RAND: You know...
...you don't play games with words...
...to protect yourself.
No, you're direct.
Do you remember what I was talking to you about last night?
-No. -Sure you do.
My plan for financial assistance to businessmen.
I think you're just the man to take charge of an institution like that.
I understand.
I know you're not a man to act on the spur of the moment...
...so don't feel that you have to rush into a decision.
Thank you.
Now, I'm afraid I must excuse myself.
I'm awfully tired.
[Melancholy piano music]
I'm sorry you're so sick.
[Clock chimes]
[Softer piano music]
EVE: We have 60,000 tulip bulbs up there.
It is so glorious when they bloom.
Of course, the roses are my favorites.
We have 20,000 rose bushes.
And over here, we plant something different every year.
I haven't quite decided what we'll plant this year.
And that's the gardener's house.
And this is the greenhouse.
CHANCE: I like to watch the young plants grow.
-It's wonderful, isn't it? -Yes.
Young plants do much better if a person helps them.
You know...
...Ben told me that the President was very taken with you this morning.
EVE: Last night you mentioned an old man that died.
You must've been very close to him.
I was. Yes.
I'm sorry.
You mentioned also that Louise had gone, also.
Were you very close to Louise?
Yes, I liked Louise very much.
She was his maid.
EVE: Oh, his maid. CHANCE: Yes.
I see.
So stupid of me. I thought maybe she was perhaps someone...
...you were romantically involved with or maybe a sister.
No.
She used to bring me my meals.
She was very kind to me.
Chauncey Gardiner, Mr. Rand's friend and advisor, was at the meeting this morning.
I found Mr. Gardiner to have a feeling for this country that we need more of.
To quote Mr. Gardiner, a most intuitive man:
"As long as the roots of industry remain firmly planted in the national soil...
"...the economic prospects are undoubtedly sunny. "
NURSE 1 : What is it? NURSE 2: Doctor.
ALLENBY: Decoral. Five milligrams.
PRESlDENT: Now, I know that many of you....
EVE: Put your arms up.
ALLENBY: I think you'd better leave, Eve.
-Will he be okay? -He'll be fine.
Yeah, we got you, Ben.
EVE: Come on, Chauncey.
PRESlDENT: But I have decided there are no temporary stopgaps.
So I'm going to rethink my position and find another solution.
You'll be very pleased to know that your...
...founder and Chairman of the Board...
...Mr. Benjamin Turnbull Rand, agrees with me on this...
...for once.
[Chuckles, applause]
PRESlDENT: Let us not fear the inevitable chill and storms of autumn and winter.
Instead, let us anticipate the rapid growth of springtime.
Let us await the rewards of summer.
As in a garden of the earth, let us learn to accept...
...and appreciate the times when the trees are bare...
...as well as the times when we pick the fruit.
I'm just so very grateful that you're here with us.
So am l, Eve.
ALLENBY: It's been an exhausting day for Ben.
He's resting now, and there's no cause for alarm.
MRS. AUBREY: I have a telephone call for you.
Telephone call?
MRS. AUBREY: Yes. Sidney Courtney, the financial editor of the Washington Post.
Would you care to take it, sir?
Yes.
MRS. AUBREY: In my office.
Go, I'll be just fine.
Yes, you'll be fine.
He's such a kind and sensitive man.
Don't you think?
[Clock chimes]
-He's not there. -Not there?
Mr. Courtney, are you there?
Yes, he's there.
Where is he? There or here?
He's on both lines.
Are you there?
Yes, I'm here.
COURTNEY: Hello, Mr. Gardiner.
I saw the President's speech at the Financial lnstitute today.
Would you care to comment...
...on the meeting between Mr. Rand and the President and yourself?
Yes. It was very nice meeting...
...the President.
What we'd like to know are some facts.
Such as, what is the exact relationship between yourself and the...
...First American Financial Corporation?
I think you should ask Mr. Rand that.
Well, yes, sir. But Mr. Rand is ill, so I'm taking the liberty of asking you.
What? Say that again.
COURTNEY: I said that since Mr. Rand is ill, I'm taking the liberty of asking you.
Yes, you are.
You should ask Mr. Rand that.
Of course.
Just one quick question, Mr. Gardiner--
Will you hold a minute, please?
