Norman

NORMAN:
Okay, my idea is, we find someone

like a Jo Wilf, or an Arthur Taub

and we get them to buy about

$300 million of debt

and then pay 80-90 cents on the dollar.

And let's say it's Jo Wilf,

he walks away with $30-40 million.

This is good.

I've thought it through, I know.

I just got to find someone

who can actually do this.

I take my seven percent.

You set it up, you get a finder's fee...

It's a lot of money.

And everybody wins.

Isn't this the scale?

The kind of deal that

Jo Wilf is looking for right now?

Yeah...

Yes, but I don't have direct contact

with Wilf. You know that, right?

Yeah, but you have friends there. Don't you?

I mean, this is your circle, right?

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

Yeah. Bill Kavish. You know him?

He works for Wilf. He is a friend.

- Yeah.

- Do you know his name?

- Maybe.

- You know his family.

His father was Henry Kavish.

You remember him?

He got into some kind of trouble.

Oh, yeah.

He was caught taking some money.

I don't know exactly

what happened there, but...

He was fired.

His wife left him.

Kids turned their backs on him.

He died alone and penniless.

- Bill is his youngest son.

- Introduce me to Bill.

I can give you his e-mail,

but I prefer not to send

a formal introduction, you know?

We represent clients

that do business with them...

I don't want to look like

I'm asking him for a favor.

Can I say that we're related?

- Can I say that I'm your uncle?

- No.

No. No. Don't make it a family thing.

It doesn't sound good.

Uh...

It might not be a good idea

to mention my name.

Okay, you can say you know me.

Yeah, but please don't tell him

you got his address from me.

- Okay?

- Yeah.

Look, I'm sorry I can't be more helpful.

It's tough.

You're like a drowning man

trying to wave at an ocean liner.

Jo Wilf is an ocean liner.

He doesn't see any of us. (CHUCKLES)

But I'm a good swimmer.

- Yeah.

- Don't forget that.

As long as my head is above water...

(KISSES)

Good morning, Bill.

Norman Oppenheimer.

What the f***? Are you stalking me now?

No, I just need

a couple of minutes of your time.

I know you're busy.

Philip Cohen might have mentioned me.

No. This is my private time.

Please respect that. Call the office.

Does Philip know you're here?

- How did you even find me?

- It's just a business opportunity.

Look, I wouldn't be here

if it wasn't time-sensitive. Let me explain.

- Give me one minute.

- No.

A very high official...

I can't mention his name right now.

Made me an offer

to sell his country's tax receivables

to a third party for 80 cents

on the dollar...

Excuse me. I have to leave.

This is unacceptable, please.

Bill. Bill, no, I wouldn't be doing this

if I didn't think it was worth Jo's time.

Don't trust me, trust Philip.

Good things come in surprising ways.

You never know.

You never know, right?

I mean, what, worse comes to worse,

he kicks me out the door.

No! Worse comes to worse,

he kicks me out the door.

It is my job to keep people like you away.

Don't you get that?

- Yes.

- So please, respect my position.

Stop.

Please.

I'm sorry. I don't know what else to say.

So I'll tell my partners

that we had a good conversation.

And we'll see what happens. Okay?

Thank you, Bill.

NORMAN:
It's not just about this one deal.

It's about connecting to people

at the level of Wilf or Taub.

PHILIP:
If only it were that easy.

NORMAN:
Look,

I'm meeting a very high Israeli official

at a conference later today.

All I need is to get my Israeli

in a room with one of these guys.

PHILIP:
I don't know if he would get involved

in a political situation.

NORMAN:
Trust me, something good will happen.

(RON AND MODERATOR CONVERSING INDISTINCTLY)

RON:
...of chemical warfare

on a first name basis.

Some of them are married to Russian women.

But it should be a real contact

without a drop of arrogance.

MODERATOR:
Well, suppose someone says

you can't trust them.

You would say it is not a matter of trust

but one of national interest?

RON:
There is clearly a problem.

Is America pushing Russia

away from the West

and into the arms of China?

Some natural gas experts

in this room will say

that's exactly what they are doing

by encouraging a pipeline

between Israel and Turkey.

But as I always say,

when dealing with global interests,

we shouldn't be playing backgammon,

- Shesh Besh, you know.

- (MAN COUGHS)

Where you roll your dice

and hope for the best.

We should be playing chess.

(CONVERSING INDISTINCTLY)

The distinguished minister

speaking before me,

for whom I have a great deal of respect,

seems to know a lot about everything,

and it is hard to argue with him.

China, Russia, America...

- (AUDIENCE CHUCKLES)

- He must know what he is talking about.

He's my boss, after all.

And a very good chess player.

But, you know,

um, George Bernard Shaw once said,

"Some people see the way things are

and ask, 'Why?'

"I see how things should be

and ask, 'Why not?"'

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

Thank you, my friend.

(LAUGHS)

- Okay. Hope to see you soon.

- Bye.

(INAUDIBLE)

...people were there today.

You know, I'd be happy

to introduce you to him.

Shall I tell him that you are in town?

I could do that.

You know, I'm going to a dinner

at his house tonight. You can join me.

How do you know Arthur Taub?

Oh, my wife used to babysit him.

And then she ended up working for him,

years later.

They were very close. Very close.

Why don't I just call Arthur right now

because I'm sure he would be happy...

- Hold on, please, put the phone back.

- Happy to have his...

Welcome to Lanvin. How can I help you today?

Mr. Eshel is speaking in a series of meetings

with businessmen and diplomats.

He is interested in trying out those shoes

in the window.

Sure, may I ask

what line of business you're in?

Well, I don't want to ruin my first

impression, but I'm a politician.

NORMAN:
Well, not any politician.

Mr. Micha Eshel is

the Minister of Trade and Labor in Israel,

and Deputy to the Prime Minister.

No, no, no.

I'm the Deputy Minister of Trade and Labor.

My boss, the Minister,

is Deputy to the Prime Minister.

But there are three other deputies,

just to put things in context.

It's an honor to meet you, sir.

I'm sorry, but you look too young

to be so important.

Well, thank you for the very flattering lie.

He has a future in politics.

Which is more than I can say for myself.

I might be young, but I'm already washed-up.

- You don't look washed-up.

- Yeah.

That's because I'm in New York now.

New York makes me feel good.

Back home, I look tired.

NORMAN:
No. No, you don't.

I've seen your appearances on TV.

You look great.

(CHUCKLES) Yeah, well, that's because

I'm very photogenic.

No, no. It's because

you are one of the few Israeli politicians

who radiates optimism.

Optimism... Yeah.

Well, the shoes I buy today will last longer

than the government I serve in.

Change is good. That's what they tell me.

The fashion world relies on change.

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