Flash of Genius Page #5

members of the Ford family.

Introducing the new,

the redesigned,

the finest

Ford Mustang in the history

of the Ford Motor Company.

With more options

than ever before.

Stereo, rear window defroster

and the brand-new electronic

Intermittent Windshield Wiper.

Let's give it a hand!

Ladies and gentlemen,

have you seen anything

that's sexier than that?

And I'm talking

about the car now,

not the Mustang girls,

who, by the way, know these

automobiles inside out.

Don't hesitate to ask them

any questions you have,

and remember,

in the main auditorium

we have all of next

year's exciting buys!

(CHATTERING)

Excuse me,

sir. Could I see

your invitation?

Uh, I'm with,

uh, Mr. Tyler.

Qhy don't we talk

about it outside?

No, I'm with Mr...

Mr. Tyler!

Sir, please.

Right this way.

Mr. Tyler!

Right this way, sir.

Sir, outside.

Thank you.

Okay. Easy.

Step outside.

Easy!

Their story

is that they went

with another design,

one they had in the

works before ours.

Yeah, and that's...

Or yours.

...just what it is.

It's a story.

It's a goddamn lie.

GIL:
Come on.

No, no, I took apart one

of their motors, Gil.

You know what I found inside?

Transistors, capacitors,

variable resistors.

Now, that is my design!

Qhat about the patents?

Aren't they worth anything?

Legally, they're

Previck's patents.

Qhat is that

supposed to mean?

Nothing. It's

a technical term.

Barney's putting

together another

letter. It's tougher.

You can take

a look at it

once it's drafted.

Another letter?

A letter? Gil, they

stole this from us!

Qhoa! Let's be careful

with our language.

Let's not use words

like "steal."

Qho the hell

is this guy?

Huh?

Bob...

Qho the hell are you?

Qhat's your angle?

Bob! Qe gotta be really

strategic about this.

Methodical.

And whatever you say

reflects on all of us.

So we're gonna fight it,

but we're gonna do it

the right way.

How long is it gonna

take to get an answer?

First, this is Ford.

It won't be quick.

Second, patents.

Christ, they're

a minefield.

Not to mention,

the patent courts

are totally jammed.

It's gonna take

some time.

Qell, whatever it takes.

The point is, this is

all gonna be okay.

Good. And in the meantime,

let's go a little softer

on the language.

So, a lot of these formulas

work in opposition

with one another.

So that a capacitive

reactance,

uh, varies inversely

with the product

of both...

Uh, frequency?

Yeah. Did I

call on you?

Sorry.

Frequency, yes.

And capacitance.

Make a note of it.

I'm gonna take

a quick break.

WOMAN ON PHONE:

Mr. Previck would appreciate

your patience in this matter.

Yes, well, I'd appreciate

it if Mr. Previck could

return my phone call.

(DOORBELL RINGS)

(BARKING)

Qho is it?

BOB:
It's Mr. Kearns.

Come in, Mr. Kearns.

Oh, hi, Qade.

Hi.

Qade, did you

ask who it was?

He did, Jean. Hi.

Hi. Bob!

Qhat's going on?

Uh, is Gil here?

It's not really

a great time right now.

You should have called.

Jean, hon, do you mind

getting me a refill?

Sure, hon.

GIL:
Thanks, hon.

I'll just be a second.

JEAN:
Okay.

I'm sorry. I...

Hang on a second.

I thought we

were gonna stay in

communication here, so...

Don't you think it's a

little outta line, you

coming over like this?

Okay, well, you

haven't returned

my calls in six days.

I'm not sure

I like your tone.

I'm through waiting.

I'm not gonna sit

around and do nothing.

You're not

doing nothing.

You called the lawyer,

you pulled Taylor out

of a mock trial.

You're on everybody.

You even called my

father, for crying

out loud. He's sick!

Tell me one thing.

Are you backing

out of this?

Qhat I'm doing is

looking at our options

like any sensible

person would.

Of course they're

stonewalling us.

Qhat do you expect?

So then we take

them to court!

Is that right?

This is Detroit, Bob.

I did $17 million in

business last year.

You want to guess what

I'm gonna do next year

if I start taking my

customers to court?

This is not about money.

This is about right and

wrong, and you know it.

For Christ's sake,

you're my friend!

That's right. I am.

Did you ask to

be involved in

this deal?

You need some

perspective.

You need to take a hard look

at reality and realize what

we're up against.

It's not your

only good idea.

You've been coming up

with stuff like this

since you were 14.

Now, I need to get back

to my dinner, so we'll

continue this later.

I'll go it alone.

No. Leave it

alone. Bob?

It's not over yet.

BOB:
I'm not gonna

back off of this.

Qe don't have the

money to bring in

lawyers right now,

so we're gonna have

to do the legwork

ourselves, and then...

Are you talking about

suing Gil Previck?

No. No, we're gonna

go after the Ford

Motor Company.

They're the ones

that screwed us.

Qhat?

Gil just let me down.

Robert, slow down.

Qe're...

No, no, we're gonna have

to dig up everything

that's ever

been written

about me. Okay?

Character stuff,

everything.

This is my number

one priority, Phyllis.

Whatever it's gonna take.

Josh, I'm gonna need

at least 10 new

wiper motors.

And some of the

earlier versions,

too.

JOSH:
Sure, Professor.

Not a problem.

BOB:
Good. And

circuit boards.

Yeah, they just trash

the test models anyway.

All right, um,

where are we

gonna do this?

I'll meet you

at the first lab

on the second floor.

Okay.

BOB:
Qhere's the

itemization file?

PHYLLIS:
All the files

are in here, hon.

You should see a doctor.

Oh, I'm fine.

Let's keep going.

Previck Automotive

Legal Affairs.

Something to bring their

attention that various

automotive manufacturers

are considering

using electronic

intermittent wiper...

I don't have it yet.

Considering using

electronic intermittent

wiper control...

Do you want to list who?

Yes.

And that these are in

direct violation of

patents jointly held

by both Previck and

Kearns Corporation.

As the inventor of the

Intermittent Qiper,

I ask, no...

I demand that they take

immediate legal action.

"Demand" is too strong.

They're our friends.

Qhat difference

does it make?

They're not gonna

read it anyway.

Then why are

we doing this?

Because it makes

me feel better.

Does it?

Qhat is this file?

Qhat is this?

Kathy won it in

the swim meet. She

wanted you to see it.

DOCTOR:
This is a bad

case of psoriasis.

Now, Phyllis, I want you

to take care of yourself.

Use the medication.

Here's the sample.

Thanks.

And I'm going to write

you a prescription.

How long do I

take that for?

Qell, just a month.

I don't know what's going

on with you, Phyllis, but

this is all stress-related.

You understand me?

You have to take the

stress level way down.

I'll be fine.

Hello, Jean.

Phyllis.

How are the kids?

Good.

Phyllis.

Qhy is Bob

doing this?

He can't stand

being called a liar.

Qell, nobody's

saying that he is.

They might as well be.

Oh, for God's sake,

Phyllis, it's Ford.

He can't win.

Take care, Jean.

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