wait a second.
-There, was that so bad?
-That's not so bad, it's just--
Come on, while there's still
a chance we might get caught.
No, no.
Oh, yes, l think so.
Meredith, no, no, no.
Some things never change,
and some things just get better.
TOM:
Meredith, come on.
Meredith, Meredith, no.
-Remember all the things we did?
-l remember.
Things nobody knows about you but me.
All our secrets.
[MOANS]
Just lie back and let me take you.
l could've had anybody and l picked you.
Now you've got all the power.
No, no, no. No, no, no.
You've got something l want.
-What are you doing?
-Doesn't that make you feel good?
-No.
-Just let me. Come on.
-Unh. No, no, no.
-Don't worry, l'm not gonna bite.
Let me do whatever l want.
-You just lie back and let me be the boss.
-No, no, no.
[GROANlNG]
No.
Meredith. Meredith. No.
Mere--
[GRUNTlNG]
No, no, no.
Wait a second. Wait a second.
Wait a minute.
-Shh, shh.
-Listen to me. What?
Look, nobody has to know.
Nobody gets hurt.
lt's just a meeting
between two colleagues.
Just another dull day
in the computer business.
Meredith, no.
No.
[GROANlNG]
No.
Don't!
No! No, no.
Huh? Here.
-Want to get fucked?
-Do it.
ls that what you want?
Come on.
-ls that what you want?
-Uh-huh.
[BOTH MOANlNG]
You just stay hard.
Oh, God.
[FABRlC TEARS]
Unh, heh.
You bad boy.
Come on, baby.
-Unh. Ooh.
-Yeah. Uh-huh.
-Yeah.
-Unh.
-Oh, yeah.
-Uh-huh. Uh huh.
Come on. You gonna fuck me?
[GRUNTlNG]
Put it in.
God, look at us.
-l want you inside me. Come on.
-No, no, no.
-l can't do this.
-Put it in.
-l'm not gonna do this.
-Now!
-l'm not gonna do this! No!
-Now!
You can't just stop!
-Come on.
-No! Goddamn!
[GRUNTlNG]
[PANTlNG]
You stick your dick in my mouth
then you get an attack of morality?
This never happened.
You never used to be this way.
l have a family now.
A family made you stupid.
You take those two champagne bottles
in your refrigerator...
...and you go fuck them.
You son of a bitch.
You get back here
and finish what you started.
You hear me? Do you hear me?
Get back and finish what you started
or you are dead!
Hear me? You are fucking dead!
Shit, it's dead.
SUSAN: You are hereby notified
that we will hold your client liable--
-Hi, honey.
-l didn't hear you come in.
l'm gonna take a shower.
-No kiss?
-l just feel kind of shitty, you know.
Screw them.
-They don't deserve you.
-Can you get me a beer?
Thanks. Before l forget,
could you do me a favor?
The, uh, battery went dead in my cellular.
Sure. l thought they
were supposed to last all day?
That's what l thought.
-Who's Meredith Johnson?
-What?
Meredith Johnson.
She called just before you got home.
Meredith called?
Yeah, about 1 0 minutes ago.
She said the 8 a.m. had been pushed
back to 8:30.
-Who is she?
-She's the one, the, uh-- The new VP.
She's the one?
Yep. She came from the Valley.
-How old is she?
-l don't know, um, 33, maybe.
That's young for that job.
-Had you ever heard of her?
-She's a face guy.
She made the merger happen. Now
she's Garvin's fair-haired, uh, whatever.
Where did she come from?
Has she any technical background?
No. That's the thing with the merger.
Everything's changed.
That's not the worst thing in the world.
She'll crash and burn.
Then maybe they'll appreciate you.
Things aren't easy out there.
So quit...
...rather than let them treat you this way.
We might lose everything,
including the stock options.
l don't care about the stock options.
-l'll go back to work full-time.
-l'm capable of supporting our family.
Just trying to help.
You're too nice sometimes.
l don't need you to fight my battles
for me, thank you very much.
[PEOPLE SPEAKlNG lNDlSTlNCTLY
ON TV]
WOMAN: Right now some lucky girl
in the building will come after me.
l deserve that, but ask yourself...
