Newhart (1982–1990): Season 1, Episode 3 - Hail to the Councilman - full transcript
Dick is persuaded to run for the town council.
Hello.
Hello?
Hello?
Hello.
(SIGHS)
George Utley, how nice to see you.
How do, Miss Wanamaker?
You're looking lovely, as usual.
Oh, George,
you probably say that to everyone.
Just about.
Looks like you're out
with the welcome basket.
That's right.
I understand we have new neighbors.
Really? Who?
- Mr. and Mrs. Loudon.
- Oh, the people I work for.
You know, they bought this place.
I know. ll came over to meet them.
- Is that for them?
- When I finally meet them.
Are Mr. and Mrs. Loudon here?
Yeah, well, Mr. Loudon's gone into town,
but Mrs. Loudon is upstairs. I'll go get her.
Oh, George, before you do, could you
tell me a little more about them?
Let's see. I know they're from New York,
they have no children,
Mr. Loudon is a writer
of informational books
and they moved up here to Vermont
to restore the inn.
But what else can you tell me about them?
I couldn't have told you that much.
Well, what about Mrs. Loudon, is she nice?
Very, yeah, and pretty and cheerful.
I think that's what I like best about her.
She's pretty and cheerful.
You'd think you could get the stupid
bucket to stay on the stupid ladder.
- Jeez.
- That's her.
Oh.
Hi.
I'm Mrs. Wanamaker,
your welcome basket lady.
Oh, dear. I'm Joanna Loudon.
Please forgive the wavy ll look,
but we've got guests checking in,
and I've been painting the room.
- Do you need any help?
- You mean painting?
Why, yes. I could run
right home and get a brush.
Well, no, but thank you for the offer.
Boy, when you say welcome in Vermont,
you really mean it.
This is from the chamber of commerce.
Oh, isn't that beautiful?
Thank you. George...
You want me to open that for you?
No, I was wondering
if you could go upstairs and fix the ladder.
- Oh, okay. I can open the basket later.
- That's okay. I'll open it.
Well, it's your basket.
This is so nice. Won't you sit down?
You know, we are really enjoying it here.
My husband, particularly,
is thriving on the change.
I wish this town would figure out
this is the 20th century.
Honey. Honey.
Do you know I almost ran into another car
right at the intersection
because they didn't put a stupid stop sign
at the stupid intersection?
Oh, hi.
Dick, this is Mrs. Wanamaker
from the welcome basket.
She just brought us
this nice basket of fruit,
and ll was just telling her how much you
and ll are enjoying ourselves in Yermont.
Right. Right. Except for
that stupid intersection, we just love it.
I think you're right about that stop sign.
I'd be glad to help you put one up.
Are you with the traffic commission?
Oh, no. ll meant if you got one,
I could hold it while you hammered it
into the ground.
- That's very generous of you.
- Yes.
You know who could really help
with that stop sign, is my husband.
He's on the town council.
He'd know who to talk to about this.
Great.
I'll have him call you. It'll take me
about 10 minutes to run home.
I'll call him the minute I get in the door.
He can take an early lunch
and call you in 15 minutes.
It really doesn't have to be that fast.
Give her credit. She certainly throws
her heart into her work.
I'm surprised she didn't bring a red carpet.
Yeah.
If you can unroll this yourselves,
I can have him call you in 12 minutes.
Hi, Leslie.
Hi, Kirk.
- I see Dick's got you cleaning up after him.
- It's my job, Kirk. I'm the maid.
Right. Where's Dick?
Outside talking to some men
about a stop sign for the corner.
He almost had an accident this morning.
I wonder how many times I've begged
them to put a stop sign out there.
Well, Dick's talking
to the road commissioner.
Maybe you should go out and join them.
And just imagine what
the road commissioner would think
if he saw me coming.
The man who's been hounding him?
Mr. Safety Fanatic?
Kirk, you really haven't been hounding
the road commissioner, have you?