I have the producer of The Gary Burns Show on the line.
Yes, I have watched that show.
Of course. They would like you to appear on the show tonight.
The Vice President was scheduled, but he had to cancel.
They asked if you would be interested.
Yes. I've been on television.
MRS. AUBREY: Fine.
Hello, Mr. Hull? Mr. Gardiner has agreed to do the show.
He's been on television.
Yes. The show will be taped, and then shown at 10:00...
...but he's to be there....
What do you mean, he's got no background? That's impossible.
I quoted the man on national television. He's a very well-known man.
We're well aware of that, sir--
PRESlDENT: He's a close friend and advisor of Benjamin Rand.
For Christ's sakes, we've got volumes of data on Rand.
I plan to contact Mr. Rand the minute--
I do not want Ben disturbed.
We have other ways of gathering information than to trouble a dying man.
Use any agencies that are necessary to get a detailed history of Chauncey Gardiner.
Have it in my office, tomorrow at 7:00.
-I've got to take a leak. -Right, chief.
Of course, your position in the financial community carries a lot of weight.
But what caught Gary's interest was your down-to-earth philosophy.
I see.
Do you realize more people will be watching you tonight...
...than all those that have seen theater plays in the last 40 years?
-Yes? -Yes.
Why?
Hell, I don't know.
Good.
HULL: This way. CHANCE: Thank you.
Gardiner's laconic. He plays his cards very close to the chest...
...and the scuttlebutt is he's a strong candidate for a seat...
...on the board of First American Financial.
Kinney, what have you found on his background?
Nothing.
Yeah, skip the levity.
I know it's ridiculous, but there is no information about Gardiner.
We have no material on him.
Zilch.
ANNlE: Here. I want your shoulders to go right on this pad.
Now, wait, you have to put your head through the hole first.
GARY: Head in the hole.
ANNlE: That's right. Okay. Stretch your legs out, push your body....
PAGE: Thought you'd need this about now. It gets pretty hot underneath these lights.
Thank you. I'm very thirsty.
HULL: If Gary wants to interrupt you, or ask you a question...
...he'll lift his left forefinger to his left eyebrow. All right?
CHANCE: I understand. HULL: Good.
CHANCE: Thank you. PAGE: You're very welcome.
CHANCE: Nurse Teresa did Ben's make-up. MAKE-UP MAN: Really?
-Did she do a good job? -Yes, it looked just like this.
-Looks like you're up. -I am?
HULL: Gary's ready for you now. CHANCE: Yes.
HULL: Good luck. CHANCE: Good luck.
This way.
[Lively TV-show opening music]
[Music volume increases]
[Horn crescendo]
[Vigorous applause]
GARY: How nice to have you with us this evening, Mr. Gardiner.
CHANCE: Hello, Gary.
GARY: This is Miss Annie Lawson. Mr. Chauncey Gardiner.
ANNlE: Hi. How do you do? CHANCE: Hello.
GARY: I'd like very much to thank you for joining us on such short notice...
...and filling in for the Vice President.
CHANCE: Yes.
GARY: It's always somewhat surprising to find men like yourself...
...working so intimately with the President, and yet...
...somehow managing to remain relatively unknown.
CHANCE: Yes, it is surprising.
GARY: Yes, of course.
Your anonymity is certainly likely to be a thing of the past from now on.
CHANCE: Good.
[Scattered laughter]
GARY: I assume, since the President quoted you...
...that you're inclined to agree with his view of the economy.
[Chance makes an uncertain noise]
[Laughter]
CHANCE: Which view?
[Laughter and applause]
GARY: The President compared the economy to a garden and he stated...
...that after a period of decline, a time of growth would naturally follow.
CHANCE: Yes.
It is possible...
...for everything...
...to grow strong.
And there is plenty of room...
...for new trees and new flowers...
...of all kinds.
[Lively applause]
GARY: So, you're saying...
...this is just another season in the garden, so to speak.
CHANCE: Yes.
A garden needs a lot of care and a lot of love.
And if you give your garden...
...a lot of love, things grow.
But first, some things must wither.
Some trees die....
FRANKLlN: It's that gardener. JOHANNA: Yeah. Chauncey Gardiner.
FRANKLlN: No, he's a real gardener.