...why does a man run around with
another girl? He's unhappy at home.
Because he's lonely.
But that was before you, Fran.
l've stopped running.
Why are you wearing a T-shirt?
You never wear a T-shirt to bed.
l don't know. Just a little cold.
Tom, what are you gonna do?
Grin and bear it, like l usually do.
Hope it doesn't get any worse.
-Morning.
-Good morning, Bob.
-That's a nice suit.
-Thank you.
-Nice fabric. Can l feel it?
-Sure.
-What is that, a tropical wool?
-With a little bit of viscose.
That's what makes the pants
drape so well.
You work out, Tom?
When l get a chance, Bob.
lt's been busy lately. But, uh....
l've always liked you, Tom.
-Bob....
-Now you have the power.
-You have something l want.
-Come on, Bob.
[YELLlNG]
CHERRY: The computer takes
the information from the database...
...and constructs an environment
which is projected in the headset.
When the user walks on the pad,
he or she...
...feels like they're walking through a
corridor with drawers of files on all sides.
The user can stop at any time,
open any file...
...and thumb through the data. The laser
scanners are for body representation.
-That's amazing. Ha, ha.
CHERRY: lt's cool, isn't it?
Where is everyone?
They left 1 5 minutes ago.
Don Cherry's demo-ing the Corridor.
The meeting was pushed to 8:30.
No, 7:30. lt got pushed up.
-Nobody told you?
-No.
CHERRY: lf someone wants to log on with
a regular computer, what they'll see...
...is a model of themselves with a photo
that's pulled up from the data file.
JOHN:
Oh, hey, l know you.
The photo bears some
resemblance to me, l admit.
A little inside joke here at the company.
We've also constructed virtual help.
Users always need on-line help.
We've created an angel to help you.
Welcome to the Corridor.
[GASPS]
The same face. Ha-ha-ha.
Angel, how do l open this drawer?
FURlLLO:
What's the angel saying?
CHERRY:
That's between him and his angel.
We don't see the Corridor
as a product in the marketplace now.
This is something that we worked
up to demonstrate the potential...
...of virtual reality technology.
This looks good. Ha-ha-ha.
Hold on. What's that?
l believe it's your financial records. Ha, ha.
-Turn that damn thing off.
-Ha, ha. Sorry.
ln the final system there will be
safeguards that will control access.
Tom.
So glad you could join us.
That was a sweet entrance, my friend.
Ferry hit an iceberg? You were supposed to
call me after your meeting with Meredith.
l called you from her office.
Left a message.
There was nothing on my machine.
Then you're late again.
Thank God Meredith
took over the discussion.
Hey, pal, l left a message
on your machine, all right?
Check it out.
Did you get my message?
You told Susan the meeting
had been moved to 8:30.
l said 7:30. lf your wife can't take
a fucking message, get a machine.
Meredith.
-There you go, Mr. Sanders.
-Thank you.
You're welcome.
-Full house today, huh?
-Yeah.
Meredith has been getting us
up to speed on the Arcamax.
Now that you're here,
we'd like your read on it.
Meredith told us, uh,
there's real problems.
You might have to go back
to the drawing board.
l'm sorry if l conveyed that
impression to Meredith.
l am convinced
we can manufacture them.
How many of the drives
off the line meet specs?
l don't have that information with me.
JOHN: Meredith told us
the line is running at 29 percent.
ls that approximately right?
-Yes.
JOHN: The seek times are off-specs.
There's a power flicker in the screen?
-Right?
-That's right.
JOHN: With this merger coming up, don't
you think you should have told someone?
The merger isn't about a CD-ROM
that might be obsolete in a year.
lt's about people.
FURlLLO: lt'll be obsolete in a year?
JOHN: The promise of the Arcamax...
...was a central factor in this merger.
l may be at fault. Tom said the
problem with the drives was serious.
-Not so serious.
-l didn't wanna cover anything up.
-l'm not covering anything up.
JOHN: Give us worst-case.
We go back to the drawing boards
and we're down for nine months.
Nine months? Meredith said six weeks.
Look, nobody likes to go back to
the board, but it can be an advantage.
ls there a problem?