No.
Hey, you don't have to lie
to make me like you.
God, you're good for me.
- Hi, Leslie.
- Your study's all dusted.
- Good.
- Hi, Dick.
- Hi, Kirk.
- Hi, men.
I got to get back to my café
before I'm swamped by hungry townsfolk.
I just dropped by because I heard
you had an accident this morning
and I wanted to make sure
you were all right.
It wasn't an accident, and I'm fine.
Well, my heart has stopped pounding.
You're a good neighbor, Kirk.
Good neighbor working on
being a great one.
Bye, men.
- I'm sorry, you know Kirk?
- Yeah, we do.
Good, then I don't have to explain.
Mr. Loudon, I appreciate your calling
that intersection to our attention.
Well, I appreciate your coming over
so quickly.
And, Mr. Wanamaker, I appreciate
your taking off the whole day from work.
You and your wife
have really been wonderful.
I've never seen such dedication
to a welcome basket in my entire life.
As Road Commissioner,
I'm prepared to recommend a stop sign
for that corner to the town council.
Well, if you let me know when that is,
I'd like to be there.
That shows civic conscience, Dick.
I guess what impressed us is that
you not only recognized
that a problem existed,
you offered a solution.
That shows vision, Dick.
We could use a man like you
on the town council.
Really?
We'd like you to consider
becoming a councilman.
You don't think I should wait
until I've lived in town a little longer?
Say, a whole month?
Well, even though you're new,
you're already a respected businessman
in this community.
You own the Stratford Inn.
There's a certain inherent responsibility
that goes with that kind of prominence.
I've never really thought of it that way.
Actually, I have,
but I didn't realize anyone else had.
Will you consider it, Dick?
Well, you know, it can't hurt to consider it.
Wonderful. Well, we'll see you
at the town meeting next week.
And you really think I could be
on the town council
before I've met any of the people in town?
There's plenty of time for that.
The council's very important, Dick.
It's the heart and soul of this town.
You'll be following in the footsteps
of the great leaders of Vermont.
Well, I guess I would at that.
I mean, you know, it's really an honor
to even be considered in the same breath
with people like...
- Ethan Allen.
- And his Green Mountain Boys.
Thank God.
Hi, honey.
It's just gonna be you and me for dinner.
Leslie is staying at school to study,
and George said he wasn't hungry
after he ate all the fruit and cheese
from the welcome basket.
Fine.
- You want to toss the salad?
- Sure.
You seem preoccupied.
Something on your mind?
Oh, you know, today I was talking
to those two guys about the stop sign.
Oh, are they gonna give you one?
Well, they said they'd bring it up
at the next town meeting.
That's probably the biggest problem
they've had to solve in 20 years.
What's that supposed to mean?
I was making a joke.
I don't think it's funny
to denigrate the town you live in.
For your information,
they asked me to run for the town council.
How can you run for town council?
We just moved here.
What has that got to do with it?
- You don't know anyone.
-1 know people.
You know three people,
George, Leslie and Kirk.
I know the two guys at the hardware store
and there's that lady
at the stationery store
where I buy my typing paper.
I stand corrected. You know six people.
I own the Stratford Inn.
I mean, that makes me
a respected businessman
and a prominent citizen.
I know we've only lived in town
a few weeks,
but apparently in that time
I've built quite a reputation.
You've already decided to run,
haven't you?
Well, I mean, you know,
it's an opportunity to serve the people.
I've always kind of wanted to do that.
You never said anything
about wanting to do that.
I never said anything to you, but,
I mean, in the back of my mind,
I've always, you know,
toyed with the idea of one day, you know,
being President.
What?
- Being President.
- What?
All right,
I know that may sound a little crazy,
but when I was discussing
that stop sign today,
I felt a real sense of purpose.
I mean, that's the great thing
about New England.
Democracy is so close to the people.
