The Candidate Page #3

Hold it. That's honest,

but it leaves us nowhere.

- But it's not a serious question.

- They'll ask it tomorrow in Long Beach.

- You got an answer for him, Cory?

- You could say Japan or India.

Countries with certain governments

which legitimately request our help.

You're speech writing. This is

practice for a TV interview.

A lot of people in this state still

expect an invasion in Pasadena.

Then we'll fight them in the Rose Bowl!

That's not funny.

I can kill myself, I suppose.

He could refer them to

our foreign policy position paper.

What position paper?

I'll have it written soon.

Hold on!

What am I here for?

I've got it.

Will you shut up?

McKay says he will not let them

land on the beaches of Santa Monica...

...because the parking problem

is bad enough already.

Okay, that's it.

Thank God for small favors.

Okay, that's it.

It never hurts to toss one off.

Does he really want to say that?

Next question.

What's your view of legalized abortion?

Good question.

I think every woman

should have that right.

You can't put it that way.

It's what I think.

It won't be understood without

explaining, so how about this for now?

Just say it's worth studying.

I'll think about it.

Mr. McKay. Bill.

Your father hasn't talked about

your campaign. Is he sitting it out?

Say it again.

Is he sitting out your campaign?

I'm running on my own hook.

- That's all for now, fellas.

- The hell with it.

I said that's all!

When it's for real, we must give

more consideration to his appearance.

We got a stand set up.

Pull up behind it.

I don't want to drive up in this tank.

Stop here.

Good idea.

He'll go on foot.

I don't know what good this will do.

It's good for him.

Folks, meet Bill McKay, running for

U.S. Senate. Would you step up here?

Hi, Red.

Could I have a sip?

Do you do this often?

That's great,

if you ran for alderman.

I'm not running for alderman.

Then what are you doing down here?

Like the leaflet says...

...I'm here because

I'm running for Senator.

I wanted to come today...

...because I spent time

around here a few years ago.

In those days you could swim here...

...before they turned this harbor

into a chemistry set.

In those days there was a

beach there, where that parking lot is.

Coming out here used to be

something pretty special.

Today it wasn't so special.

I look around this beach.

- You know what I see?

- Freaks!

You know it!

I see lost people.

Maybe I am middle class, in a way.

But I didn't find that out today.

I found it out helping people

make sure their kids have enough to eat.

This is good!

- We'll use the pollution angle.

- I'll speed it up.

Maybe we can use some lines

out of context. Look what he says:

Instead of building atomic reactors,

you could clean up every river.

And instead of drilling for oil....

Too much!

I've got union problems already.

- How fast do you need these spots?

- June, so we don't waste money.

- We could fire the Board of Regents.

- How can a Senator do that?

- It's meaningless.

- Sounds good.

- Anything else?

- It will cut together.

Wait till we get the stuff at Watts.

Trust me.

This way please, gentlemen.

We're going to proceed 5 blocks

to our Watts headquarters.

Could Jarmon

walk through Watts?

Will your father join the campaign?

Whether he does or not,

I know what's basic for the ghetto.

It's a scandal.

There's no hospital.

There's no on-the-job training

for medical aides.

Excuse me.

There's no housing program...

...no public transportation,

no birth control centers.

Tell it, brother!

So what else is new?

Gentlemen, there will be a cookout

in the park at 3:00 p.m.

- Hey, brother!

- How you doing?

You're the golden wonder of the West!

- I wouldn't say that.

- But what do you think of my dog?

- That's a fine dog.

- Give me five!

That's my man.

But look here, what about my dog?

What do you think about my dog?

- A fine dog.

- Get out of here.

Now what have we here?

Excuse us.

Why are you so eager to debate Jarmon?

Because I think the people should

be able to decide for themselves.

What's that mean?

Peace and up yours!

Look at that! You used to

play ball, didn't you, Bill?

Come on, shoot a few.

Be fast, Bill.

Hey, look at this!

Three columns in the Chronicle.

God said it! God means it!

Repent of all sins!

At McKay campaign headquarters,

they're celebrating his primary victory.

A winner like his famous father,

he's assumed a strong lead...

...over a field of virtual unknowns

in the Democratic senatorial primary.

Your victory was predicted.

Was it any sort of surprise?

Everything that happens

is a surprise to me.

Your power, your glory

Has set in the West

The voters are shouting

"McKay is the best!"

Get on the horn to Mrs. York.

She'll only talk to you.

She's on the phone?

Natalie Wood is here.

We need some pictures.

I don't know how long I can hold her.

I'd like you to meet Bill McKay.

And this is Nancy McKay.

This is my wife, Nancy.

Thanks for the campaign dinners

that you've hosted.

It's a pleasure.

I admire what you stand for.

Do you like health food?

- Yes, I do. Do you?

- Yeah, I like strawberries.

- Do you like yogurt?

- I'm Arthur Fleischer.

We met at the peace seminar

in Santa Barbara.

I'm on a leave of absence to

work on foreign policy aspects of....

- That's wonderful.

- It's very interesting.

Arthur, you're needed over here.

You know what to do.

Buy plain yogurt.

- Add the strawberries.

- You just throw it in.

We've got to get on the phone.

Nice to meet you.

- What's her name?

- York.

I know.

Thank you.

I hope so too. Bye.

That's it. I don't know her name,

but she's sending a check.

- I must talk with you.

- I'm your coordinator from San Pedro.

I'm really sorry.

We need the room.

Can we get in here? Can you

get that later? Wait right here.

Have you seen these figures,

the breakdown?

You want me to look at these now?

- Here, look. You can still read it.

- I got it.

I'm a little disappointed.

Why? I've got 47%

of the primary field.

But if you look at the projection, it

adds up to 32% in the election.

If those figures hold until November,

it will be Jarmon 68, McKay 32.

I thought I was supposed to lose.

I'm telling you you'll be wiped out.

You'll be humiliated.

- That wasn't part of the deal.

- Somebody is in here!

- Maybe I should quit.

- You can't.

- Go back.

- Don't be ridiculous.

You can't go back. You're the

Democratic nominee for senator.

That sounds

like a death sentence.

That means you're just reaching

the people who agree with you already.

We need the rest.

What's that mean?

It means more in terms of TV.

Like what?

I already agreed to the....

Get out of here!

Look, we've just started.

So there's a chance.

I can't think.

Can't we talk tomorrow?

I'll go along to Pasadena

and we'll talk in the car.

Let's work this out.

We will.

Californian Bill McKay remembers...

...what kind of state we had

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