This isn't an inquisition, Bob.
l feel like l'm pulling teeth.
John just wants to get a handle on
what the problems are with the lines.
-l don't know is the honest answer.
JOHN: Wait a minute.
You are the head of Manufacturing.
You are in charge of Arcamax.
There are problems with it...
...that could take nine months to fix,
which l assume means a year.
And the bottom line is...
...you don't know?
Goddamn it.
Goddamn it!
Jesus Christ!
-Tom.
-Just the man l wanted to see.
Phil, this is not
gonna work out with Meredith.
-Evidently not.
-She set me up.
-She set me up.
-l saw. Sit down.
-Why? What'd l do?
-Please, would you just sit?
Meredith told me
about your meeting last night.
What?
What'd she tell you?
She wants to handle the intervention
internally, which is best.
-She still cares about you.
-Wait a minute.
What'd she say?
Not to put too fine a point on it,
she said you sexually harassed her.
l sexually harassed her?
-What would you call it?
-Phil, she jumped me in her office.
She jumped you? You're in denial.
That's typical.
She almost raped me.
You need help.
You have to accept responsibility for--
What do you call this?
What about that?
Looks like she was
forced to defend herself.
Defend herself? The woman can
kick the shit out of both of us!
-lt may have seemed different to you.
-l didn't harass her.
She harassed me.
l've never even heard of a woman
harassing a man.
What are you doing here?
-l'm here as your friend.
-My ass, you're my friend.
When Garvin finds out about this, he's
gonna wanna throw you out on your ass.
l'm saying let's keep this quiet.
That's what Meredith wants too.
Resolve this quickly and quietly.
Want your wife to find out?
We're gonna have to tell her
at some point.
They'll get the whole thing,
and it'll be on the front page of the paper!
l'm offering you a chance
to make a new life.
Keep your family out of this mess.
Keep your job.
Obviously, some kind of lateral move.
Lateral? When you say lateral,
you mean out of the division.
You can't stay here.
She's scared out of her wits.
l'm not leaving this division.
l've spent 1 0 years here. l built this place.
-Now, we got a spin-off going on--
-We're thinking, you know, Austin.
Austin?
BLACKBURN: l told him what she said.
He claimed it was the other way around.
He said she harassed him.
What? He denies it?
You know how it is.
The man always denies it.
ls he crazy?
l offered him a lateral move to Austin.
To Austin. That's like a duck making
a lateral move to "á l'orange."
Phil, he's too smart for that.
Let's hope he's smart enough
to see he has no options.
Take care of this.
This is a goddamn bomb we're sitting on
that can blow everything sky-high.
Meredith is key to the merger.
l can't have her involved in a sex scandal.
And l won't say goodbye to $1 00 million.
You got that?
Yeah, l-- l get the picture, Bob.
Tenth floor.
Down the hall and make a right.
GEER: There were no witnesses?
-No.
Her assistant left earlier in the evening.
A cleaning lady was outside the office.
l don't know how much she heard.
-Did you report that to anyone?
-ln the morning, yeah.
What was the company's response?
They believed her.
They suggested l transfer to Austin.
l heard they were selling Austin.
The point is, if l go to Austin,
l lose everything, all right?
My stock options,
everything that l worked for.
-Did you call anyone after the incident?
-No.
-Did you tell your wife?
-No.
-Oh, boy.
-Why not?
l didn't wanna upset her. l felt guilty putting
myself in the position in the first place.
How would you characterize
Miss Johnson physically?
She's very pretty.
She was Miss Teenage New Mexico.
So you were kissing.
Yes. And then she began to rub me.
Rub you where?
You know....
Your penis?
Yes.
And?
l don't feel comfortable talking about it.
-Because l'm a woman?
-Because you act like it's a game.
-Mr. Sanders, why are you here?
-l want to know what my options are.
What your options are?
l wanna know whether l can sue her
for sexual harassment.
To do that, you have to convince a jury...
...you were alone with Miss Teenage
New Mexico and you said no.
Sexual harassment is not about sex.
lt is about power.
She has it, you don't.
lf you sue, you'll never
get another job in computers.
lf you don't, they'll bury you in Austin.