Il mean, if ll were on the town council,
I'd be representing my neighbors.
You know, people I know
by their first name.
Like the guys at the hardware store,
Dave and the other guy.
Well, I have to admit,
I like seeing you fired up like this.
It makes you sexy.
Might be exciting,
being married to a politician.
Well, you know,
it is only the town council.
But if ll was a hit on the council...
You mean you'd consider going further?
- Well, I think I'd have to consider it.
- You'd wanna live in Washington?
Well, actually, most of us live
in Maryland and Virginia.
Dick, we just changed our whole lives
so we could run this inn.
Well, I'd still keep a home up here
in the district.
But that means I'd have another house
to furnish all over again in Virginia.
Well, I'd help with it.
Honey, how can you help?
You'll be busy with the Senate.
- The Congress.
- The Congress.
Or the Senate.
And then I'd be constantly worried
about your health.
We'll take vacations. We'll come back
to Vermont whenever we want.
- How?
- Air Force One.
Oh, Dick, I don't know.
Honey, you're worrying about nothing.
Even if I serve two terms in the Senate,
it'll be 15 years before I could ever run
for President and...
I mean, I'd probably be too old by then.
Lots of men are President
near their seventies.
That's true.
- You know what?
- What?
I'm going to run for town council.
- Just promise me you'll be careful.
-1 will.
Councilman Loudon.
(WHISTLING HAIL To THE CHIEF)
Good morning, Mr. Councilman.
I'm not a councilman yet.
Well, when are you going to announce
your candidacy?
I wanna start bragging about you.
I guess I should let
everyone around here know.
Well, why don't you assemble the staff?
- What staff?
- George and Leslie.
- George went into town.
- Well, then assemble Leslie.
- Okay. Leslie?
- Yes?
- Dick has something he'd like to announce.
- Oh, okay.
Floor is yours.
Leslie, as you may remember, yesterday,
I was talking to those two men
about a stop sign on the corner.
Did you get one? Congratulations.
Well, that hasn't been decided yet.
Oh, that's not the announcement?
I'm sorry. ll interrupted.
Anyway, the two men,
Mr. Dickson and Mr. Wanamaker,
they, you know, they like my idea
about the stop sign and,
you know, generally, they like the way,
you know, I handle myself.
And...
And they asked him
to run for town council.
Congratulations.
That still isn't the announcement.
- I'm sorry. Did it again.
- That's all right.
Anyway, I decided to run.
That's it.
Congratulations.
Well, thanks, and I know
you're not just saying that.
Are you kidding?
I'm really proud, and I'm gonna help, too.
I can make posters, and I'll ring doorbells.
- Excuse me just a minute.
- Sure.
I'm just tickled pink.
- She seemed really excited.
- Well, I'm excited, too.
Yeah, but you weren't tickled pink.
Dick, I want to make a contribution
to your campaign.
Well, that's really very generous, but,
I mean, your support is more than enough.
I mean, I wouldn't feel right, you know,
taking money from you,
even though it's only $600.
Leslie, you managed to save $600
out of your salary already?
Oh, gosh, no.
This money comes from my foundation.
You have a foundation?
It's just something I've had
since I was a little girl.
What does your foundation do?
We send handicapped kids
to summer camp,
and we find homes for stray dogs,
and we finance the Cousteau expeditions.
You finance Jacques Cousteau?
Well, not all by myself.
He does have other supporters.
- Like who?
- Well, like France.
Leslie, you're a very special young woman.
Oh, heck. Mr. Loudon is the one
running for town council.
Right.
- So, when do we start our campaign?
- Well, I suppose at the next town meeting.
That's right.
I'm gonna have to get something to wear.
Joanna, that's a great thing
about New England town meetings,
they don't pay any attention
to the trappings of power.
I mean, they're interested in democracy,
not clothes.
You're right.
- So, when do you want to go shopping?
- This afternoon.
Did you forget about the meeting?