He does talk like one. But I think he's brilliant.
GARY: That is very interesting indeed, but what about the bad seasons?
Doesn't a country need to have someone in charge...
...who can see it through these periods of crisis?
A leader, capable of guiding us through the bad seasons, as well as the good?
-Yes. -That bastard means it.
CHANCE: Oh, yes.
We need a very good gardener.
And I do agree with the President...
...that the garden needs a lot of care.
It is a good garden.
Its trees are healthy--
[Barbaric chanting]
GARY: I realize this might be a difficult question for you to answer, but...
...do you feel that we have...
...in your words, a very good gardener in office...
...at this time?
Jesus!
CHANCE: Yes, some plants...
...do well in the sun...
...and others grow better in the shade.
GARY: Sounds as if we need a lot of gardening here.
CHANCE: We certainly do.
It's for sure a white man's world in America.
I raised that boy since he was the size of a piss ant...
...and I'll say right now he never learned to read and write.
No, sir.
He had no brains at all.
Stuffed with rice pudding between the ears.
Short-changed by the Lord and dumb as a jackass.
Look at him now.
Yes, sir, all you got to be is white in America...
...to get whatever you want.
Gobbledygook!
GARY: What sort of gardener would you be, Mr. Gardiner?
CHANCE: I am a very serious gardener. GARY: I'm sure you are, Mr. Gardiner.
Remarkable.
You're fond of him, too, aren't you?
[Brass instrumental music]
That's good.
[Exotic music from TV commercial]
RAND: That's good.
[Vigorous applause]
May I take your coat, Mr. Gardiner?
MAN: Bravo, sir. Outstanding!
[Mystical music]
Okay, Sally, I'll see you in 20 minutes.
Okay.
I won't be long. I've just got to talk to her about this gardener.
Goodnight.
-Look, Johanna-- -I said, goodnight.
Tomorrow night...
...Senator Rowley's widow...
...is holding a reception for the Soviet ambassador.
It's pretty obvious that Robert here is not going to allow me to attend.
So, you'd be doing me a great favor...
...if you would attend in my place, and escort Eve.
Yes, Ben.
I would love to escort Eve.
You and Eve should create quite a stir.
[Rand chuckles]
I can already hear the gossip.
You have the gift of being natural.
That's a great talent, my boy.
I hope the entire country was listening.
The entire country.
Darling, what's wrong?
I can't.
I just can't, right now.
I'm sorry, dearest. I just....
I just can't.
We'll fix up one of Ben's for you. Sophie insists on black tie.
I see.
[Soft romantic instrumental music]
-Chauncey? -Yes?
I don't have very many friends.
And Ben's friends are...
...quite a bit older than I am.
Quite a bit.
Goodnight.
He was very clever, keeping it at a third grade level, that's what they understand.
Yeah? I don't understand why he was in Jennings' house.
What was up his sleeve when he pulled that stunt with us?
What was he doing? And why?
Who knows? Maybe the government had something to do with it.
You know...
...he made a fool out of me.
FRANKLlN: You know what that means? HAYES: No.
Any political future I had is right down the toilet.
Jesus, the thought of spending the rest of my life as an attorney...
Well....
FRANKLlN:...that is really a downer. And, Christ...
...I almost forgot. Johanna is starting to think something's going on.
Sid, be reasonable. I have been everywhere.
-There is no place left to look. -Try again.
Sure, try again. Where? There's nothing.
It's like Gardiner never existed.
Try again.
Sid, it's useless.
I said, try again.
Up yours. You try again. I quit.
'Morning, gentlemen.
ALL: 'Morning, Mr. President.
KAUFMAN: We found no information...
It's not what I requested.
KAUFMAN:...before Gardiner appeared at the Rands'.
This information goes back a day and a half.
I want the standard file, you know that.
KAUFMAN: Right, chief.
Well, where is it?
[Kaufman hesitates]
AlDE: Right, chief.
Kaufman, what the hell are you talking about?
KAUFMAN: The Bureau has some data, sir, but it's not pertinent.
-I'd like to hear that data. -Yes, sir.
His suits...
...were made by a New York tailor, handmade...
...in 1928.
The tailor went out of business in 1933 and later...
...took his own life.