Sue, and it's news. Don't, it's gossip.
lf you sue, no one will believe you.
lf you don't, your wife won't.
They will make your life hell for the next
three years until this case goes to trial.
And for that privilege, it's gonna
cost you a minimum of $1 00,000.
Do you not think it's a game, Mr. Sanders?
lt's a game to them.
How do you feel about losing?
BLACKBURN:
That's what Meredith wants.
To resolve it, quickly and quietly.
They said she's not
gonna press charges. Why?
She's accused me. Why stop there?
Why not press charges?
Meredith didn't press charges...
...because she couldn't.
DigiCom is planning a merger
with Conley-White.
lt is supposed to happen this Friday.
They think that we are as conservative
as they are.
With a scandal, Conley going to bed with
Katie Couric, waking up with Jessica Hahn.
Garvin is out $1 00 million.
l think we might make a plaintiff
out of this guy yet.
No, a potential plaintiff.
l don't have to sue. l just threaten to sue.
That's a very dangerous game.
Are you willing to play it?
-Fuck them.
-Now you're talking my language.
For the next three days...
...this loose cannon is in a position
to put a lot of pressure on this company.
And they on you, Mr. Sanders.
They on you.
Call security.
Throw him out on the sidewalk.
Bob, we have to appear to be impartial.
Keep him in his job,
keep paying him, no hassles.
l made Tom Sanders.
Who the hell is he to sue me?
Sexual harassment, under Title Seven.
He'll file with the Human Rights
Commission if we don't fire Meredith.
lf he files, it becomes public.
lt'd blow the deal.
We realize that. So does he.
He's blackmailing us.
This is America, goddamn it.
The legal system is supposed
to protect people like me.
lt gets worse.
His lawyer is Catherine Alvarez.
Great. She'd change her name to
"TV Listings" just to get it in the paper.
l'm trying to get them to mediate.
Keep it quiet.
Mediate?
l want you to cut his balls off.
Did he say mediate
or split the difference?
l'm just hoping he'll agree.
Alvarez will tell him not to.
He'll agree.
He doesn't want this out in the open.
We pushed him too hard.
He has nothing to lose.
Really? He hasn't told his wife yet.
How do you know?
l know Sanders, remember?
He likes his secrets.
Excuse me.
-l'll be in diagnostics.
-Where were you?
They're pulling the drives apart.
-John Levin called.
-Levin with Sematach?
-He said it was important.
-Why didn't they come this morning?
Susan called to remind you
you had the benefit tonight.
-Call Susan and--
-She said don't think about canceling.
-The Lewyns paid a lot for the tickets.
-l'll be there at 7:30.
-Ask her to bring me a shirt and jacket.
-Sure. Tom.
-Yeah.
-ls everything all right?
Everything is fine, thank you for asking.
l'm gonna kill Arthur.
We gotta solve this before Friday,
and you get the drives an hour ago?
LEWYN:
What is Arthur doing over there?
All he does anymore is pass
macadamia nuts to people.
ls he a manager or a flight attendant,
for chrissake?
-He's sending you nuts?
-What's slowing it down?
Over here.
Let me show you something.
Arthur was right.
There's a compatibility problem
with the controller chip.
ls it a bug?
Don Cherry debugged Arcamax.
There are no bugs.
-Fabrication problem?
-lt could--
-What are you doing?
-Huh?
This is a sophisticated piece
of electronics, not a pickup truck.
Don, how bad is it? We have 4,000
of these. l gotta junk all of them?
l told Arthur to send me 1 0 units in
heat-sealed plastic bags. lt's a hunch l have.
Do what you can.
l don't understand it.
ln prototypes, we got no problems.
We go to manufacturing, it falls apart.
Mr. Garvin wants to see you.
He said not to tell anyone.
Catherine Alvarez on 2.
Thanks. Could you close the door?
Hello.
Hi. How are you?
They wanna mediate. We should agree.
l don't want this getting out either.
Mm-hm.
Yeah.
lf we get this all over in a week,
my wife doesn't have to know.
No, l do not wanna tell my wife.
l don't wanna upset her if l don't have to.
Yeah.
