Atlas Shrugged II: The Strike Page #5

to take them too seriously.

Wesley Mouch takes them very seriously.

So do I.

The unions represent

millions of votes, Jim.

And votes that your money can't buy.

Taggart Transcontinental has got to set

an example by reaching out to labor.

Set the precedent for other companies.

You'll be helping Wesley a great deal.

As Chairman of the Board, I have

to point out that freezing rates

and paying higher wages will only

push our company deeper into the red.

Bob's right. We should be looking

for ways to save money, not spend it.

It's simple, guys.

Just trim the fat off the brisket.

Shut down the routes that aren't paying.

- A bold idea.

- Where do you suggest we start?

The John Galt Line was

a dumb mistake to begin with.

Now with Ellis Wyatt gone, it's nothing

more than a goddamn bridge to nowhere.

We could use the Rearden Metal

to replace the damaged rails

- along the profit-making lines.

- Now you're talking.

Dagny, would you like

to weigh in on this?

No.

But you're the C.O.O.

You run the rail road.

Do I?

You must have an opinion, Miss Taggart.

What do you propose?

I don't propose.

You're dodging your

responsibility here, Dagny.

I am not going to say the words

that make me the murderer.

It's your policies that

killed the John Galt Line.

It's your interference

that is killing this rail road.

You're the assassins.

Mr. Chairman, I propose we

dismantle the John Galt Line.

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

Motion carries.

We built something fantastic, didn't we?

Yes, we did.

I thought it would stand

for a thousand years.

It would've.

Do you need more time?

No.

Why drag it out?

Lillian.

I see you're slumming it again.

Hard times, you know.

Don't spend all of Henry's money

on the truffle mousse pt.

I can only try.

Your husband's performance in court,

some very powerful people

found it... disagreeable.

Disagreeable?

You wouldn't know the half of it.

Word is spreading around.

He's headed for real trouble

unless he learns to not be so...

...vocally anti-social.

I see.

You would like me

to put a muzzle on him.

Well, for both of our sakes, yes.

Your position, your money...

it's all on the line.

Try not to seem so desperate, James.

It's unbecoming.

- What are you afraid of losing?

- Everything.

They have made it my responsibility

to get him to cooperate.

You don't understand

the power they have.

You haven't mentioned

what I stand to gain from this.

Influence in very high circles.

You'll never stand in anyone's shadow.

Not even Hank Rearden's.

Henry's weakness is that

he thinks he's not vulnerable.

We have to prove him wrong.

I think we have the tools to do that.

The Unification Board

is authorized to enforce

compliance through penalties...

that include, but are not limited to:

fines, seizure of assets,

nationalization of property,

and imprisonment,

for so long as an emergency lasts.

We wanted all of you,

our core group, to hear it first.

We need you all on board.

It's obvious that drastic

measures have to be taken.

You can count on me, Wesley.

I think everyone here agrees

that capitalism doesn't work,

not without government as a partner.

- A caretaker, really.

- Exactly.

Your businesses are failing.

Your unions are suffering.

We need to hold the line

on this erosion,

freeze things in place until public

confidence has been restored.

Now, there will be some howling...

sticklers for the Constitution,

clingers to the old ways, those types.

- And the loose cannons.

- Like Henry Rearden.

Rearden is a threat to civil order

and the public good.

There is no room in recovery

for a free thinker like Rearden.

Rearden will not be a problem.

Mr. Mouch, put me on screen.

If this isn't a state of emergency,

I don't know what is.

The immense greed of a few

has pushed us to the precipice.

I recommend that we implement

Directive 10-289 immediately.

For the public good.

In the name of the general welfare,

to protect the security

of our fellow citizens,

it is decreed for the duration of the

national emergency that the statutes

of Directive 10-289

shall remain in effect.

All employees and wage

earners of any kind shall henceforth

be attached to their current jobs

and may not be discharged

or quit said employment.

All industrial

and manufacturing entities

shall henceforth remain in operation

and owners of said

establishments shall not quit,

retire, sell,

or transfer their business.

All copyrights and patents

pertaining to any invention,

formula, or process shall be

transferred to the federal government

by means of Gift Certificates

signed by the present owners

of said copyrights and patents.

No new devices, inventions,

products or goods of any nature

are to be created or manufactured

and the Office of Patents & Copyrights

is hereby suspended.

Every company or sole

proprietor shall henceforth produce

the same quantity of goods,

or provide the same services

as in the Basic Year... the year

just ended. No more or no less.

Every citizen, regardless

of income, shall henceforth spend

the same amount of money

as in the Basic Year.

All wages, prices,

dividends and other forms of income

are hereby frozen at present figures.

Directive 10-289 shall

be administered and enforced

by the Unification Board,

whose decisions will be final.

It's all happening so fast.

You knew about this?

I have appointed current Director of

Economic Development, Wesley Mouch,

as Recovery Czar

to help us through

these desperate times.

Fellow Americans,

with the stroke of a pen,

the home of life, liberty

and the pursuit of happiness

has been altered forever.

Dr. Ferris.

Come to shut me down completely?

No. Not at all.

That wouldn't serve anyone.

Under Directive 10-289,

private intellectual assets

become the property of the government.

Since tonight is the deadline,

at midnight,

I'm here as a convenience for you.

All you have to do is sign

this Gift Certificate...

...entrusting your patents

to the Unification Board.

So, you're here to steal the

process for Rearden Metal.

Steal? No. It'll be made

available to all manufacturers.

And to make people aware that

you no longer hold a monopoly,

the name will be changed...

to Miracle Metal.

Catchy.

All you have to do is

sign right there at the bottom.

Sir, I'm not gonna sign that paper.

I'm not gonna say that it's OK

for you to take my patents away from me.

Well, I do have... some other

documents here as well.

I don't imagine you'll suffer much,

since your wife already knows.

Of course, I can't say the same

for Miss Taggart.

One of the most respected

businesswomen in the nation.

Spotless reputation,

a source of inspiration to

young girls all across the country.

I can't even look at this.

You might not want to see this either.

In an unexpected move sure to

usher in a new dawn of cooperation

between industry and government,

billionaire steel magnate Henry Rearden

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