No, I'm here.
We thought maybe you remembered
at the last minute
and that's why you only wore a sweater.
I thought these meeting were,
you know, more casual.
Do you want my tie?
This meeting will now be called to order.
Is that all the guy's got, is sweaters?
George, we didn't know you'd be here.
I wouldn't miss a meeting
of the town council.
- Hi, Dick.
- Hi, Kirk.
Nice sweater.
The clerk will now read the minutes
of the last town meeting.
At our last town meeting,
the council voted
$500 for new books for the public library,
$6,000 for a new police car
and $1,200 for the repairs
to the town water system.
We also voted to support
nuclear disarmament,
and the Israeli withdrawal from the Sinai.
They fought tooth and nail over that one.
Council will now move into new business.
The clerk will read item one
from the agenda.
Item one is repairs to sidewalk
on Maple Street.
May we have
the treasurer's report please?
Repairs to sidewalk on Maple Street
will cost $850. We can afford it.
All those in favor of repairs
to the sidewalk, raise your hands.
Item one is passed. Item two.
Item two is a new roof for the bridge
over Hanson's Pond.
New roof will cost $400. We can afford it.
All in favor? Two is passed. Three.
Don't they ever discuss
any of these items?
We've been at this since 1780,
we kind of have it down by now.
Three is a street light
in front of the drug store.
-$500. We can afford.
- In favor? Passed. Four.
- Drinking fountain.
-200. Can do.
Passed. End of agenda.
Are there any resolutions from the floor?
That's you.
Chair recognizes Olly Simpson.
The country's gone to hell.
I move we secede.
We voted on that before, and it failed.
Things have changed.
All in favor seceding from the Union?
Motion defeated.
You're making a mistake.
Are there any other resolutions?
Chair recognizes the fellow in the sweater.
I'm Dick Loudon
and ll own the Stratford Inn,
and I'd like to request that a stop sign be
put at the intersection in front of the inn.
Because of the amount of traffic,
I think a stop sign is warranted.
- From my personal observation...
- Excuse me. How much will it cost?
- A hundred bucks.
- We can afford it.
All in favor? Resolution adopted.
Are there any other resolutions?
- Yeah, excuse...
- Did you want something else?
Excuse me.
When we were discussing the stop sign,
which you so generously
and quickly voted,
Mr. Dickson and Mr. Wanamaker,
you know, they mentioned something
about my civic-mindedness, and...
Will you get to the point?
They asked me to run for town council,
and I'd like to announce
that I'm going to run for town council.
This is my wife, Joanna.
Hello.
-1 don't even know when the elections...
- We don't have elections.
Then how...
Anybody mind if the fellow in the sweater
joins the town council?
(PEOPLE MUTTERING
IN AGREEMENT)
You're on.
-(STUTTERING) I am?
- Congratulations, honey.
But I didn't even get to read my speech.
- And now, if there's no further business...
- Wait, wait. Wait a minute.
Oh, for crying out loud, Dick.
Do I come up now
and sit behind the table?
The table is only for officers.
Well, then where do I sit?
Right here, fellow councilman.
You're on the council?
Of course he is.
Everyone in the room is on the council.
Say, how about if Mrs. Loudon
joins the council?
(PEOPLE MUTTERING
IN AGREEMENT)
You're on,
and if there's no more resolutions,
this meeting is adjourned
until one year from tonight.
- Coffee and cake in the lobby.
- Finally.
One year from tonight?
I thought you met every week.
What would we talk about every week?
What happened here?
Well, honey, I guess
being on the town council
isn't as big a deal as we thought it was.
- But at least you got your stop sign.
- Yeah.
Do you want some cake?
No. No, I think I'll just stay here
and savor my victory.
- Congratulations.
- Thanks.
Everyone is really excited about you
joining the council.
I'm sure.
Okay, no one is excited,
but they did ask me to come over here
and welcome you
on behalf of the entire town.