His underwear, all of the finest cloth.
The factory was destroyed by fire in 1948.
This man carries no identification.
No driver's license, no wallet, no credit cards.
Computers have analyzed his...
PRESlDENT: Miss Davies. KAUFMAN:...vocal characteristics.
I'd like my eggs poached this morning, please.
KAUFMAN: But they cannot determine his ethnic background.
[Light-hearted piano music]
[Singing to lighthearted music]
Come in.
[Light-hearted music continues]
Have you read the newspapers?
I don't read papers.
You're described as one of the architects of the President's speech last night.
And your comments on the television show are quoted alongside the President's.
I like the President very much. He's a nice man.
You're very nice, too.
MR. ROGERS: Hi, neighbor. There's somebody at the door.
Let's see who that special person is. It's Mr. McFeeland.
[Continuing TV dialogue]
You don't mind my being here like...
...this?
No.
I like you to be here.
You do?
[Continuing TV dialogue]
MR. ROGERS: I'd like to sing about something even more special.
And that something is you.
[Mr. Rogers continues to sing]
[Eve moans]
[Sighing] Thank you.
I'm so grateful.
I would've just...
...opened up at the slightest touch.
I would've just opened up. You know? You know that.
But you're so strong...
...that I can trust myself with you.
I'm glad you didn't open.
MR. ROGERS: A long time ago, people didn't have television...
...but they still liked to look at interesting pictures.
And they would put pictures like these...
EVE: Thank you. MR. ROGERS:...in a special viewer.
They would look at them very carefully. I'll show you another one.
[Soft chiming music]
MR. ROGERS: They looked like cards.
Flash cards for schools or something.
But they're really photographs. Take a careful look at them.
The interesting thing about them, is that they're two.
One. Two.
And they look very much alike.
Here, I'll show you another one.
Mr. Thomas Franklin, please.
Is Mr. Franklin in?
Certainly. This is Dr. Robert Allenby.
Would you tell Mr. Franklin that I'd like to speak to him?
It concerns Chauncey Gardiner.
REPORTER 1 : What was your reaction to the Post's editorial on the President's speech?
I did not read that.
LADY REPORTER: You must've at least glanced at it.
I did not glance at it.
REPORTER 2: The New York Times spoke of your "peculiar brand of optimism."
-What was your reaction to that? -I do not know what it means.
LADY REPORTER: Sorry to persist, sir, but it would interest me...
...to know just what newspapers you do read.
I do not read papers. I watch TV.
LADY REPORTER 2: Do you mean that television's coverage of the news...
...better than that of the newspapers?
I like to watch TV.
LADY REPORTER 2: Thank you.
You're welcome.
LADY REPORTER 2: Few in public life have the courage not to read newspapers.
None, that this reporter has met, had the guts to admit it.
[Opera music playing]
I've never seen anyone handle the press the way you do.
You're so cool and detached.
Thank you.
-How are you? -I'm fine. How are you?
I'm very well. I'd like you to meet Chauncey Gardiner.
Hello, Vladimir.
And this is Mrs. Skrapinov.
-Natasha. -Hello, Natasha.
-Very nice meeting you. -And you.
You must sit with us, my friends. We have much to discuss.
I agree.
Let's let the men talk. Would you two excuse us for a moment?
Regretfully, we shall yield the pleasure of your company to others.
I shall yield, too.
Yes. Well, you have a nice chat.
SKRAPlNOV: Shouldn't we get together more often to exchange our thoughts?
It's strictly at the rumor stage now, Lyman.
-But there's something in the wind. -Something rather big in the wind, I'd say.
So whose files were destroyed? The ClA's or the FBl's?
I don't know.
You may find, my friend, that we are not so far from each other.
Not so far.
We are not so far from each other.
Our chairs are almost touching.
Bravo.
Our chairs are indeed almost touching.
And we want to remain seated on them, correct?
We don't want them snatched out from under us, am I right?
Because, if one goes, the other goes.
And then boom-boom and boom-boom.
What is it about his background that they're trying to cover up?
A criminal record? A membership in a subversive organization?
Homosexual, perhaps.
FRANKLlN: He told me he'd been living there since he was a child...
...working as a gardener.
He showed us a room in the garage where he said he stayed, and...
