Teacher's Pet Page #4

- Just great, man, great.|- I was just lucky, I guess.

See you the next time.|Wonderful.

Good night.

Excuse me. I was just wondering|if I left a book here.

But I guess not.|I'm glad you came back.

- Do you haVe a moment?|- Certainly.

I'Ve just been|reading your story again and it's...

It's absolutely amazing to think|you'Ve had no experience.

Well, I sold papers as a kid...

and I play poker eVery week with|a friend of mine, a reporter. That's all.

Well, it's just excellent.

But there is one thing, Mr. Gallagher.|In the future, use triple space.

That's the way they do it|on newspapers.

They do?|Yes.

Thanks, I'll remember.

And, of course, phrases like|"trigger-happy" are a bit hackneyed...

but we'll get rid of those clichs,|won't we?

Now, what business are you in?|Paper. Wallpaper.

Wallpaper.|And why are you taking this course?

In other words, just what are you after?

Well, that's pretty hard|to put into words.

To tell you the truth, I didn't want to|come here in the first place.

My boss forced me to do it.

He's planning on getting out a weekly|down at the plant.

You know, "Dottie Sprink from Shipping|and Harry Harper from Legal...

"haVe decided to tie the knot. "

That sort of drivel.

Well, naturally I was hoping that...

You mean,|you're really not interested in-

Now, I didn't say that.

But I must admit I was pretty teed off|the first time I came here.

My friend, the reporter...

he said that you'd be|a frustrated old biddy...

who'd read the textbooks|and neVer written a line.

And taking a course|from someone like that...

would be like betting|on a three-legged horse, he said.

Then you agree with that letter|of Mr. Gannon's that I read.

No, I wouldn't go as far as he, but...|You know, you were rough on him...

awfully rough,|and I don't think he meant-

Rough?

I should haVe been a lot rougher.

- Why, I'Ve neVer heard-|- He's no bum, you know.

He's pretty well thought of.|My friend, the reporter...

he says he's one of the best-

But he still considers journalism|a trade.

It's not a trade, Mr. Gallagher.|It's a profession.

The basic fundamentals can be taught|the same as in medicine.

But Mr. Gannon doesn't agree. Oh, no!

He'd like to see surgeons operating|at the age of 10...

and learn by trial and error.

Wait a minute. I'm sure he thought|you had a lot of fakers here...

but if he could talk to you|for fiVe minutes...

I won't waste my time.

...he'd know that you had|real newspaper experience...

- the same as I did.|- I'Ve had experience...

and so has eVery instructor|in this school!

Wait a minute, you don't haVe to|sell me. After last week...

I'm sorry. I shouldn't haVe gotten|so angry. ForgiVe me. It's just that-

That's all right.

But, you know, there's one thing|I can't quite figure.

What?

How could you giVe up|a real newspaper job for teaching?

That's a Very good question,|Mr. Gallagher.

Maybe for the same reason|that occasionally...

a musician wants to be a conductor.

He wants to hear a hundred people|play music the way he hears it.

If I can influence a few students who|might some day become reporters...

and eVentually editors.

Well, I think it's worth a try.

You see, I haVe my own ideas about|what newspapers should be...

and I know they can be|a great deal better than they are.

Look at this. Blood and sex.

Journalism is so much more|than blood and sex.

You liked my story about the murder.|That's "blood," isn't it?

Wait a minute, I didn't say|I disapproVe of blood, it's just that-

- How do you feel about sex?|- Well, I'm all for it. But some...

Good night, Mr. Gallagher.

Good night, Professor.

What?

No! I am listening.|Repeat that address again.

979 Fifth Avenue.

Who's free?

Gartner.

Gartner.

Yeah, I got it.|I'll shoot someone oVer right away.

Yeah?|Almost forgot. Press conference.

Got some Visiting fireman|from Russia.

Grab a cameraman.|I told them we'd be right oVer.

- What's the matter?|- That's one way to end the Cold War.

How is this?

Fine. I'll giVe you the name...

This is the Chronicle.|You haVe a Prof. Stone there.

All right, instructor. Initials E.R.

What's the first name, please?

Erica.

Married or single?

Good. I mean, switch me oVer there,|will you, please?

Miss Stone's office. Who's calling?

Who? Well, I...

Just one moment, please.

It's James Gannon of the Chronicle.

- He's here?|- On the phone.

He says can he drop by tonight?|There's something he'd like to explain.

Tell him to write me another letter.

Hello?|Write another letter.

Hello!

All right, doll,|if that's the only way you'll play.

Mr. Gallagher.|Hello.

I want to thank you|for the loVely flowers.

It was a pleasure.

It really wasn't necessary, you know.

Besides being wrong about Kipling,|I wanted to apologise for last time.

- I was an awful sass.|- Not at all, Mr. Gallagher.

It's Very stimulating for a teacher to find|a student with an inquiring mind...

you know, someone who|challenges her, asks questions.

In that case, there's one more question|I'd like to ask.

What do I haVe to do|to get kept after school again?

I was wondering if you'd|stay after class tonight...

for a priVate conference?

I haVe a proposition|to make to you, Mr. Gallagher.

Hi, Gallagher. How's it going?|Fine.

Miss Stone's office. Hello.

She has someone in conference,|Dr. Pine, but I'll buzz.

I'm sure she won't mind.

No, that's all right.

You think you can get the tickets?

Well, if you can, I'd loVe it. What?

Yes, call me back, will you?

I'm sorry. He's Very amusing.

Now, Mr. Gallagher,|I think I mentioned to you...

that the Dean was greatly impressed|with your news story.

And he belieVes that anyone|with your natural ability...

should be allowed the priVilege|of taking on extra work.

- That's the proposition?|- Yes. Think of it.

It's a chance for you to practically cover|two semesters in one.

No, I don't-

You'd haVe to haVe|priVate instruction.

I'd work Very closely with you.

Well, in that case...

Do you haVe any free time|during the day?

No, I am afraid we'd haVe to|work together at night.

All right. On your way out...

Miss Fuller can set up|an appointment schedule for you.

Now, let's see...

What sort of thing|would you like to tackle next?

- Well, I-|- You see, I want you...

to get the feel of inVestigatiVe reporting.

To learn to root out|the hidden reasons and facts.

Expand that piece you wrote.

Do an interpretatiVe follow-up|of about 2,000 words.

That's an awful lot of work.

- Isn't it?|- Yes, it is.

But as my father used to say,|"A reporter has to do a lot of sweating...

"before he earns the right to perspire. "

You keep mentioning your father.|What did he do?

He ran a country newspaper.

Of course, I don't know much|about this sort of thing...

but my friend I told you about,|you know, the reporter?

He says nobody's interested|in a rehash like this.

After all, it happened a week ago.

Doing another story on it would be like|trying to make a salad out of old lettuce.

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