Norman Page #3

For instance, the tax money

that Israel is withholding.

- Mmm.

- Well, he has this

genius idea for a third party

- to buy the tax receivables...

- And just so I understand,

Mr. Eshel asked you to ask me

if he can come tonight?

Well, no, I... I told him

about the amazing work

that you have been doing,

you know, especially with the...

The cancer research fund in Israel.

And he was so appreciative.

You do realize that this is

an intimate dinner?

Absolutely. Yes.

And that this is my house.

- This is my private home.

- (CHUCKLES)

- It is a beautiful home...

- Thank you very much.

Now, you can't just walk in it

and sit at my table.

Now I was happy to include Mr. Eshel,

even though I did find it a bit odd

that he would invite himself to a dinner

through someone I don't actually know...

- No. No. We met.

- But,

if he isn't here,

the invitation is not up for grabs.

- I... He's actually going to be here though.

- You understand that, right?

He... He's... I promise you,

he's going to be here very soon.

Okay, well, I'll tell you what.

Why don't you wait for him outside

and when he arrives, I promise you

we will make him feel very comfortable.

You want me to wait outside?

That would be great. Thanks.

Um, okay. That's fine. That's fine.

I know he's going to be here very, very soon.

Thank you, Arthur.

- Thank you. Good night.

- Good night.

Mr. Oppenheimer.

This way, please.

(DOOR SLAMS)

(SINGING IN HEBREW)

Norman Oppenheimer. If you came

to hear my class, you're a little late.

If I had the time. If I only had the time.

You're busy. That's good.

Someone has to keep

the world out there spinning.

So, what's new? Who's winning? Who's losing?

Tell me something exciting.

(SIGHS) Well, I came from

a very special evening tonight.

Very fascinating people

at Arthur Taub's house.

You were in Arthur Taub's house?

Yeah. I took Micha Eshel with me.

Can I introduce you to him sometime?

You know who he is, right?

He's in the Israeli parliament.

He's young and charismatic. He's...

He's... He's sharp. Very sharp. Very sharp.

I'm helping him out a little bit,

showing him the ropes.

I'm helping him raise some money.

Well, he is a lucky man

to have you on his side.

No, actually, I'm the lucky man,

'cause this guy I'm telling you...

This... He's... This guy's the real thing.

He is just an incredible human being.

Well, maybe bring him to us

as a guest lecturer.

- If you say he's good...

- Next time he's in town.

And we should make an evening out of it.

- Sounds like a plan, Norman.

- Good. Good. Done.

I'm heading home. Are you staying?

Yeah, I want to listen a bit.

It relaxes me.

Enjoy.

(EXHALES)

(SINGING CONTINUES)

(CELL PHONE RINGING)

(EXHALES)

Hello, sir.

Is it too late to call?

No. No, no. Not at all. No.

I just got back from Arthur's dinner.

Really wonderful.

Oh.

I'm sorry I couldn't make it.

It was a crazy day.

I'm... I'm... I'm really sorry.

No, no. Don't worry about it. It's okay.

It's okay.

No apologies necessary.

We'll find another opportunity.

I told Arthur all about you.

I feel terrible.

- No.

- Do you forgive me, Norman?

(CHUCKLES)

Please, don't give it...

Don't give it another thought.

- It's fine.

- Are you sure?

Yeah. Yeah.

I'm positive.

I... I want you to know

how much I appreciate

what you did for me today.

I really do. It was...

Nice.

I'm glad.

- Me, too.

- Yeah.

Thank you, Norman.

No, thank you. Thank you.

- Mr. Eshel?

- How do you say galgal anak in English?

You know, the big wheel

in the amusement park, like in London...

A Ferris wheel? It's a Ferris wheel.

Ferris. Ferris, yes. Ferris wheel.

Yeah.

Sometimes you are up

and sometimes you are down.

I just wanted to say that to you, Norman.

I've tasted it on my tongue.

Being on top of everything.

Once you taste it,

you can't settle for anything less.

Do you understand what I am saying?

I do.

(BREATHING RAGGEDLY)

I do.

I do, too.

(BREATHING DEEPLY)

Mr. Eshel?

Mr. Eshel?

(ESHEL BREATHING DEEPLY)

(CROWD CHEERING)

MALE ANNOUNCER:

It is my great honor to welcome

the Prime Minister of the State of Israel.

- (AUDIENCE CHEERING)

- (STATELY MUSIC PLAYING)

Thank you.

Thank you.

(LAUGHING)

Thank you. Thank you.

NORMAN:
For once I bet on the right horse.

- (PHILIP CHUCKLES)

- NORMAN:
It is a miracle.

PHILIP:
So, from now on, how does it work?

Are you friends? How close are you?

Do you visit him in his office?

NORMAN:
To tell you the truth, I don't know.

I don't know.

I just want him to know

that I'm here for him.

If he needs me.

PHILIP:
So have you spoken to him yet?

We've been exchanging messages.

It's not that simple to reach him nowadays.

He's got a lot on his plate.

PHILIP:
Well, if you don't go up to him,

he won't know you're here.

Look at him. He is sealed off.

For all you know, he won't return your calls,

even worse, he might not even

receive your messages.

Look, I mean, you need to get on that line.

(CONVERSING INDISTINCTLY)

DUBY:
Jo Wilf, needs no introduction.

- Mr. Wilf.

- Prime Minister.

It is good to finally meet you.

- Great pleasure for me.

- Another picture.

I was very close to your predecessor

as you know.

- Very glad to have you here.

- Thank you very much.

- (NORMAN BREATHING HEAVILY)

- PHILIP:
You doing okay?

NORMAN:
Yeah. Yeah, yeah, I'm fine.

I might be reacting to something in the room.

I don't know... (SNIFFS)

(CONVERSING INDISTINCTLY)

DUBY:
Pastor Kermit Little.

Pastor. I'm so honored you are here.

Norman Oppenheimer, from New York.

Norman.

Norman. My friend. Where have you been?

- I've been trying to reach you.

- (CHUCKLES)

- CROWD:
Aw!

- (BOTH LAUGHING)

- Hanna. Hanna, do you know Norman?

- Nice to meet you.

This is my wife Naomi. Norman Oppenheimer.

Norman is going to be

my special honorary ambassador

to New York Jewry.

My personal, special advisor.

- I am?

- Yes. Of course.

Look around you, Norman.

There are over 500 organizations

represented in this room.

It is a tremendous force of nature.

Unprecedented in our history.

We need to understand

how this incredible force

unites around the issues

that are important to the Jewish people.

And the world.

- Thank you very much.

- No, no, no. Stay with us.

- Congressman Bob Easterly.

- Hello, Bob. How are you?

Do you know Norman Oppenheimer?

No, I don't. Nice to meet you, Norman.

This is my wife, Joyce.

- Nice to meet you.

- Very nice meeting you, too.

This is my nephew, Philip Cohen.

I think he is the youngest partner

at Frankle, Zell, Gould and Rudoff

in New York. Right?

- Well, one of the youngest.

- I'm sorry, sorry.

ESHEL:
Nice to meet you, Philip.

- We represented Toby Tabatchnik, I think.

- Yeah, yeah, Toby, Toby. Yes.

Yeah, Toby. Toby. He married a Solomon.

Beth. Charlie Solomon's daughter.

(CONVERSING INDISTINCTLY)

Good to see you, this is my nephew.

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

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My job is basically

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