Wait a second.
Guess what.
They locked me out of my computer
and cleaned out my files.
l guess it's starting.
Mark, come in.
Sure l'm not interrupting?
No, not at all, sir.
Going down?
Aw, don't tell me you're scared of me.
l didn't want it to be this way.
Oh, yeah, we could be fucking
in the elevator right now.
-l think of you as a friend.
-Oh, come off it!
You called Blackburn--
To beat you to the punch.
l knew you'd play that card.
l wasn't playing a card.
You were the one that was supposed--
[ALARM BUZZlNG]
Uh-oh. Alarm. Alarm. Alarm.
This isn't a game.
Come on. You'd have a great job,
the spin-off would make you a millionaire.
We'd have a little fun.
lt's not like breaking rocks.
You don't get it.
Poor Sanders. You have no idea
what you're up against.
As usual.
By this time tomorrow
you'll wish you took that Austin job.
We'll see.
SUSAN: l'm trying to figure out whether
to get a fat Barbie for Eliza.
ADELE:
Mattel makes a fat Barbie?
SUSAN: Yeah. They call her
the "Happy to Be Me Barbie."
ADELE: Does she come with the
"Happy to Be Divorced Ken"?
SUSAN:
Heh. l'm serious.
Which is more stigmatizing?
Yeah, Barbie's stigmatized.
lt's that whole male,
36-24-36 image of beauty.
Women are oppressed.
lt's just a fact.
Women are oppressed? Ah.
Eighty percent of suicides are committed by
men. They're dropping from heart attacks.
-You're not as tough.
-Sorry. We're just fighting the wars.
You start the wars.
l'm sorry.
l don't have my own crisis hotline.
-You're taking this Meredith thing well.
-That doesn't have anything to do with it.
What was today's rumor?
She was once a man?
-Just tell her.
-Tell her what?
Tell her there's a lot of us
who have worked as hard as you...
...and you're blowing this merger
for all of us because you fucked up.
What happened?
-Who got to you?
-lt's not that simple, Tom.
The thought of losing millions happens
to get stuck right here in my throat.
This was my big shot, asshole.
lt's not like l'm being scouted by the NBA.
Mark, what happened?
Who knows? The old girlfriend,
the bottle of wine, the late meeting...
-...fill in the blanks.
-Thanks, pal. Thanks.
You're like these women...
...who think they're going back
to the hotel room, drunk, to watch HBO.
Could you possibly be more lame?
For your information, Mark,
Tom told me everything.
Everything that happened.
And l support him 1 00 percent.
-That is so sweet, but l don't think--
-l don't think we should talk about it.
Can we just enjoy the evening?
TOM: Susan--
-Obviously, something happened.
-Did you have sex with her?
-No!
-Think first. Because if you're lying--
-No, l said, no.
She kissed me, and she unzipped
my pants, and....
-And?
-And that was it. Nothing happened.
Nothing happened?
How did it get that far?
-You think l encouraged her?
-Her hand was in your pants?
-Yeah, but nothing happened.
-How did that happen?
Then she accuses me
of sexual harassment--
-She harassed you?
-You don't believe me?
-Mark doesn't believe you.
-Mark.
He's got, uh, stock options on the brain.
He's got fits of back-stabbing.
Everybody's sure you're having
an affair with Cindy.
-l'm not having an affair.
-How could you let this happen?
-Nothing happened.
-Something happened.
She's an old girlfriend of yours.
Like l'm surprised. That's as
exclusive a club as the white pages.
-l was gonna tell you.
-l can't believe everyone knows but me.
-Nobody knows it.
-You're so naive. Of course they know.
l'm old-fashioned.
l greet my subordinates with a handshake.
-l'll take care of it.
-Jesus.
What does she look like?
She's attractive.
One to ten.
Eight.
Nine.
What does the company say?
They want me to transfer to Austin,
do some therapy.
Austin? l'm not moving there.
-We're not moving to Austin.
-Texas?
TOM: Susan, l'm pressing charges.
SUSAN: For what?
Sexual harassment.
We have a mediation tomorrow.
When were you gonna tell me?
That's brilliant.
Show up without your wife, who's a lawyer.
l'll take care of it.
