Executive Suite Page #5

Just because Shaw took advantage of...

Oh, it wasn't Shaw. It wasn't Shaw at all.

That was my mistake,

thinking I was fighting him.

I was ready for him, could've handled him.

- That wasn't it.

- I don't know what you're talking about.

It was Avery Bullard I was fighting.

Can't you see that?

I could've coped with Shaw.

It's easy to fight somebody you hate.

But I couldn't fight Avery Bullard.

Never could.

Now, look, Fred, you're tired and upset.

We're all upset.

- It's no use, Don.

- Fred, listen to me!

Avery Bullard doesn't

want me to be president.

He never wanted me to be

anything but what I am,

a number-two man,

never more, never less.

- I don't believe that.

- Oh, no, Don, it's true.

If it weren't, he would've made me

executive vice-president months ago.

- He didn't want me.

- Then who did he want?

Fred, I assume you know

where to reach Jesse Grimm.

Yes.

When you do, better make sure

he knows about the special meeting

of the board tomorrow at 6:00.

When was that decided?

I'm sure we all agree,

the sooner the better.

Wires have gone out to everybody.

I'll double check with Walt Dudley.

Good night, gentlemen.

One thing I can tell you.

It's not going to be him.

Who's gonna stop him?

If it was five years from now,

I can tell you who could.

Good evening, Miss Bardeman.

- Mr. Shaw...

- I want to speak to Mr. Dudley.

Oh, you mean,

you want to know where to reach him?

Well, he's staying at the Blackstone

in Chicago. I thought you knew.

I see. I've got to talk to him right away.

Would you be good enough

to let me use your telephone?

Well, Just a minute!

The phone is over there.

Mr. Shaw.

Mr. Shaw!

I've got to talk to you for a minute, Walter.

Which chart did you find

this one on, Shaw?

Well, is that all you're gonna say to him?

Just who do you think you are

coming in here like this?

Eva, wait a minute.

This is my apartment.

Why don't you tell him to get out?

- Eva.

- All right, what are you waiting for?

Don't you want to get back

to your Dictaphone

and make out your special report

to the president?

Apparently, you two haven't

had the radio on tonight.

He's dead.

Bullard? Dead?

You're lying.

He had a stroke in New York

this afternoon.

They identified the body this evening.

The old man.

Dead. I don't believe it.

The company will carry on

with a minimum of confusion.

You can catch the 11:00 plane to Chicago.

Get together with your men there

in the morning, brief them,

let them take over.

You get back here on the afternoon plane.

- There'll be a meeting of the board...

- Meeting?

...tomorrow at 6:00,

to elect a new president.

I'll want to talk to you before then.

And while you're in Chicago,

I'd rather you didn't take any calls.

Millburgh calls. Is that clear?

Naturally, Sylvia won't hear about this.

Look, Loren, this is not what you think.

I come here because... Well, I don't know.

Well, it's home.

I guess it's what keeps me going.

She lets me say what I want, be myself.

Some people wouldn't understand...

I mean, not knowing Sylvia, but you...

All I ask of you...

- This is a fine girl, Loren, and...

- Corner of your mouth, the right side.

Put your clothes on,

I'll drive you to the airport.

Would you wait in the car?

Eva.

Baby.

Look, don't worry, baby,

everything's gonna be all right.

Sure. You'll take care of everything

like you Just took care of him.

Nothing will happen. Now, don't worry.

Look, honey,

Mr. Bullard's dead, and I've gotta...

Shaw's downstairs.

I've got to go now.

Honey, don't feel like that.

I promise you, it'll be all right.

I'll be home tomorrow

on the afternoon plane.

Eva.

Eva, you all right?

You want me to call you from Chicago?

Don, you'll be a wreck.

I'll quit in a few minutes.

- Fred stay long?

- Long enough.

Oh, I like that.

Did he change his mind?

It's gonna be Jesse Grimm.

Fred's gonna get to him

first thing in the morning.

You sound so positive.

Don't the stockholders

have anything to say?

The stockholders had their say

when they elected the board.

Seven directors will vote,

four votes will elect.

Jesse Grimm will have his own vote,

mine, Fred's and Walt Dudley's.

I think that Dudley's about as fed up

with Shaw as the rest of us.

Well, what's this question mark

after Julia Tredway's name?

Just that.

First her father, now Bullard.

Who knows what she thinks

about the company.

Anyway, she's never even shown up

at a board meeting. Bullard had her proxy.

Then that means Shaw has only himself

and George Caswell?

Who helped him come into the company.

Well, if it's all settled,

why are you still up?

Don, maybe this is the time

for you to leave Tredway.

No.

But you could do what you always

wanted to do, be on your own,

design what you want,

build what you want.

If it hadn't been for this room the past

few months, you couldn't have lived.

I've got to make sure that it can't be done

right here at Tredway

the way that Bullard

made me believe it could.

You don't walk away from a thing

like that, not till you know it's hopeless.

Well, if you couldn't do it under Bullard,

how do you expect to do it

with Jesse Grimm running the company?

- Jesse's a fine production man.

- You told me he lives in the past.

- But he's our best chance to stop Shaw.

- Is that all that matters?

Well, there's nothing we can do about it

this late at night, is there?

Fred wanted me to try for the presidency.

When?

Earlier tonight, back at the Tower.

What did you say?

I told him to forget it.

I'm not gonna die young

at the top of the Tower,

worrying about bond issues

and stockholders' meetings.

That's not why I came here,

that's not what I'm working for.

I'm a designer, not a politician.

I think.

I think, too.

Well, anyway, I Just wanted you to know

that you might have been

the president's wife.

Come to bed, Mr. Ex-president.

Yes, that's right.

And when you get that call through,

tell the garage to send my car over.

Yes. Yes.

Where are we driving to now?

We're driving no place.

I'm going to Millburgh.

But you promised to take me to the track.

Did I know about this?

What about this?

You're a director of the company,

aren't you?

It says here,

"Tredway's increased earnings

- "for the first quarter... "

- Do me a favor, will you?

Read the funnies.

There aren't any in the Times.

Don't you know that?

Then read "Situations Wanted. "

You may need one.

Yes? Okay, put Mr. Shaw on.

Yes. Loren? George Caswell.

Huh? Yes, terrible.

Yes, I was shocked.

Now, look, Loren...

I certainly have seen it.

I've got it right here.

Remarkable showing.

Now, look, Loren, I'll tell you why I called.

Yes, I've got the wire about the meeting,

but it's very important

that I see you before then.

Right. I'll be expecting you.

- Oh, did you send for Miss Martin?

- She's outside.

What about the call to Miss Tredway?

Mr. Shaw, I checked with

the telephone company,

and they said it isn't Just a busy signal,

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