I appreciate that.
And to remind you
next year to wear a suit.
Hello?
Hello?
Hello.
(SIGHS)
George Utley, how nice to see you.
How do, Miss Wanamaker?
You're looking lovely, as usual.
Oh, George,
you probably say that to everyone.
Just about.
Looks like you're out
with the welcome basket.
That's right.
I understand we have new neighbors.
Really? Who?
- Mr. and Mrs. Loudon.
- Oh, the people I work for.
You know, they bought this place.
I know. ll came over to meet them.
- Is that for them?
- When I finally meet them.
Are Mr. and Mrs. Loudon here?
Yeah, well, Mr. Loudon's gone into town,
but Mrs. Loudon is upstairs. I'll go get her.
Oh, George, before you do, could you
tell me a little more about them?
Let's see. I know they're from New York,
they have no children,
Mr. Loudon is a writer
of informational books
and they moved up here to Vermont
to restore the inn.
But what else can you tell me about them?
I couldn't have told you that much.
Well, what about Mrs. Loudon, is she nice?
Very, yeah, and pretty and cheerful.
I think that's what I like best about her.
She's pretty and cheerful.
You'd think you could get the stupid
bucket to stay on the stupid ladder.
- Jeez.
- That's her.
Oh.
Hi.
I'm Mrs. Wanamaker,
your welcome basket lady.
Oh, dear. I'm Joanna Loudon.
Please forgive the wavy ll look,
but we've got guests checking in,
and I've been painting the room.
- Do you need any help?
- You mean painting?
Why, yes. I could run
right home and get a brush.
Well, no, but thank you for the offer.
Boy, when you say welcome in Vermont,
you really mean it.
This is from the chamber of commerce.
Oh, isn't that beautiful?
Thank you. George...
You want me to open that for you?
No, I was wondering
if you could go upstairs and fix the ladder.
- Oh, okay. I can open the basket later.
- That's okay. I'll open it.
Well, it's your basket.
This is so nice. Won't you sit down?
You know, we are really enjoying it here.
My husband, particularly,
is thriving on the change.
I wish this town would figure out
this is the 20th century.
Honey. Honey.
Do you know I almost ran into another car
right at the intersection
because they didn't put a stupid stop sign
at the stupid intersection?
Oh, hi.
Dick, this is Mrs. Wanamaker
from the welcome basket.
She just brought us
this nice basket of fruit,
and ll was just telling her how much you
and ll are enjoying ourselves in Yermont.
Right. Right. Except for
that stupid intersection, we just love it.
I think you're right about that stop sign.
I'd be glad to help you put one up.
Are you with the traffic commission?
Oh, no. ll meant if you got one,
I could hold it while you hammered it
into the ground.
- That's very generous of you.
- Yes.
You know who could really help
with that stop sign, is my husband.
He's on the town council.
He'd know who to talk to about this.
Great.
I'll have him call you. It'll take me
about 10 minutes to run home.
I'll call him the minute I get in the door.
He can take an early lunch
and call you in 15 minutes.
It really doesn't have to be that fast.
Give her credit. She certainly throws
her heart into her work.
I'm surprised she didn't bring a red carpet.
Yeah.
If you can unroll this yourselves,
I can have him call you in 12 minutes.
Hi, Leslie.
Hi, Kirk.
- I see Dick's got you cleaning up after him.
- It's my job, Kirk. I'm the maid.
Right. Where's Dick?
Outside talking to some men
about a stop sign for the corner.
He almost had an accident this morning.
I wonder how many times I've begged
them to put a stop sign out there.
Well, Dick's talking
to the road commissioner.
Maybe you should go out and join them.
And just imagine what
the road commissioner would think
if he saw me coming.
The man who's been hounding him?
Mr. Safety Fanatic?
Kirk, you really haven't been hounding
the road commissioner, have you?
No.
Hey, you don't have to lie
to make me like you.
