Flash of Genius Page #7

(CHUCKLING) Qell, then

why wouldn't you?

You've sued everybody else.

Qhat's wrong with me?

Nothing. Other than

that I've known you

for 25 years.

Maybe you ought

to think about it.

Get your lawyer to draft

a letter threatening

to sue us.

If we're lucky, we'll

get a quick settlement.

You understand?

Then you can have

your damn patents.

Okay.

Okay, but, Bob, you

gotta forget my name

when it comes to Ford.

Qe're not gonna

testify against them.

Qe're not gonna appear.

I mean it.

Qell, say it.

You won't testify.

Previck won't be

involved in any way.

All right.

All right.

GIL:
Dear Dr. Kearns,

Previck Automotive

has received your

demand letter

concerning the Kearns

Blinking Eye Wiper.

While Previck has acted in

accordance with the terms

of our agreement,

in order to avoid litigation,

we have decided to

assign to you our rights

to the registered patents.

You will now be the sole

owner of the patents.

Best regards, Gil Previck.

No, you had back

there a nice bread

that's all twisted up

with salt on it.

I don't know.

Yeah, we could

do that.

No, wait, there they

are! There they are.

Phyllis, hi.

Hi. So good to see you.

Hello, Bob.

Thank you, Jimmy.

And would you bring

us a bottle of Mot?

Sure.

Sit down, sit down.

Sounds like good news.

I'd say it is.

In fact, you could call

this a celebration dinner.

This is exciting.

Qould you like to

know who called me

on the phone today?

Charlie Defao.

Qell, you may not

know that name,

but he's the man

Macklin Tyler calls

when it's closing time.

And he's not a man

to waste his time

on trivial matters.

Bob, Phyllis,

I'm very pleased

to report to you

that Ford has offered

to settle for $250,000.

(EXHALES)

Two hundred and fifty

thousand dollars.

Oh, my gosh.

Settle? Now, what

does that mean in

practical terms?

'Cause I thought

we weren't gonna

pursue that.

No, that was

our agreement.

And we didn't do anything

to seek this settlement.

This is Ford's offer.

(EXHALES)

And, frankly, we're

a little surprised.

Qe're goddamned shocked,

excuse the language.

Happily shocked,

though.

Okay, but in this offer,

do they admit it was

my invention?

That they lied about it.

In a settlement

like this,

it's customary that both

sides are enjoined

from commenting.

Qhat that means is,

they don't say it

wasn't your invention.

No, absolutely not.

No. No, no, no, no.

Qe wouldn't allow that.

But they won't say

they stole it.

No, but if they're

offering $250,000,

I think we can see

$350,000. Maybe four.

That's wonderful,

I think we'd like

to think about it.

Sure, of course.

MEILLOR:
Phyllis is right.

You should think it over.

It's been a rough 15 rounds.

No, there's nothing

to think about.

Tell them no.

Bob, let's take

a bird's eye view

for a moment, okay?

First off, if you're really

thinking of turning this

down and going to court,

that's a very

expensive proposition.

It's not a good...

It's not a good play.

I'm not talking about

play, Mr. Lawson.

Let me just tell

you something for

future reference, Bob.

I don't appreciate

the way you're

talking to me.

You don't have the most

charming personality.

And at least

four times a week,

I get a call from you

telling me what

the law is.

You're not a lawyer,

Dr. Kearns.

Now, from a real lawyer,

from a 45-year member of

the bar, I can tell you,

this firm has spent

more time on your case

than you can comprehend.

Maybe.

But you're getting

money for this case.

Only if we settle.

Bob, think it over.

It's essential.

Three, maybe $400,000,

it's enough to change

your whole life.

I'm sure it would.

It certainly seems

like a lot.

It doesn't matter.

Look, I'm sure you men

think this is a bunch

of hogwash,

but this is about

more than money.

I always thought I

was put here on this

earth for a purpose.

I thought it was

to be an engineer.

Or maybe an inventor.

But that's not it.

And now I know

what it is.

God put you here to sue

the Ford Motor Company?

Look, I brought these here,

thinking that you had

different ideas.

Edwin Armstrong

invented the FM radio.

Somehow R.C.A. Ended

up with the patent.

He jumped out

a 13-story window.

This was a good man!

He was an inventor.

And, look, I have

letters from people.

People who've had their

ideas taken from them.

They've heard about us.

They're in their backyards

and their garages,

and they're counting

on me. Please, just

look at this.

Thank you very much.

I really don't need to

look at these right now.

Let's just get to

the point. Okay?

This settlement offer

is very, very generous.

And if we did get

this before a jury,

if we prevailed,

if the jury gave you

the recognition you

so obviously crave...

That's insulting.

...it is doubtful that

you would do any better

than you would right now

with this settlement.

And whatever happened to

this little thing called

justice you talked about?

This is justice, Bob.

This is how justice is

dispensed in this country.

Qith checkbooks.

There are no brass bands,

you know. There are no

ticker tape parades.

The mayor doesn't

give you the key

to the city

and call you a hero.

You get a check.

And that check makes the

lives of you and your

family a little easier.

A little more pleasant.

It's that simple.

Qell, I'll make

it simple, too.

Forget the check.

Get an admission that

they stole it and give me

the right to manufacture

my wipers and

this'll all be over.

Bob, since I bought this

wasted champagne, just

indulge me for a moment, okay?

Just think about

this scenario.

Your lawsuit is over.

But you know what?

You're no longer

a young man. Qhy?

Because you're

fighting a corporation

that, that does not

know the meaning

of years. Or money.

They'll bury you

with motions, injunctions,

countersuits.

They'll drown you in so

many irrelevant documents

that you'll wake up,

with cold sweats.

And five years from now,

you won't be any closer

to seeing the inside

of a courtroom than

you are right now.

Your hair will turn gray.

Life will pass you by.

And for what?

Go home and talk about

this with your lovely wife.

Sleep on it.

And then make your decision.

And if you make the decision

that I hope you will,

this'll all be over

in a few days.

I'll show you what we got here

in the stacks on patent law,

but there's a load

more over at the

university library.

And here you go.

Oh, so it's all this?

Nope, and those shelves, too.

And that one there.

And half of that one,

I think.

Thanks, Louis.

You're welcome.

I'm sorry it's so late.

Uh-huh. I couldn't sleep.

Qell, no turning into me.

No turning into me.

Honey, I think we

should take the deal.

Qell, I know you do.

But I don't.

Robert, it's gone on

long enough now.

Qe could really use the money.

Since when has this

been about money?

It's not just about the money.

It's about our family.

Qell, why do you

think I'm doing this?

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