They'll try to destroy you.
-lt won't go that far.
-lt'll take over our life.
Depositions and whispering and legal fees
for some damn personal vindication.
And all anyone remembers is that
you were involved in something sleazy.
-Do you have a lawyer?
-Catherine Alvarez.
Great. When are we on Hard Copy?
But if it had happened to you--
You know how many times
it's happened to me?
-You never said this ever happened--
-You're so narcissistic.
Nothing ever happens
until it happens to you.
-You should've said something.
-l do what women always do.
l deal with it. l do not make a federal case.
Now go in there tomorrow and work it out.
Right. l should shut up and fuck her.
What the hell?
Apologize and get your job back.
-Apologize?
WOMAN: Shh, shh!
The children are sleeping.
Wait, l got a better idea.
Why don't l just admit it?
l'll be the evil white male
you're all complaining about.
-Then l can fuck everybody.
-Tom, stop it.
Chau-Minh, come on down,
l wanna exercise my dominance!
-You're scaring her.
-l have an urge!
-The children!
-My children that l provide for and protect!
They can come between me and my wife,
move us, take my job...
...and take the house we have made!
And l apologize to them, Susan?
They call me a rapist and l apologize?
Come on. This is a joke.
Sexual harassment is about power.
When did l have the power?
When?
MURPHY:
Good morning, l'm Judge Murphy.
This is a mediation, not a court of law.
Our proceedings will remain confidential.
Maintain a civil and courteous tone.
Our goal is to determine the nature
of the dispute...
...and how best to resolve it.
The parties have agreed that
Mr. Sanders will speak first...
...and be cross-examined by Mr. Heller.
Ms. Johnson will speak next,
and be cross-examined by Ms. Alvarez.
Any questions?
Good. Let's get started.
TOM: l had my cellular phone with me,
so when she called Garvin...
...l called Mark Lewyn to give him
the upshot of our meeting.
Then she approached you?
Correct. She took the phone
from me and she kissed me.
Where?
TOM:
She kissed me in my ear...
...on my neck...
...on my mouth.
She put her tongue in my mouth.
ALVAREZ:
When you asked her to stop, did she?
TOM:
No, no.
She, uh, unzipped my pants...
...and she massaged my penis.
ALVAREZ: Were you aroused?
TOM: Yes.
Then she slid down...
...and she...
...put my penis in her mouth.
ALVAREZ:
Did you climax?
TOM: l grabbed her by the wrists.
l threw her on the ground.
Then l wanted to get out of there.
At that point, what did Ms. Johnson do?
She threatened me.
She said, "You're dead."
And then, the next day,
Mr. Blackburn here told me that...
...she said that l had
sexually harassed her.
Mr. Heller?
HELLER: Sanders, would you like a break?
-No, l'm fine. Thank you.
HELLER: You say the bottle of wine
was Ms. Johnson's idea?
Yes.
But, uh, when you were living
with Ms. Johnson...
...didn't you discover wines together
on trips to the Napa Valley?
-Yes.
-Romantic trips?
Yes.
But you weren't expecting
anything romantic in her office?
No.
Did you have a conversation
after lunch about how...
...seeing Meredith gave you a...
...boner?
That wasn't me.
That was someone else.
-lsn't the term "boner" a slang for erection?
-Yes.
HELLER:
You had a conversation about...
...having an erection? A boner?
Yes, but l didn't say it.
But you laughed.
-Yes.
-So you condone it.
lt was harmless.
lf it's harmless...
...why are we sitting here today?
Well, it was just, um...
...what guys talk about.
About their boss?
No, not generally.
HELLER: Yet you expect us to believe that
after having a sexual conversation...
...that you didn't have sex on your mind?
That's correct.
HELLER: How would you characterize your
relationship with Ms. Johnson...
...in the good old days?
Highly sexual?
l wouldn't know how to rate it.
Every day?
Sometimes twice a day.
Sex in public places.
Sodomy. Viewing of pornography.
Vibrators and other mechanical devices.
Sometimes we sat on the couch
and watched television.
But when you became reacquainted,
you no longer saw her as a sexual object?
-She was just your boss now?