God, you're good for me.
- Hi, Leslie.
- Your study's all dusted.
- Good.
- Hi, Dick.
- Hi, Kirk.
- Hi, men.
I got to get back to my café
before I'm swamped by hungry townsfolk.
I just dropped by because I heard
you had an accident this morning
and I wanted to make sure
you were all right.
It wasn't an accident, and I'm fine.
Well, my heart has stopped pounding.
You're a good neighbor, Kirk.
Good neighbor working on
being a great one.
Bye, men.
- I'm sorry, you know Kirk?
- Yeah, we do.
Good, then I don't have to explain.
Mr. Loudon, I appreciate your calling
that intersection to our attention.
Well, I appreciate your coming over
so quickly.
And, Mr. Wanamaker, I appreciate
your taking off the whole day from work.
You and your wife
have really been wonderful.
I've never seen such dedication
to a welcome basket in my entire life.
As Road Commissioner,
I'm prepared to recommend a stop sign
for that corner to the town council.
Well, if you let me know when that is,
I'd like to be there.
That shows civic conscience, Dick.
I guess what impressed us is that
you not only recognized
that a problem existed,
you offered a solution.
That shows vision, Dick.
We could use a man like you
on the town council.
Really?
We'd like you to consider
becoming a councilman.
You don't think I should wait
until I've lived in town a little longer?
Say, a whole month?
Well, even though you're new,
you're already a respected businessman
in this community.
You own the Stratford Inn.
There's a certain inherent responsibility
that goes with that kind of prominence.
I've never really thought of it that way.
Actually, I have,
but I didn't realize anyone else had.
Will you consider it, Dick?
Well, you know, it can't hurt to consider it.
Wonderful. Well, we'll see you
at the town meeting next week.
And you really think I could be
on the town council
before I've met any of the people in town?
There's plenty of time for that.
The council's very important, Dick.
It's the heart and soul of this town.
You'll be following in the footsteps
of the great leaders of Vermont.
Well, I guess I would at that.
I mean, you know, it's really an honor
to even be considered in the same breath
with people like...
- Ethan Allen.
- And his Green Mountain Boys.
Thank God.
Hi, honey.
It's just gonna be you and me for dinner.
Leslie is staying at school to study,
and George said he wasn't hungry
after he ate all the fruit and cheese
from the welcome basket.
Fine.
- You want to toss the salad?
- Sure.
You seem preoccupied.
Something on your mind?
Oh, you know, today I was talking
to those two guys about the stop sign.
Oh, are they gonna give you one?
Well, they said they'd bring it up
at the next town meeting.
That's probably the biggest problem
they've had to solve in 20 years.
What's that supposed to mean?
I was making a joke.
I don't think it's funny
to denigrate the town you live in.
For your information,
they asked me to run for the town council.
How can you run for town council?
We just moved here.
What has that got to do with it?
- You don't know anyone.
-1 know people.
You know three people,
George, Leslie and Kirk.
I know the two guys at the hardware store
and there's that lady
at the stationery store
where I buy my typing paper.
I stand corrected. You know six people.
I own the Stratford Inn.
I mean, that makes me
a respected businessman
and a prominent citizen.
I know we've only lived in town
a few weeks,
but apparently in that time
I've built quite a reputation.
You've already decided to run,
haven't you?
Well, I mean, you know,
it's an opportunity to serve the people.
I've always kind of wanted to do that.
You never said anything
about wanting to do that.
I never said anything to you, but,
I mean, in the back of my mind,
I've always, you know,
toyed with the idea of one day, you know,
being President.
What?
- Being President.
- What?
All right,
I know that may sound a little crazy,
but when I was discussing
that stop sign today,
I felt a real sense of purpose.
I mean, that's the great thing
about New England.
Democracy is so close to the people.
Il mean, if ll were on the town council,
I'd be representing my neighbors.
You know, people I know
by their first name.
