A Family Man Page #7

Not just when they're sick.

Oh, I love Ryan every bit

as much as you do, Elise.

I know you do.

I just wish it didn't

take him dying...

in order to get

your attention.

That's not fair.

No, it's not fair.

But my little boy is dying,

so I'm not terribly concerned

about what's fair.

I love you, Dane,

but I'll be damned...

if I'm gonna let you

keep him hooked up

to some machine in order

to make up for lost time.

I'm sorry about Ryan.

I was with him when he got

his lumbar puncture.

You know, his spinal tap?

Anyway,

I'm studying for my RN,

so I try to expose myself

to as many procedures as I can.

Plus, it helps the kids, right?

When they see a familiar face.

I keep their mind off

the needle with questions:

what's Dad do at work,

what grade they're in,

sport they like to play,

favorite food,

just, you know...

stuff.

I'm gonna ask you

another question, Ryan.

What's your favorite place

in the world, buddy?

Hmm? Come on,

you're doing fine, Ryan.

What's your favorite place?

- My house.

- Your house?

There's a place on our step

which lets me know

when Dad's coming up.

He's the only one big enough

to make the noise.

He works late a lot.

But if I leave my light on,

he'll always come in.

I tell him it's because

I like to draw,

but I really just want

to see him.

When he leaves,

I can still smell

his cologne for a while.

It smells like Dad.

It makes me feel...

safe.

Anyway, I just thought

you'd want to hear it.

I think I would if my kid

someday thinks I'm a good dad.

Like yours must.

Antoine...

My kid ever say what I did?

For a living?

Help other dads get jobs

so they can take care

of their families.

The Thomas Gale House

is important, not only

because it showcases the earlier

work of Frank Lloyd Wright,

but it also hints at his

architectural potential.

Now, Wright designed the home

just before he left the firm

Adler and Sullivan.

He didn't leave.

Sullivan fired him.

Because of this house.

Excuse me, sir,

can I help you?

It's a "bootleg."

Frank designed it off the books

for the Gale Family.

See, before, Frank was all.

Prairie Style hard lines

and cold concrete.

He designed spaces

that let the light in.

Rooms that opened up,

then wrapped around you.

Made a family feel protected,

safe.

Like you belonged here

and only here. Home.

But Frank was also a gambler,

a risk taker, and he knew

that if he designed this off

the books for the Gale family,

his boss might find out.

Yeah, he knew what goes

around comes around.

But he also knew that

he could create something

that would live forever.

Something magical...

The magic that

stirs men's blood.

- Wheeler residence.

- Lou, Dane.

About time you got off your ass

and went back to work, isn't it?

Christmas is over, buddy.

We got a week to get you a job

this year. Chop, chop.

Think of him as a forty-year-

old, Jimmy,

we'll throw in the other

nineteen years free of charge!

Hold that thought, Jimmy.

Dane Jensen. Hey, Toni,

thanks for calling back,

appreciate it. Yes, Lou Wheeler.

No, no, no! Don't you get it?

Every other company in the South

is thinking first of the year!

You see him now,

you take him off the market

before they get a crack at him!

Now, what time Wednesday works

best for you?

Morning or afternoon?

Lou? Lou, calm down.

Tell me, what are you saying

when they ask you,

"Tell me a little bit

about yourself?"

No, Lou.

Lou, no, Lou, Lou, stop!

Christ, brother, this isn't

the biography channel.

Even I wouldn't hire you.

Alright.

Okay. Say this.

Miss Smith... Toni?

You know, I've been working

a long time, you can see that.

And all those years, I've seen

a lot of people come and go.

I've seen people chasing what

they think will make them happy:

money, titles, whatever.

But it seems to me,

if a man, or a woman,

can be paid an honest wage

for an honest job,

and if you can look back

at what you've done

and feel proud,

well then, you're happy.

I know I'm running the risk of

sounding a little old fashioned,

or naive even, but...

I don't think you can

ever be too qualified

to be happy. Do you?

No, Lou,

I don't.

So. Tell me a little bit

about yourself.

- Dane Jensen.

- Dane, Toni. You know,

I've never seen a tighter race

between two candidates.

We'd like to make an offer.

He'll take it.

Whoa, pardner... shouldn't I

tell you what it is first?

Yeah, all right.

Okay, what, what,

what are you thinking?

Well, we're kicking up

the pay grade.

One hundred grand base

salary, full relo,

no sign-on bonus. Insurance to

start first day of employment.

Now, it is New Year's Eve and

I plan to start drinking early.

My math says your fee's 25,000.

I need that expense on

this year's budget,

so what do you say we wrap this

up right now. Is he in or out?

On behalf of Mr. Wheeler,

I accept.

Mr. Wheeler?

No, no, Dane, look,

we all loved Lou,

but he came in second.

Other guy? What other guy?

Ping. As in pong. You know,

the engineer with the doctorate.

Ping?

Ten minutes after I schedule

Lou for an interview,

we get this resume from your

colleague at Blackridge...

Just, uh...

hang on one sec, Toni.

Bannon?

What?

It doesn't really matter to me

which candidate you hire...

Good 'cause we're hiring Ping.

Bannon's my guy,

so his deal's my deal.

I win either way.

I win.

What else you got for Lou?

Position wise? Nothing.

Plain Jane Engineer, entry

level, temp to hire, anything?

No, no, and no.

Look, email me an invoice, Dane,

I gotta run. Happy New Year!

Wait, who was the better

candidate?

What?

Who was the best candidate?

Are you recording this?

Okay. Fact is, Lou's

the better candidate.

Now, I can't ask him his age,

but come on...

[How many years does he have

before he calls it a day?

He's not a good investment.

Between realtor fees,

closing costs, storage,

relo's gonna run us $40,000,

temporary living another ten,

and then there's your fee...

Hire Lou...

and he's on the house.

I didn't hear you right.

Say that again?

You heard right.

Hire Bannon's guy you pay 25

grand. Hire Lou? No charge.

What?

Why in the world would you

wanna give away 25,000...

Because he's a good man.

He has experience

no degree can match.

He's made all the mistakes a guy

half his age hasn't made yet,

but will, and he's learned

from them all.

Because he won't lie or pretend

to be something he's not.

Because everything I need,

I already have.

And because the price

is right, Toni.

It's a one-time offer,

expires in ten seconds.

In or out?

Who was that?

Lou, what's wrong?

What would you think

about seeing the grandkids?

I thought we were gonna wait

until money wasn't so tight.

I don't mean visiting them,

I mean seeing them.

Every day, if you want to.

That was Miss Smith

from LOK.

They're based out

in Gainesville.

That's about, what? Half

an hour away from the kids?

I'm their new

Engineering Manager.

Gosh!

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