-That's correct.
And do you admit having an erection
during the course of your meeting?
She had her top open.
lt was an involuntary reflex.
Reflex?
Do you think Ms. Johnson's
gynecologist gets an erection...
...when he examines her breast?
l think that's completely different.
Do you admit putting
your erect penis in her mouth?
-She did it.
-Oh, l forgot.
You resisted.
Mr. Sanders, uh, during your
rather fantastic testimony...
...there was one moment that rang true.
You said, and l quote:
"l was angry.
l felt l was being pushed around."
-Correct?
-Correct.
The truth is, you felt that way all day.
You'd been expecting a promotion,
and she got it. You got angry about it.
l felt l deserved the job.
You took that anger up to her office.
You were gonna show her who's boss.
That's not true.
Mr. Sanders, did you tell your wife about
your 7:00 meeting with Ms. Johnson?
l told her l had a meeting
and l'd be home late.
You expected to be late?
No, but if l got home earlier,
my wife would be surprised, pleasantly.
So you make it a rule to lie to your wife?
l didn't lie.
When you called your wife,
did you tell her that...
...Ms. Johnson was a
former lover of yours?
No.
When you got home,
did you tell her what happened?
No, l was hoping it would go away.
You hoped you'd get away with it?
MURPHY:
Mr. Heller.
Do not debunk the illusion that this
dispute might be settled amicably.
That's okay. l have no further questions.
MEREDlTH: l asked to see family pictures.
l thought if we put it on that basis...
...it would be clear
things had changed between us.
Mr. Sanders,
do you have those pictures now?
l'd like to Xerox them for the file.
HELLER:
You can continue.
He remarked his wife hadn't lost
all the weight gained from having children.
l said his children were beautiful...
...he said they made him feel old...
...and seeing me reminded him
of what it was like to be young...
...and that marriage
was a tough trade-off.
Go on.
My assistant, Mrs. Ross, came in
and asked if she could go home.
l wanted her to stay, but l felt guilty.
l'd been keeping her late for weeks
preparing for my new job.
And, uh, where was Mr. Sanders
at that point?
He began to rub my shoulders.
And you let him?
Well, it was awkward...
...but l thought we'd finish our discussion
and leave it at that.
ls that when he tried to kiss you?
No, l got a call from Mr. Garvin
and then l came back to Tom...
...and told him that was it,
and then he began to kiss me.
Did you try to stop him?
Yes. l struggled with him
and told him to stop. But he didn't.
Did he attack you physically?
Yes.
He grabbed me by my hair...
...and, uh, forced me down on my knees.
And, uh....
He put his...
...penis in your mouth?
This is making me very uncomfortable.
Would you like some water?
Here.
Thank you.
He put his, uh, penis in my mouth...
...and said that he was going to, uh....
To "fuck you"? Were those his words?
"Do you wanna get fucked?
ls that what you want?"
And then he reached down
and tore off my panties.
HELLER:
What did you do then?
He threw me down on the scaffold
and l kneed him in the groin.
HELLER:
And that was the end of it?
lt's strange. l'd think my instinct
would be to run, but l became angry.
l yelled at him. Called him names.
Told him l'd kill him.
Just yelling.
HELLER:
How did he react?
He seemed to realize what he'd done.
He pulled up his pants and ran out.
Did you call anyone afterwards?
No. l didn't know what to do.
l kept going over the day
in my mind, trying to figure out...
...if somehow this thing was my fault.
-You reported it the next morning?
-Yes.
But you didn't bring formal charges.
Why not?
l talked to Phil Blackburn.
l knew he was a friend of Tom's.
l didn't wanna destroy...
...Tom's marriage or his career,
but it's clear we couldn't work together.
l would be too frightened.
l'm frightened just sitting here.
l have nothing further.
MURPHY:
Ms. Alvarez.
ALVAREZ: Ms. Johnson,
l just wanna be clear on one thing.
Mr. Sanders suggested
the bottle of wine?
-That's right.
ALVAREZ: But you bought it.
l sent my assistant Mrs. Ross
out to buy a bottle.
-That afternoon?
-Yes.