Like the guys at the hardware store,
Dave and the other guy.
Well, I have to admit,
I like seeing you fired up like this.
It makes you sexy.
Might be exciting,
being married to a politician.
Well, you know,
it is only the town council.
But if ll was a hit on the council...
You mean you'd consider going further?
- Well, I think I'd have to consider it.
- You'd wanna live in Washington?
Well, actually, most of us live
in Maryland and Virginia.
Dick, we just changed our whole lives
so we could run this inn.
Well, I'd still keep a home up here
in the district.
But that means I'd have another house
to furnish all over again in Virginia.
Well, I'd help with it.
Honey, how can you help?
You'll be busy with the Senate.
- The Congress.
- The Congress.
Or the Senate.
And then I'd be constantly worried
about your health.
We'll take vacations. We'll come back
to Vermont whenever we want.
- How?
- Air Force One.
Oh, Dick, I don't know.
Honey, you're worrying about nothing.
Even if I serve two terms in the Senate,
it'll be 15 years before I could ever run
for President and...
I mean, I'd probably be too old by then.
Lots of men are President
near their seventies.
That's true.
- You know what?
- What?
I'm going to run for town council.
- Just promise me you'll be careful.
-1 will.
Councilman Loudon.
(WHISTLING HAIL To THE CHIEF)
Good morning, Mr. Councilman.
I'm not a councilman yet.
Well, when are you going to announce
your candidacy?
I wanna start bragging about you.
I guess I should let
everyone around here know.
Well, why don't you assemble the staff?
- What staff?
- George and Leslie.
- George went into town.
- Well, then assemble Leslie.
- Okay. Leslie?
- Yes?
- Dick has something he'd like to announce.
- Oh, okay.
Floor is yours.
Leslie, as you may remember, yesterday,
I was talking to those two men
about a stop sign on the corner.
Did you get one? Congratulations.
Well, that hasn't been decided yet.
Oh, that's not the announcement?
I'm sorry. ll interrupted.
Anyway, the two men,
Mr. Dickson and Mr. Wanamaker,
they, you know, they like my idea
about the stop sign and,
you know, generally, they like the way,
you know, I handle myself.
And...
And they asked him
to run for town council.
Congratulations.
That still isn't the announcement.
- I'm sorry. Did it again.
- That's all right.
Anyway, I decided to run.
That's it.
Congratulations.
Well, thanks, and I know
you're not just saying that.
Are you kidding?
I'm really proud, and I'm gonna help, too.
I can make posters, and I'll ring doorbells.
- Excuse me just a minute.
- Sure.
I'm just tickled pink.
- She seemed really excited.
- Well, I'm excited, too.
Yeah, but you weren't tickled pink.
Dick, I want to make a contribution
to your campaign.
Well, that's really very generous, but,
I mean, your support is more than enough.
I mean, I wouldn't feel right, you know,
taking money from you,
even though it's only $600.
Leslie, you managed to save $600
out of your salary already?
Oh, gosh, no.
This money comes from my foundation.
You have a foundation?
It's just something I've had
since I was a little girl.
What does your foundation do?
We send handicapped kids
to summer camp,
and we find homes for stray dogs,
and we finance the Cousteau expeditions.
You finance Jacques Cousteau?
Well, not all by myself.
He does have other supporters.
- Like who?
- Well, like France.
Leslie, you're a very special young woman.
Oh, heck. Mr. Loudon is the one
running for town council.
Right.
- So, when do we start our campaign?
- Well, I suppose at the next town meeting.
That's right.
I'm gonna have to get something to wear.
Joanna, that's a great thing
about New England town meetings,
they don't pay any attention
to the trappings of power.
I mean, they're interested in democracy,
not clothes.
You're right.
- So, when do you want to go shopping?
- This afternoon.
Did you forget about the meeting?
No, I'm here.
We thought maybe you remembered
at the last minute
and that's why you only wore a sweater.
