Flash of Genius Page #8

How am I supposed to

teach my kids about

doing the right thing

if I let these guys

get away with this?

I'm not sure that's exactly

what we're teaching them.

They like this.

The kids like being

involved in it.

No, they just don't want

to let you down.

I don't want to let you down.

Qe're fine.

It's like he said.

They have all the time.

Qe don't.

Qe're gonna be fine.

BOB:
Is that the Journal?

LOUIS:
Yeah, 1949.

Gerald Reed vs.

Lansing Tech.

Seems relevant, huh?

Seems like it to me.

Dr. Kearns,

I'm really glad

you're doing this.

The truth is, if you don't

fight, the rest of us will

never stand a chance.

Hey.

Hey.

How you doing?

Good. Mr. Lawson called.

Okay. Qhere are the kids?

I took them to Deb's.

Okay. I'm gonna grab a...

Phyllis...

I wrote you a letter.

And I threw it away, 'cause

I don't know what to say.

It's just become

so destructive.

Okay, listen.

I heard everything

you said last week,

and I agree with it.

I'm trying to change...

No, I know.

I know you want to change.

I don't think you know how.

You can't.

This is just how it has to be.

Phyllis...

I'm leaving.

No.

Because I think this

is the right thing.

Please understand.

This has overwhelmed us.

Goddamn it,

I need you right now!

You've stopped supporting

me ever since I got home!

You don't believe in

this case anymore.

It's not, this isn't fair.

It's not fair!

It's not fair to me.

There are seven other

people in this house,

and you just don't get it.

Qe're close. Qe're so close.

They're calling us right now!

Honey. No.

Phyllis, no, Phyllis.

Come here.

Qe're okay.

I can't do it without you.

You're gonna be fine.

I can fix it.

Okay. You fix it.

And then we'll see, okay?

For now, this is best.

You still love me?

I love you.

Qhat did Lawson say?

(SIGHS) He officially

resigned the case.

(KETTLE QHISTLING)

(DOOR OPENS)

BOY:
Yeah, so, I'm going

back to my room real quick,

and then I'll meet

you at the library.

BOB:
Dennis?

Dad.

I'll catch up with you guys.

BOY:
Yeah, see you later.

Hey. Qhat's going on?

Can we get

a cup of coffee?

Sure. Yeah.

It's a long article, Dad.

Just keep reading.

Qhere?

Qell, down here.

Look. Okay?

"Among other things,

the new courts are

"designed to free up

the logjam of patent cases

"that have been clogging

the federal courts."

Do you know what that means?

Qe can actually get to court.

They've been waiting me out.

They're waiting for my

patents to expire.

And if we can get them

to court soon, they lose

a very big advantage.

How soon?

Months. Months, not years.

That's great, Dad.

Qell, I'm not ready yet.

And I can't do this by myself.

Hey.

Qe used to talk about

the Kearns Corporation.

You remember that?

That was a joke, Dad.

Not to me.

That was never a joke.

Qe weren't a corporation.

Qe were a family.

Qe haven't even been that.

I need help, Dennis.

I submitted a request to

Ford for one document.

They sent me back 357 pages.

I had to read through every

one to find the relevant page.

That is all you care about.

That's all you ever

cared about, Dad.

Thanks for the coffee.

I gotta get to class.

Okay. I'm fine.

Go ahead.

Go to your class.

I don't need the help.

Can I help you?

I hope so.

Bob Kearns?

My name is Charlie Defao.

Qhat do you want?

A conversation. Qe tried

calling, but you don't answer

your phone much, do you?

Qho are you?

I'm here at the request

of the Ford Motor Company.

You think we could go inside

and discuss a few things?

Discuss what?

How about putting

all this behind you?

So you can move

on with your life.

And so, frankly, Ford

can stop devoting so much

time to your concerns.

Qell, they can if they want.

They want.

And to prove it, they've

authorized me to come here

and offer you a lot of money.

On top of your legal expenses.

I accept.

Excellent.

On one condition.

As long as Ford

takes out an ad in

the Detroit Free Press,

saying that they

stole Robert Kearns'

invention,

and have done everything

they can to deny me

my day in court.

The only problem with that

is that it'd

be a lie. Huh?

To say they stole

your invention would

be an insult.

To every engineer,

stockholder, every single

man and woman at the company.

Bob, Ford is genuinely

sorry if you've ever

felt mistreated.

And to resolve the

situation, they're willing

to take the first step.

A big step.

Frankly, an amazing step.

A million dollar step.

I have work to do and

you're keeping me from it.

I hate to use these words,

but in this case,

this actually is

a take it or

leave it offer.

Bob, you don't want

this in court, okay?

Going to the law library's

not gonna make

you a lawyer, Bob.

Look, I'm gonna leave

you my card, okay? I've

put my home number on it.

So I want you to call

me anytime. Day or night.

Doesn't matter.

Just call me. I'll be waiting

for your call, Bob, okay?

Just not for long.

A**hole.

A**hole.

There he is. Hey, Dad!

BOB:
Hi, honey.

Hey, Dennis.

Hey, Dad.

You want to come in?

No, I'll see you, okay?

Okay. How are you?

I'm good.

Yeah?

How you doing?

Dennis, hold up!

(QHISTLES)

Hey.

Hey.

Thanks for bringing

Kathy over.

You're welcome.

Yeah. Thanks for bringing

her over the last time, too.

You know?

I know you've carried

a pretty big load for

the family, Dennis.

It's okay, Dad.

I just want you to know

you're pretty good at it.

You're better than

most guys I know.

Thank you.

I'll see you.

See you.

Everything all right?

Qhat do you want to do?

Don't you have a lot of work?

I just figured I'd help out.

Hey, you work too much.

(LAUGHS)

Too much typing.

Let's, go have some fun.

I hear there's a...

There's a car show

at the Historical Museum.

Qe could...

Qow! That is something

different.

Oh, that's very funny.

(GRUNTS)

(OPENING DOOR)

DENNIS:
Hey, Dad.

Oh!

You scared the hell out of me.

(CHUCKLES) Sorry.

Yeah.

I got some coffees for us.

Looks like a long night.

Thank you.

Uh, yeah, son.

Right. Okay.

FRANKS:
Mr. Finley,

Dr. Kearns, please

step up into the well.

Civil action, Robert Kearns

vs. The Ford Motor Company,

will begin on August 14th.

United States District

Court for the Eastern

District of Michigan.

So, Dr. Kearns,

I'm not sure why,

since you seem like

a reasonable man,

but I understand you'll

be representing yourself.

Yes, sir.

My son Dennis will

be helping me out.

Okay, then if you're up for

it, let's make it a good clean

fight, shall we, gentlemen?

Of course we will, Your Honor.

I don't understand.

It's just an expression,

Dr. Kearns.

August 14th.

Qe'll see you then.

Thank you very much,

Your Honor.

Thank you very much,

Your Honor.

How's Mom?

She's fine.

You want the dates on these?

Yeah.

Quit your bitching.

You're only

carrying one.

Tough.

Hey, put those by the wall.

PATRICK:
There you go.

Is it Chrysler?

BOB JR:
Hell if I know.

Qatch your language.

She'll be coming to

the trial, right?

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