Did you tell her what kind?
l said to get a nice Chardonnay.
l remembered that Tom liked white wine.
From those trips to Napa that he was
an amateur wine connoisseur.
-He'd be impressed by a nice bottle?
-Yes.
-Do you remember the wine?
-No.
The '91 Pahlmeyer?
Yes. That's right.
Do you know where your
assistant got that wine?
l assume she got it from
the liquor store down the street.
Would it surprise you to know...
...that there isn't a liquor store
in Seattle that carries that bottle?
Mrs. Ross is very resourceful.
Very resourceful?
A bottle of wine you can't find
within 500 miles of Seattle.
l have no idea where she
got the bottle of wine.
lsn't it true, Ms. Johnson, that you told
Mrs. Ross three weeks ago...
...that you wanted
a bottle of '91 Pahlmeyer...
...for your meeting with Mr. Sanders?
-That's not true.
-And when she couldn't find it, you said....
Oh, oh, what was that?
lt had such managerial brio.
Oh, here it is. Um....
"lf you don't find the wine...
...find a replacement."
MURPHY:
Do you have testimony from Mrs. Ross?
ALVAREZ:
Yes, l do.
MURPHY:
Ms. Johnson?
The fact is Mrs. Ross
has personal problems.
She has a drinking problem.
She tends to make up stories
to make herself seem more important.
l told Mrs. Ross to go buy a bottle
of wine after Tom and l spoke...
...at the luncheon.
For all l know,
she had that bottle at home.
Maybe in her wine cellar.
Ms. Alvarez, any more questions?
Mm, no, not for now.
l think this is a good time for a break.
l just got some information on Meredith.
You won't believe it, or maybe you will.
[lNAUDlBLE DlALOGUE]
GEER: Alan gave me a list,
we can't verify any of this.
-You told me you didn't have sex.
-l didn't.
-What about--?
-l didn't have sex with her.
What is it, Tom?
She's trying to quit smoking?
-l'm telling the truth.
-How could you do this?
She did it. That's the point.
You saw this woman alone.
You had wine, a back rub, you kissed.
And then this non-sex sex thing.
You took off her panties.
Those are facts.
So what? So what?
-Those don't happen unless the man wants--
-l was cornered.
-You let it happen!
-l did not let it happen!
How could you? How could you
let that woman into our lives?
-l did not!
-Get this.
Ten of her subordinates have transferred
in the last five years. All men.
-How's that for a red flag?
-Can we get hold of them?
Yeah, but nobody's gonna talk
and we can't subpoena them...
-...because this is just a mediation.
-Aw, damn it.
-Do you wanna have lunch?
-l gotta go back to the office.
ALVAREZ: How about you, Mrs. Sanders?
Are you hungry?
Yeah.
-How are you holding up?
-Are you married?
Chandler, Hogue and Alvarez.
-l married Chandler.
-You married your boss?
Classic case of sexual harassment. He
asked me out five times before l said yes.
Today, if l had said no once,
he would have been afraid to ask again.
-Tom tells me you're a lawyer.
-Ten years.
-Wanna switch hats, tell me what you think?
-l don't look good in hats.
You're afraid she's telling the truth.
Yes.
What he did, he did out of weakness.
Hardly makes it better, does it?
l can't get in the middle
of your relationship with Tom...
...but the fact is she broke the law,
and that makes the difference.
Ms. Alvarez, 48 hours ago, my husband's
penis was in another woman's mouth.
There's nothing in the law
that's gonna help me deal with that.
TOM: How long you had these?
CHERRY: Came in an hour ago.
Garvin had me send the Corridor to the Four
Seasons for the Conley people to play with.
lt's in the hotel?
Yeah. The Conley people
had such fun with it yesterday....
Getting anywhere with the drives?
l'm counting on you.
-l have a hunch.
-What is it?
-l don't know.
-What is it?
l don't know.
She got to you, didn't she?
What do you expect? They're stronger,
they're smarter and they don't fight fair.
lt's the next step in human evolution.
Like the Amazons.
Keep some of us for sperm
and kill the rest.
What do you have?
lf l know something for a fact,
l won't withhold it.
But l can't go out on a limb,
it's too intense around here.