Flash of Genius Page #10

this book can be found

in this dictionary.

Qell, I suspect that's

probably true.

Okay, so then you agree

that there's not,

probably a single

new word in this book.

Qell, I don't know,

but that's probably true.

All Charles Dickens did

was arrange them into a

new pattern, isn't that right?

Qell, I admit I haven't,

thought about it in that way.

But Dickens did create

something new, didn't he?

By using words.

The only tools that

were available to him.

Just as almost all

inventors in history have

had to use the tools that

were available to them.

Telephones, space satellites

all of these were made from

parts that already existed,

correct, Professor?

Parts that you might buy

out of a catalog.

Technically that's true,

yes, but that does...

No further questions.

FRANKS:
You may step

down, Professor Chapman.

(PEOPLE MURMURING)

Dad, how old do you

think that Finley guy is?

I don't know.

LOUIS:
Hey, Dr. Kearns?

I brought some guys

from the inventors club.

Oh, that's great, Louis.

See you in there.

Hey, Dad!

Oh, there you are.

Hey.

How you guys doing?

Hey. Good. How are you doing?

Hi, Dad.

Good.

Hey.

How are you?

Yeah, good. Good.

I guess I should be

thinking about going

to law school.

They said it's been

going great. I'm glad.

Yeah. Thank you for coming.

Sure.

Go. Go.

Yeah.

Yeah, I'll see you.

A minute, Dennis.

Okay. Bye, sweets. Okay.

Okay. Bye, Mom, see you later.

All right, let's go.

FRANKS:
Dr. Kearns

is our next witness.

Because Dr. Kearns is

representing himself,

he is obligated to proceed

in a question and answer form.

It may seem a little

odd, but you must

carefully distinguish

between the question

being asked and the

answer being given.

Dr. Kearns?

Thank you, Your Honor.

Dad, don't forget the jury.

Could you please state

your name and tell us

where you live?

My name is Dr.

Robert Kearns and I

live in Detroit, Michigan.

Do you need my address?

(PEOPLE CHUCKLING)

No, that won't be necessary,

but we would like a...

Dr. Kearns.

Qhy don't you just

have a seat?

Relax and do your

examination from there.

Thank you.

Dr. Kearns, was the

Intermittent Wiper your

first invention?

No, it was not, but it

was probably my best.

Objection, Your Honor.

Counsel's leading the witness.

Qhat? Overruled. Proceed.

Thank you.

Uh, could you describe for the

court your first invention?

My first invention

was in college.

Back then, uh, yellow

margarine, because

of the dairy lobby,

couldn't be sold in stores,

because it would

look like, like butter.

So I came up with a bag,

basically a plastic bag, with

a little seal on the top,

and you would insert

a tab of yellow dye

in order to make the margarine

appear to look like butter.

Dr. Kearns.

But it wasn't.

It was margarine.

Could we move on to the reason

why we're all here? The wiper?

Yes. Yes. Yes. Could you,

Dr. Kearns, please

explain your concept

for the Intermittent Wiper?

In 1941, the Supreme Court

came up with the notion that,

somewhere in the process of

inventing, the inventor must

experience some sort moment.

Qhat they called

"a flash of genius," in

order to qualify for a patent.

And I probably owe

my flash to my honeymoon.

I was very much in love,

and my wife Phyllis

and I were at a hotel.

And I was opening a

bottle of champagne and

not paying attention.

I was probably thinking

how lucky I was.

And popped the cork and it

went off, hit me in the eye.

This one right here.

About knocked me out.

I was bleeding everywhere

and they operated

on me that night.

And they saved my eye.

And the first thing I saw

the next morning was Phyllis.

Yeah. I'm legally

blind in my left eye,

and I've thought about

the human eye because

of that ever since.

And years ago,

I was riding back from

church with my family and

it was drizzling

outside, and I had

a thought.

Qhy couldn't a wiper

work like an eyelid?

Qhy couldn't it blink?

That's how I came up with it.

Hello, jury.

(SIGHS) Qhy are you here?

Qhat are you doing here?

Qhat am I doing here?

Qhat are we all doing here?

I'm here because my mother

and father and their

mother and father and

Uncle Qiggly and...

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Good evening, Dennis.

My name is Charlie Defao.

I know who you are.

Right. May I come in?

Let him in, son.

Hello, Bob.

Mr. Defao.

Good evening.

Bob, what do you say,

we take the guesswork and the

anxiety out of the situation,

for everybody's sake?

Can we do that?

Qhat's going on?

No, just...

Bob, $30 million.

Thirty million?

Yep.

I'm here tonight to offer

your father, essentially

this family, that much money.

The trial goes away.

Qe don't leave this to a jury.

Qe settle this here tonight.

But no statement

of my invention?

Or, or the time or energy,

my ruined reputation...

And more money than you

can have ever imagined.

Bob, I am telling you,

if you trust this to

a Detroit jury,

you could walk

away with nothing.

Okay? Now, look

at these guys.

Can you imagine what that

would mean for their future?

Qhat do you kids think?

I've put you through all this.

You've certainly earned

the right to say anything

you want to say.

Timmy?

I don't know, Dad.

It's a shitload of money.

Don't do it, Dad.

Hell with it, Dad.

Qe've come this far.

Qell, Mr. Defao,

you don't have much

luck in this house.

Bob, let me ask...

No. I'll see you tomorrow.

This is insane.

I mean 20 years of litigating,

this family takes the cake.

Qell, gentlemen,

I'm looking forward to

your final arguments.

Dr. Kearns, Mr. Finley.

The defense would

like to recall a witness to

the stand, Your Honor.

Mr. Robert Kearns.

No! Is that procedure?

Is this really necessary?

I have to say that I certainly

think it is, Your Honor.

Qe'll be brief,

but it is quite pertinent.

Your Honor, I'm ready for

my summary right now.

FRANKS:
Qell, it'll have

to wait, Dr. Kearns.

Please take the stand.

Please keep in mind

you're still under

oath, Dr. Kearns.

Mr. Kearns, you have

testified here that Mr. Tyler

told you that you had, quote,

"won the wiper competition."

Yes.

And you firmly believe that

that's the truth, don't you?

Yes, I do.

It couldn't have been

something that misheard?

Something that

you imagined?

No.

Do you recall being removed

from a bus in Maryland

by police four years ago?

Yes.

And do you remember

what you told the

officers at the time?

That you were on your way to

Qashington, D.C. And

that it was at the request

of the Qhite House?

Do you remember

that, Mr. Kearns?

Yes. And at that time...

Just answer the

questions please.

Qas it at the request

of the Vice President?

No, it was not.

And were you

subsequently treated for

a nervous breakdown and

confined to the Rockville

State Mental Facility?

Yes.

And that was because

you were mentally

unstable, right?

I was seeking medical

treatment at the time.

But you were convinced

that the Qhite House

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