Rules Don't Apply Page #12

that Hughes is unable

to remember anything...

I talked to Mamie Murphy.

She knows Richard Miskin.

Howard may have some questions.

TV NEWSMAN 3:
historical footage

featuring Howard Hughes's...

It's good to see you, Marla.

TV NEWSMAN 3:

in aviation. (marching band music)

For me, too.

The 40-ton, 57-passenger liner that...

I'll let him know you're here.

Which has made

a newtrans-continental,

non-stop speed record

Here's the start.

TV NEWSMAN 3:
what might be next

for the Hughes organization,

if Mr. Hughes never steps forward

to defend himself against the claims

in Mr. Miskin's book?

Howard, Marla Mabrey has come here.

She says she has something

to tell you about Miskin.

I told her I'd let you know.

TV NEWSMAN 2:
certainly

going to be embarrassing

for Hughes and his entire empire.

How does one explain away the fact

that the man can't even make

a simple telephone call?

Bring her in.

TV NEWSMAN 3:
I suppose they could

still come outwith some kind

of alternative evidence.

Struggling out of its

swaddling clothes.

And one of the pioneers who

helped was Howard Hughes,

still active in the industry today.

As a stunt,

the point of aviation speed...

TV NEWSMAN 1:
David,

I'm looking at the clock

and if the call doesn't come by 4:30,

then it will be hard to defend

Howard Hughes against the charges

in Richard Miskin's book.

Howard?

TV NEWSMAN 1:

The clock is ticking, David.

Hello, Marla.

TV NEWSMAN 1:
Any thoughts

as to what may happen...

We've lost touch.

I'm sorry I was in

such a bad mood

when you came to Las Vegas.

When was that?

Five years ago?

I was not at my best.

I know that, Howard.

Neither was I.

Mamie Murphy knows

Richard Miskin very well.

She told me that she was

very sure he never met you.

She'd testify

if you wanted her to.

TV NEWSMAN 3:
go a long way

towards debunking a writer's claim

that he has written an...

I came with my son.

TV NEWSMAN 3:
And has now gone into

what could best be described as...

Excuse me?

I came with my son.

He's in the living room.

TV NEWSMAN 1:

And there's another point to be...

And the father?

TV NEWSMAN 1:

if Hughes does not

prove that he's still alive,

and there is some question

as to whether he is.

Just someone I took up with.

It didn't last long.

TV NEWSMAN 3:

The call was, incidentally,

supposed to come in at 4:00.

Would you like me to meet your son?

Sure.

TV NEWSMAN 3:

If that call were to come in

within the next several minutes...

Matt? You wanna meet Mr. Hughes?

From New York

to New York in four days.

New aviation history is written.

TV NEWSMAN 3:
Howard Hughes

simply does not allow himself

to be seen by anyone.

Howard, this is Matt.

TV NEWSMAN 3:
It'll be very,

very difficult to defend Howard Hughes

against the charges...

Say hello to Mr. Hughes, Matt.

Hello.

TV NEWSMAN 3:
covering him

for a long, long time. As have you.

How old are you, Matt?

Four and a half.

I'm curious

as to what's going to become

of the empire that he... (clicks off)

You look like I thought you'd look.

So do you.

Why do you stay in this room?

([laughs)

You know, I really

should get out more.

Okay, Frank, get Hollywood

on the phone.

Nadine, get Los Angeles, fast.

They're still on the line, Frank!

Get it, get it. I'm going to do this.

Howard, you can just...

Frank, they're still on the line!

They're still on the line? Good.

Matt, you wanna stick around

for a while?

Frank, where do I put it?

- Do I pin this on?

- Yeah.

(Slinky commercial jingle playing)

That goes around my neck?

TV NEWSMAN 3:
We are being told

we will hear from

Howard Hughes immediately.

We are standing by.

I think that's the man

I'm gonna be talking to,

- but we'll see...

- Frank!

This belongs to him. I'm sorry.

Matt, I'll wait for you

in the living room.

TV NEWSMAN 4:

If you just joined us,

we're standing by for a phone call

from billionaire Howard Hughes.

We've been told the call

is coming in...

TV NEWSMAN 1:
(on speakers) I'm told

someone claiming to be Howard Hughes

will be speaking to us momentarily,

so we can assess whether he is indeed

Howard Hughes.

Are you there, Mr. Hughes?

Good afternoon.

TV NEWSMAN 1:

Where are you speaking from, sir?

I'm speaking from Acapulco,

which is a city seaport

in the state of Guerrero

on the Pacific coast of Mexico.

About 190 miles southwest

of Mexico City,

located on a deep, semicircular bay.

I would say that the municipality

has an area of about

square miles and

it is the largest city

in the state. Far larger than

the state capital, Chilpancingo.

The name Acapulco

comes from the Nahuatl

language. It means

"place of big reeds,"

and that is where I am.

Next question, please.

Gene Handsaker,

Associated Press. Tell us a little

about the H-One.

Well, we first called it "The Racer."

It was designed by me in

conjunction with Dick Palmer.

We built it in a small building

of what has now become

the Lockheed terminal,

and that, by the way, Gene Handsaker,

is where you and I first met.

This airplane had a metal fuselage

with butt joints of which

we were very proud.

It had flush

rivets which later became

standard in the industry.

It had a wooden wing

which, of course, did not

become standard,

but it was the only thing

at the time that had

the smooth surface

that we needed. As I say,

a single engine,

single-seat airplane,

a beautiful little thing.

I still have it, actually,

out at the factory at Culver City.

You should go out there

sometime, Gene,

and take a look at it.

Next question, please.

Gladwin Hill,

for The New York Times.

How well I know you, Mr. Hughes.

How well do you know

the book's writer, Richard Miskin?

I don't know him.

I've never seen him.

I've never even heard of him

until two days ago.

Hi, Howard. Vernon Scott here.

As soon as you started

to talk, I knew it was Howard Hughes.

Did you really wear tennis shoes

with your tuxedo?

Yeah, well, they were shoes made of

sort of a non-strategic material.

Kind of a canvas or imitation leather.

I had a pair of these

that I liked very much.

I would wear them, and then they...

Some people called them

tennis shoes, but I...

I don't think they had anything to do

with being on a tennis court.

TV NEWSMAN 3:
Can I ask you

a couple of questions

relating to national security?

Oh, I don't think so.

You know, I don't care to appear

in public very often, but...

I really should get out more.

But it has been a pleasure

speaking to you, gentlemen.

Any time. Good evening.

TV NEWSMAN 1:

I think that concludes

our press conference. Thank you,

- Mr. Hughes.

- (laughs)

I think there's a publisher

with a problem on his hands.

You were really good.

I have to go find my mom. Bye.

Kid! Kid!

- (door closes)

- Kid?

(sighs)

Things are looking up, Frank.

You did good.

We're going back to Hollywood.

I feel good! (laughs)

I think it's time to go home!

You know...

- Howard...

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