...I didn't really believe him, of course, but why the act?
Tell me...
...do you, by any chance, enjoy Krylov's fables?
Now, I ask you that because there is something...
...Krylovian about you.
Do you think so?
I believe that you know Krylov.
[Skrapinov speaks in Russian]
[Chance chuckles]
So, you know your Krylov in Russian, do you?
I must confess, I had suspected as much all along.
Excuse me, but would you tell me your name again?
A dash of American humor.
Vladimir Skrapinov.
That's a very nice name.
And yours, Chauncey Gardiner.
[Skrapinov speaks in Russian]
He must have been involved on some major financial level...
...with the deceased.
-With who? -Mr. Jennings.
But our firm has no record of any such transactions.
You had the Russian ambassador eating right out of your hand. You know that?
I didn't know you spoke Russian. It's incredible.
It is extremely useful to speak Russian today.
-Are you proficient in other languages? -He's so modest, Ambassador Gaufridi.
He just never advertises his accomplishments.
Maybe you should talk to somebody, darling.
No.
No, that wouldn't do any good.
Hello, Ronald. How are you?
RONALD: Just fine. CHANCE: Good. I am fine, too.
RONALD: Good. CHANCE: Yes. We're fine.
Yeah, fine.
My editors and I have been wondering if you'd consider writing a book for us.
Something about your political philosophy. What do you say?
-I can't write. -Of course not. Who can, nowadays?
I have trouble writing a postcard to my children.
Look, we can give you a six-figure advance.
I'll provide you with the very best ghost writer, proofreaders....
-I can't read. -Of course, you can't.
No one has the time.
We glance at things, we watch television.
I like to watch TV.
RONALD: I'm sure you do. No one reads.
He's very, very sexy.
Don't leave me alone with him for too long.
[Giggling]
You say he showed you his garden.
He said it was his. He walked us through it.
I see.
Mr. Franklin, I must ask you and Ms. Hayes...
...to keep this incident with Mr. Gardiner strictly to yourselves.
There's no telling what he could have been involved in.
It could be an extremely confidential matter.
-Please, not a word. -Of course, Doctor. I understand.
Fine.
-Thank you very much. -Certainly. Glad to be of help.
I heard he speaks eight languages.
And on top of everything else, holds a degree in medicine as well as law.
Isn't that true, Eve?
I don't know, Senator, but it wouldn't surprise me.
He's very attractive.
Isn't he?
You know, I've never met anyone like you in Washington before.
Yes, I've been here all my life.
Really?
And where have you been all my life?
[Dennis laughs]
Tell me, Mr. Gardiner...
...have you ever had sex with a man?
No. I don't think so.
We could go upstairs right now.
Is there a TV upstairs?
[Dennis laughs]
I like to watch.
You like to watch?
Yes.
You wait right here. I'll go get Warren.
Is it me?
-ls it something I've done? -No, sweetheart, it's not....
No, it's....
It's not you.
This never happened when you were a senator.
It's not that, it's just that l....
Yeah, Kaufman, what is it?
KAUFMAN: The CIA or the FBI destroyed Gardiner's files.
What? Why?
KAUFMAN: Neither agency admits to anything.
All right.
Get Baldwin and Honeycutt over here. I'll be right down.
[Arabian inspired music]
[Eve giggles nervously]
I feel so close to you.
I feel safe.
Ben understands my feelings for you, by the way, and he accepts them.
Ben is very wise.
PRESlDENT: Or thirdly, the man's files have been destroyed.
Now, I'd like some answers.
Gardiner's not a foreign agent.
There are now 1 6 countries investigating the man.
I see.
What about the third question?
Is it possible to erase all traces of a man?
Highly unlikely, sir.
In fact, the boys around the Bureau feel...
...that the only one capable of pulling this off...
...would be an ex-FBl man.
I don't think that's entirely true, Grover.
What do the boys around lntelligence feel?
Well, Mr. President, they don't quite know....
It's very difficult...
...for me to say goodnight to you.
It's very hard...
...for me to leave you.
It's very hard for me, too.
RAND: No.
Sell all 750,000 shares...
...of CCT.
Let's see.
Sell a million shares of lnland Oil.
Mrs. Aubrey...
...have 30,000 shares of Standard...