I thought these meeting were,
you know, more casual.
Do you want my tie?
This meeting will now be called to order.
Is that all the guy's got, is sweaters?
George, we didn't know you'd be here.
I wouldn't miss a meeting
of the town council.
- Hi, Dick.
- Hi, Kirk.
Nice sweater.
The clerk will now read the minutes
of the last town meeting.
At our last town meeting,
the council voted
$500 for new books for the public library,
$6,000 for a new police car
and $1,200 for the repairs
to the town water system.
We also voted to support
nuclear disarmament,
and the Israeli withdrawal from the Sinai.
They fought tooth and nail over that one.
Council will now move into new business.
The clerk will read item one
from the agenda.
Item one is repairs to sidewalk
on Maple Street.
May we have
the treasurer's report please?
Repairs to sidewalk on Maple Street
will cost $850. We can afford it.
All those in favor of repairs
to the sidewalk, raise your hands.
Item one is passed. Item two.
Item two is a new roof for the bridge
over Hanson's Pond.
New roof will cost $400. We can afford it.
All in favor? Two is passed. Three.
Don't they ever discuss
any of these items?
We've been at this since 1780,
we kind of have it down by now.
Three is a street light
in front of the drug store.
-$500. We can afford.
- In favor? Passed. Four.
- Drinking fountain.
-200. Can do.
Passed. End of agenda.
Are there any resolutions from the floor?
That's you.
Chair recognizes Olly Simpson.
The country's gone to hell.
I move we secede.
We voted on that before, and it failed.
Things have changed.
All in favor seceding from the Union?
Motion defeated.
You're making a mistake.
Are there any other resolutions?
Chair recognizes the fellow in the sweater.
I'm Dick Loudon
and ll own the Stratford Inn,
and I'd like to request that a stop sign be
put at the intersection in front of the inn.
Because of the amount of traffic,
I think a stop sign is warranted.
- From my personal observation...
- Excuse me. How much will it cost?
- A hundred bucks.
- We can afford it.
All in favor? Resolution adopted.
Are there any other resolutions?
- Yeah, excuse...
- Did you want something else?
Excuse me.
When we were discussing the stop sign,
which you so generously
and quickly voted,
Mr. Dickson and Mr. Wanamaker,
you know, they mentioned something
about my civic-mindedness, and...
Will you get to the point?
They asked me to run for town council,
and I'd like to announce
that I'm going to run for town council.
This is my wife, Joanna.
Hello.
-1 don't even know when the elections...
- We don't have elections.
Then how...
Anybody mind if the fellow in the sweater
joins the town council?
(PEOPLE MUTTERING
IN AGREEMENT)
You're on.
-(STUTTERING) I am?
- Congratulations, honey.
But I didn't even get to read my speech.
- And now, if there's no further business...
- Wait, wait. Wait a minute.
Oh, for crying out loud, Dick.
Do I come up now
and sit behind the table?
The table is only for officers.
Well, then where do I sit?
Right here, fellow councilman.
You're on the council?
Of course he is.
Everyone in the room is on the council.
Say, how about if Mrs. Loudon
joins the council?
(PEOPLE MUTTERING
IN AGREEMENT)
You're on,
and if there's no more resolutions,
this meeting is adjourned
until one year from tonight.
- Coffee and cake in the lobby.
- Finally.
One year from tonight?
I thought you met every week.
What would we talk about every week?
What happened here?
Well, honey, I guess
being on the town council
isn't as big a deal as we thought it was.
- But at least you got your stop sign.
- Yeah.
Do you want some cake?
No. No, I think I'll just stay here
and savor my victory.
- Congratulations.
- Thanks.
Everyone is really excited about you
joining the council.
I'm sure.
Okay, no one is excited,
but they did ask me to come over here
and welcome you
on behalf of the entire town.
I appreciate that.
And to remind you
next year to wear a suit.