Local Hero

'You're with KNOX. Overnight,

Texas south had 1/2 inch of rain!

'Today, an 80% chance of rain

in greater Houston.

'The downtown temperature

is 70 degrees.

'The air is good today,

'pollen level at 200,

and lead level, a low 120.

'Traffic-wise,

things are gumming up.

'Downtown is still moving,

'but at exit 49,

there's heavy inbound stuff.

'On southbound nine, we have

a highway patrol advisory

'on a car and truck wreck.

'Hurricane Eleanor has decided

to move off east...

'maybe to avoid all that traffic...

'and the high wind advisory

of last night has been lifted.

'Also lifting is the Dow Jones...

'up five at 800

on last night's New York close.

'More news and numbers

from me, Bob Merry, at 11

'here on KNOX,

the sound of Texas south,

'brought to you today

by Commercial Wall Coverings.

'Now back to work,

and keep moving, Texas!'

'Nature guards

her treasures jealously.

'Just a decade ago, these fields

were beyond our reach.

'We didn't have the technology.

'Today, a Knox engineer will tell you

that he might need a little time,

'but he'll get the oil.

'He knows a little time

is all that we have left.'

Mr Happer. Mr Happer, sir.

Today's main business

is the progress of our

acquisition of part of Scotland

for the refinery and storage base.

I've got a few things to show you.

We have a two-year lead

in North Atlantic development.

We can double this by streamlining

the processing end of things onshore.

The pipeline is well on its way

from all three production areas.

- We have a site for the terminal.

- What about the site acquisition?

The survey teams found

the only suitable bay on the coast.

Total investment is 600 million,

over three fiscals.

We've got to buy Ferness Bay

for $60 million.

We're dealing with stable allies

of the US,

not to mention the links historically

between Knox Oil and Scotland.

We're not in a third world situation.

I think we should get

a negotiator on the site.

Do I really have to go there?

I could fix the deals over the phone,

like with Salinas last year?

It's not like Mexico, Macintyre,

it's people like us.

You're a Scot. You'll be dealing

with your own people.

You won't be dealing

with a bunch of Indians.

Cal, will you look after

Africa while I'm gone?

Just the west coast deals.

Sarah's got the files.

We've got the Congo development

minister's tit in the wringer

so I think we can close this deal.

'What about the tanker franchise?'

I want franchises in all territories.

And put a five-day deadline

on the offer.

- 'You got it.'

- You want to eat?

Cal, I've got a confession to make.

I'm not Scottish.

Man, oh, man!

Think I should tell Fountain?

Hell, no. Don't spoil the fun.

Take the trip.

My folks changed their name

when they arrived from Hungary.

They thought Macintyre was American.

Jesus, Mac, you're not a Scotchman,

you're not a Texan.

I can't even pronounce my last name.

Comets are important. They could be

the key to the universe.

What will you call this comet,

Happer?

The Happer Comet

or Happer's Comet...or Comet Happer.

I thought it might be!

The whole world will weep with

gratitude when the big day comes.

Mr Happer's got his comet. Hooray!

What an empty, hollow,

wasteful activity.

You're chasing comets around the sky.

Is your life so complete?

What about a wife?

Children? A family?

Are these human goals

too simple for you?

Get out, Moritz! That's enough.

I've got some meetings.

Out! Out! Out!

Yes, sir. Uh, it seemed to go pretty

well today, didn't it, sir?

It was OK, Moritz.

I think we could

build up the sessions...

at the same fee, of course.

We're at a crucial stage.

Speak to Mrs Wyatt.

Fix a half-hour for Friday.

I could give you

an abusive phone call some night.

Anytime that's inconvenient. Surprise

might do some good. I mean harm.

Out!

Moritz!

Did you mean that stuff

about me being a flop?

Oh, God, no, Mr Happer!

It's basic therapy technique.

Sometimes I get carried away.

You think if I'd married,

things would be different?

Oh, by no means, Mr Happer.

The world offers many alternatives

to the security of the family unit.

Look at me, Mr Happer.

I'm a single man.

Get out.

Mrs Wyatt, who are we sending

to Scotland on that refinery deal?

'Mr Crabbe selected

Mr Macintyre of Acquisitions.

'His Scottish connections

fit the bill,

'and he handled Mexico

well last year.'

I want to see him before he leaves.

Cal, I've just been called upstairs.

I'm going to meet the man.

This could be it. Big doings!

And I get to ride

the express elevator, too.

I have the Prime Minister for you,

Mr Happer. Hold on.

Mr Happer, ma'am.

Yes, I did!

I tried it with the raspberries.

It was delicious,

although I only had frozen.

Yes, ma'am.

Here's Mr Happer now. Goodbye.

I'm sorry, Your Excellency,

but Mr Happer can't talk right now.

Ask His Serene Highness

to call back in half an hour.

Macintyre, sir.

Pleased to meet you.

- Going to Scotland, Macintyre?

- Yes, sir.

Be like going home,

like we're going home, eh?

The founder of all this was a Scot...

Alexander Knox.

That's not him. That's my father.

He bought out Knox in 1912.

Would've been handy if he'd thought

to change the company name then.

Anyway, you're going to Scotland.

The old country, hey, Macintyre?

Yes, sir!

Virgo is well up this time of year.

Sir?

I'm talking about the sky, Macintyre.

The constellation of Virgo

is very prominent

in the sky now, in Scotland.

I want you

to keep an eye on Virgo for me.

Will you do that?

Oh, sure.

This is Virgo. Find the Great Bear,

the Big Dipper, and you can't miss.

I'm expecting something special

from there. I want reports.

- Reports, sir?

- Anything unusual in Virgo.

It might be a new star

or even a shooting star.

I want reports.

Anything out of the ordinary,

you telephone me, night or day.

This is my private number.

You'll be travelling

six hours east...you'll be ahead.

Think of that.

Do you know what I'm talking about?

- I have a general...

- You'll know when you see it.

And you'll telephone me, OK?

You do know what a comet is,

don't you?

- I would if I saw one.

- And you'd phone me?

- Yes, sir.

- Good man. You got the picture.

The northern sky

is a beautiful thing, Macintosh.

You're going to have

a wonderful trip.

Thank you, sir.

Yes?

'Hi, Rita.'

- Who is this?

- 'Mac!'

Yes?

'I'm leaving the country for a while.

'I was wondering if you'd like to

celebrate this evening with a drink?'

Uh...no.

No, it's not. It's Mac.

She knows.

No. Mac. M-a-c.

Hello there!

How are you?

Oh, good. Yeah, I'm terrific, too.

No, I won't keep you.

I'm leaving town for a while,

and you still have stuff here.

Some mail...three letters.

They've been here a while.

Your English cigarette lighter...?

I thought you might miss that.

It's not important

if you can live without it.

There is something else.

Remember my camera case?

The one you kept your make-up in?

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