...transferred into your account.
That's for you.
I was just cleaning up some loose ends.
Getting rid of the dead wood...
...so Eve wouldn't have to cope with it.
I'd like to talk to you about Chauncey.
You know...
...there's something about him...
...that I trust.
He makes me feel good.
Since he's been around...
...the thought of dying...
...has been much easier for me.
[Buzzing of life-support machine]
[Printing]
[Romantic music from TV]
[Crying] I couldn't stand it.
[Eve moans]
[Romantic music intensifies]
[Music ends and TV dialogue begins]
What is it?
What's wrong?
What's the matter?
I don't know what you like. I'm sorry.
I like to watch.
What do you mean, you like to watch?
I like to watch.
You mean...
...me, you like to watch me...
...do it.
It's very good.
[Eve clears throat]
TV VOlCE 1 : No, thanks. I never touch the stuff,, never.
TV VOlCE 2: A cigar, then?
TV VOlCE 1 : I'll have one of those. Thanks.
Thanks very much.
TV VOlCE 2: Sit down, Rico. TV VOlCE 1 : Thanks.
TV VOlCE 2: Now listen, Rico...
...I'm going to talk to you, but you're not going to hear a word I say, see?
This is inside dope and if it gets out, it'll be just too bad for somebody.
RlCO: You know me.
TV VOlCE 2: All right. Get this. Pete Montana's through.
RlCO: And I thought he was such a big guy. TV VOlCE 2: He's through.
Suppose I were to tell you that, from now on, you were Pete Montana.
That you were to take over his territory in addition to your own.
Will you shake on it?
One of the first things you should know about me, my darling...
...is that I'm a little shy.
TV VOlCE 2: All right, it's set.
I'm doing a lot for you, Rico. When I get you planted...
...I'll expect plenty of service.
RlCO: You'll sure get it.
TV VOlCE 2: Permit me to drink to the new boss of the North Side.
RlCO: Thank you.
HENCHMAN: You look great, boss.
RlCO: Feels terrible.
HENCHMAN: None of us ever been invited up to eat at the Big Boy's dump.
And nobody ever crashed the gate except Pete Montana.
RlCO: If you think I'm going out in this harness, you're crazy.
HENCHMAN: You look fine, boss.
[Eve moans]
[Eve laughs]
RlCO: Hello, Big Boy. BlG BOY: Hello, Rico.
[Eve pants]
BlG BOY: Wow, you're rather lit up tonight, aren't you?
EXERClSE GlRL: This next exercise is trying to...
...sort of explore and with any explorer, go slowly.
[Eve giggles]
[Eve moans]
EXERClSE GlRL: Knee to the chest and experimenting with the weight...
...and going at this slowly. Please, nobody leaping up.
[Eve pants]
Where did you go?
[Eve moans]
[Eve laughs]
[Eve pants]
EXERClSE GlRL: Don't be frightened. It's important to know that you could roll over.
[Footsteps of someone running]
Tell her to come down. I'm gonna put in a CVP line.
No.
No more shots.
No more.
ALLENBY: It's not good.
I know.
You uncoil my wants...
...desire flows within me.
And when you watch me, my passion...
...it dissolves the desire.
You set me free.
And I reveal myself to myself and I am drenched...
...and purged.
[Footsteps]
Mr. Rand would like to see you.
I would like to see Ben.
[Eve sighs]
Yes, Ben?
Are you going to die now?
I think I'm...
...going to surrender the...
...horn of plenty...
...for the horn of Gabriel.
Give me your hand.
Let me feel your strength.
I hope that you'll stay here...
...with Eve.
Take care of her.
She cares for you.
Watch...
...over her.
She's a delicate flower.
A flower.
Yes.
There's...
...so much left to do.
I've spoken to them, my associates.
They're eager...
...very eager, to meet you.
Tell Eve....
[Rand struggles to breathe]
ALLENBY: He's gone.
Yes, I know.
I've seen this before.
It happens to old people.
Will you be leaving now?
Yes, in a day or two.
Yes.
Eve is staying.
She said she will not close up the house.
You've become quite a close friend of Eve's, haven't you...
...Chance?
Yes.
I love Eve very much.
And you really are a gardener, aren't you?
I am...
