Dark Power Page #4

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Have you thought about my offer?

I did. I did.

And I couldn't stop thinking about

that secret fraternity you mentioned.

I can't believe Stan was

connected to these guys.

It doesn't sound like the everyday mob.

What else can you say about them?

I can tell you they're powerful enough

To keep anybody from

knowing too much about them.

The details I know I

picked up from Stan.

Um, the "Annuit coeptis"

doubles as their motto.

It means "God has favored us. "

Sounds arrogant already.

My kind of people.

Apparently they're all over the country.

They're in every walk of life.

Some are rich, some are

poor, they're everywhere

And aside from the

ritualistic practices,

Their objectives have

never been that clear.

But some of the more elite factions

Have helped advance society

in mathematics and science.

Even turning the tide on some wars.

But for which side, I couldn't tell you.

I suppose part of being

a secret fraternity

Is keeping it secret.

Did they ever ask you to join?

My contact with the fraternity

Has been primarily

through foot soldiers,

Guys I knew growing up.

The more elite members know

That I'm not interested

in serious membership.

And I'm happy to have my limited access.

I don't need the secret

clubhouse decoder ring.

Sounds like a cult to me.

I don't think I want

to go down that road.

I understand your trepidation.

Moving on though,

You said you had some

information on Conway

That could help us win this thing.

Us?

Us.

Freeman's out?

Early this morning, yeah.

Poor sap.

Look, I need a victory.

And I believe that you're

the one that can do it for me.

Whatever it takes as long as it's legal.

Of course.

You're my campaign manager.

When we win this thing,

if we win this thing,

You'll be my chief assistant.

You won't regret this.

Yeah. I'd better not.

So, what's the big story, kid?

Conway's cheating on his wife.

Who's the girl?

Her name is Crystal.

She works at a couple of

the nightclubs in the city.

Hm. And you know this how?

She told me.

And I had her take a couple

of her own photographs

To make sure Conway

can't deny any of it.

Oh! This is good!

I told you.

We got the payoff, we got the

scandal, we got 'em dead to rights.

This is over, this is ours.

Almost. The back

channels I told you about,

Well, they're a two-way street.

Conway and his cronies are just

starting to figure that out.

What are you talking about?

They know about Paula Belmont.

What? It hasn't gotten out and it won't

Because we're going to

stay five steps ahead of it.

Who else knows about this?

Until tomorrow morning, just

Conway's team. Tomorrow morning?

We're going to issue a statement

About this love affair

before Conway can.

That way we can spin it

the way we want to spin it.

Are you crazy? Are you nuts?

This is the only way.

We break it,

We issue an explanation,

We give a big dramatic speech

In the wake of Conway's disgrace,

The public will forgive us

Without even issuing an apology.

I didn't mean to hurt her.

We had a heated exchange. It got...

Out of hand. It's... I know. I get it.

It was an accident.

But you don't have to sell it to me.

I'm not the one who's buying.

Has she gone to the media yet?

Not yet. I can make sure she doesn't

Till we have this under control.

I should never have touched her.

I don't know what the

hell I was thinking.

God. It's done.

You can't change anything about it now.

What we can do is make the public see it

The way we want them to see it.

My wife doesn't even know about it.

You don't want your dirty laundry

Aired in front of the whole city?

Go sell used cars.

All right.

Get to work.

Wait

till you hear what we've got

In store for you tonight.

We lead off with candidate

to mayor, Michael Conway,

And a story straight out

of film noir dime novels.

Looks like your secret

is out, Mr. Conway.

A dancer at a local nightclub

Who goes by the stage name Crystal,

Has come forth with

some shocking news, gang.

Are you ready for this?

Let's hear it.

Michael Conway, the very

married Michael Conway,

Has been caught in the type of scandal

That opponents can only dream of

So close to voting day.

Apparently this Crystal and Conway

Have been sleeping

around for months now.

Can you believe it?

You don't say.

It's going to be a late one.

What do you feel like?

Chinese or Italian?

Buyer's choice.

Who says I'm buying?

Your campaign manager.

You have that speech ready?

Just finished.

Let's hear it.

"Friends and neighbors. "

"Over the course of the next few months"

"We're going to be spending a lot of

time getting to know one another. "

"And I'm going to do

my best to figure out"

"What it is exactly you want and need. "

"And you're going to do your

best to figure out who I am"

"And what I stand for. "

"That process will

be a whole lot easier"

"If we're honest with each other"

"So let me take this opportunity

to be honest with you. "

"During the coming campaign,

my opponent, Mike Conway,"

"Is going to try to tell you all

about what a horrible person I am,"

"How many mistakes I've made. "

"He's going to describe all

of my faults in vivid detail"

"In an attempt to make you hate me

more than you already hate him. "

"Well, I'm here to tell you the truth"

"And the truth is... I do have faults. "

"And I have made mistakes. "

"And I'm glad. "

"Because without mistakes,"

"Mankind never invents the

wheel or the airplane. "

"I'm not perfect.

"And I don't want to be.

"All I want is for you to

trust me when I tell you

"I have what it takes

to be your next leader.

"I want you to trust me when I tell you

"That Michael Conway is lying.

"And I want you to

trust me when I tell you

"That a vote for Lee Rudman

Is a vote for the future of this city. "

So you think that'll work, huh?

I think it'll convince the people

that you're worthy of forgiveness.

You mean forgiveness

for the issue of Paula.

Forgiveness for anything.

This is about character.

This is about being

real, being fallible,

Being forgivable under any circumstance.

No one forgives anyone

else unless they want to.

We're going to make them want to.

All right. So what's next?

Strategy. Every

conquering hero needs one.

So we discredit Conway first.

We won't have to.

Not after this affair breaks.

He's going to destroy

himself from the inside out.

What we need to do is

stick to the issues,

Stick to the platform.

Conway is as good as gone.

They're all going to be as good as gone.

You'll be the last man standing.

All right. What are the first issues?

Health care.

You mentioned some of

the impoverished people

In the neighborhoods you worked.

I grew up with some of those people

And I can tell you firsthand

What's most important to them is

Affordable health care

for the poor and elderly.

Wait a minute. The city has a

pretty good health care system

Right now in place.

It's not good enough

and the voters know that.

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