...a gardener.
I'll go and tell Eve about Ben.
ALLENBY: I understand.
I understand.
PRESlDENT: I know that Ben said, "Keep it small and quiet. "
And I don't want to go against his wishes...
[Sound of airplane flying overhead]
...but I thought it would be good, while our friends are carrying Ben to his...
...Iast resting place...
...to read from his quotes.
"I have no use for those on welfare...
"...no patience whatsoever.
"But if I am to be honest with myself...
"...I must admit that they have no use for me, either.
"I do not regret having political differences with men that I respect.
"I do regret, however...
"...that our philosophies...
"...kept us apart. "
DUDLEY: [Whispering] Yes, I agree. Except he's so boring. What about Max?
DUDLEY: He could never take an election. NELSON: Correct.
NELSON: The people of this country need to be awakened.
CALLWELL: What about Lawson? He's charismatic, exciting.
DUDLEY: He's too exciting, I'm afraid. If they start bringing up--
WEBB: Gentlemen, time is running out. We must come to a decision.
PRESlDENT: "I have heard the word 'sir'...
"...more often...
"...than I have heard the word 'friend'.
"But I suppose...
"...there are other rewards for wealth.
"I have met with kings.
"During these conferences...
"...I have suppressed bizarre thoughts: Could I beat him in a foot race?
"Could I throw a ball further than he?
"No matter what our fa�ade, we are all children. "
WEBB: What about Chauncey Gardiner?
DUDLEY: What do we know of the man? Absolutely nothing.
DUDLEY: We don't have an inkling of his past.
NELSON: Correct. That could be an asset. A man's past cripples him.
NELSON: His background turns into a swamp and invites scrutiny.
CALLWELL: Until now, he hasn't said anything that could be held against him.
NELSON: The mail and telephone response from his appearance on that Burns Show...
...was the highest they've ever had.
And?
And it was 95 percent pro.
I'm certainly open to the idea.
It would be absolute lunacy to support the President for another term.
That is exactly why I agree with Ben's final wishes.
[Melancholy piano music]
PRESlDENT: "I was born into a position of extreme wealth.
"I have spent many sleepless nights...
[Continuing piano music]
PRESlDENT: "...thinking about extreme poverty.
[Continuing piano music]
"I've lived a lot...
"...trembled a lot...
"...was surrounded by little men who forgot that we enter naked...
"...and exit naked...
"...and that no accountant can audit life in our favor. "
I do believe, gentlemen, if we want to hold on to the Presidency...
...our one and only chance is Chauncey Gardiner.
[Continuing piano music]
PRESlDENT: "When I was a boy, I was told...
"...that the Lord fashioned us from his own image.
"That's when I decided to manufacture mirrors.
[Continuing piano music]
PRESlDENT: "Security.
"Tranquility.
"A well-deserved rest.
"All the aims I have pursued...
"...will soon be realized.
"Life...
"...is a state of mind. "
I understand.
VOlCE: Is it all clear there, boys? Can you read that?
BlLLlNGS: What was the message, Mr. Gardiner?
"Now, get this, honky...."
[Laughter]
Sorry, carry on.
DlRECTOR: Okay.
All set.
BlLLlNGS: What was the message, Mr. Gardiner?
"Now, get this, honky.
"You go tell Raphael...
"...that I ain't taking no jive...."
[Laughter]
CHANCE: Sorry.
"That I ain't taking no jive...
"...from no Western Union messenger.
"You tell that asshole if he...."
[Laughter]
Did you see me going....
"Yes. You tell that asshole...."
CREW: Marker.
"Ain't taking no jive from no...
"...Western Union manager."
Messenger. Manager. What did I say?
Sorry.
"...from no Western Union messenger.
"You tell that asshole...
"...if he got something to tell me...
"...to get his ass down here."
DlRECTOR: Almost.
ATTENDANT: What was the message, Mr. Gardiner?
It's slightly long...
...but I will try to remember it.
"Now, get this, honky.
"You go tell Raphael...
"...that I ain't taking no jive...
"...from no Western Union messenger.
"You tell that asshole...
"...if he got something to tell me...
"...to get his ass down here himself."
Then he said...
...that I was to get my white ass out of there quick or he'd cut it.
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English SDH - US