The Carpetbaggers Page #4

was too much fun to make money.

After the Sheriff padlocked it

in California,

the only place his kind

of cowboy was needed

was in the movies.

That's all. Right here.

That's all.

Rina just naturally headed

for the place

with the most action-- Paris,

and helped give

the Lost Generation its name.

They have a great

downhill slide there,

greased with fancy men,

fancy clothes

and absinthe.

Vive la...I

Vitel Vitel Vitel

Vive la France!

We're way out in front, Buzz.

and we're almost home.

lf nothing happens,

we've not only won the race,

we've got us another mail

contract from Uncle Sam.

We've got more than that.

We got a new business.

What new business?

Passengers.

Six at a time?

There's no money in that.

With what airplane,

you dreamer?

With the new Cord passenger

plane we're going to build.

Where you going to build it,

in your backyard?

We'll buy a factory.

Oh, sure, go buy Lockheed,

Martin or Curtis Wright.

Only you better find

a gold mine first.

Of course, I hear that Winthrop

Aviation is having trouble.

There is no Winthrop Aviation.

Take a look down there.

What's this thing you have

for painting

your name on rooftops?

I'd paint it higher

but skywriting's

too impermanent.

Congratulations.

You've won yourself

a race, Mr. Cord.

I've won something that

last's longer than that--

a new mail contract.

How do you feel?

Numb.

Richer.

Is it true that you now

own Winthrop Aviation?

Cord Aviation.

Are you going to build

military planes?

Passenger planes.

A year from now,

I'll be flying passengers

coast to coast in 24 hours.

Think of all the sleep you can

lose traveling that fast.

Are you trying to corner

the world, Mr. Cord?

There's an idea.

Mr. Cord, why is it

you're not married?

Why aren't you a millionaire?

Just lucky, I guess.

Me, too.

Let's go, Jedediah.

What's his rush?

Its the world

that's turning too slow.

Jonas, you need a week off...

a month off.

Otto Strauss in Berlin

came up with a new high-speed

plastics injection mold.

I cabled him an offer,

he accepted.

That's how much

money we need.

You better hightail it

to New York

and make the arrangements.

We're moving too fast.

By whose clock?

I spend half my time

borrowing money.

Which we pay back.

And every year

a new business.

Its called growth, Mac.

Maybe, but we're

so cross-collateralized--

so interdependent,

that if one business goes,

the others might go with it.

Don't let one go.

Why don't we buy a hotel

with lots of beds.

That's an idea.

Make a note of that, Mac.

You'd better get some rest.

Sure.

You get right down

to the station.

Take the first

train to New York.

Tonight?

I haven't even packed a bag.

That's a hundred-dollar suit.

It ought to keep its press.

Jedediah, let Mr. Dalton

sleep...

all the way back

to the factory.

Right, sir.

I thought this

was a private bar.

That's what makes

it so attractive.

Mmm.

Now, how in this world

did you ever guess?

Wingspread 37, fuselage 25...

and hand-rubbed, by the way.

Tail assembly 36,

shockproof landing gear

and never stalls in a dive.

Well, come in for a landing.

Tell me what you want.

Well, to be straightforward

about the whole thing

I'm a newspaperman.

You can get arrested

in those clothes.

I was using

the generic term.

That's a relief.

What paper?

Oh, it's just a

little scandal sheet

called the Star Telegram

Picayune Times Bulletin.

Show me your press pass.

Oh, no.

You don't get to see that

until after I get the story.

Well, what do

you want to know?

How much money do I have?

How does it feel to run

ten corporations

or what speed record

am I going to break next?

Heaven's no.

I leave stuffy old things

like that to the city editor.

I'm strictly feature.

I go for the offbeat story.

Like?

Like, what do you

sleep in at night?

Depends on how lucky I am.

Well, now, who would you

most like to be stranded

on a desert island with?

The world's greatest

boat builder.

Let me put it this way--

which do you prefer,

quantity or quality.

Do I have a choice?

We're known as

a liberal newspaper.

Ma'am, you have

just won yourself

an exclusive

full-page layout.

Its probably just

my city editor.

I'll disguise my voice.

Mr. Cord's suite.

Who is this?

Its my father.

Jonas Cord.

Who's the dame, Jonas?

Its a body I picked up

at a rental agency.

Ah!

They said you wanted to see me.

I do.

Okay, I'll be right up.

Uh-uh. I'll be right down.

Well, we can't very well

meet here in the lobby.

Okay, I need a shave anyway.

I'll meet you in

the second floor washroom.

You knew he was coming.

Yeah, but I didn't

know you were.

Yes, you did.

lf you'll excuse me,

I have to get my razor

and $25,000.

Is that all, Jonas?

Yes, that's all, Monica.

Did you come here thinking

there'd be more?

Jonas...

Try to do it nicely.

I mean, give him something

to walk away with besides money.

lf he doesn't try

to con me, I will.

Jonas.

Do you need him, Monica?

No.

I did when I was little,

but he never had

any time for me.

And now I've got my own

money and my own life...

and you.

What else do I need?

Well, you see

the truth is, Jonas,

I need another $10,000.

What happened to all the money

you got when you sold the stock?

Well, it's gone.

Creditors, ex-wives, judgments.

You know how much I owed.

Amos, your contract

doesn't provide

for advances like this.

I know, but this is important.

Won't happen again, I promise.

Its... it's for Monica.

Monica?

What about her?

Well, I want to send her to her

mother in England.

She's getting too much

for me to handle, Jonas.

She's seeing some

playboy on the sly,

and... well, he's

teaching her bad habits.

Do you know who he is?

I wish I did.

I'd kill him

with my bare hands.

A nice, sweet, innocent

kid like her.

I've got to get

her away from him.

You ever talk to her?

I've tried, but you know

how kids are nowadays.

Give them everything

and get nothing.

Hmm. You could try

being a father.

What the hell makes you

such an expert?!

Wait till you get

kids of your own.

Now, what about

the money, Jonas?

Its important to me

and Monica, and...

All right, I'll give

it to you, Amos.

As a matter of fact,

I'll give you $25,000...

on one condition.

Why sure. Sure,

anything you say, Jonas.

I want your resignation.

You mean... from

Winthrop Aviation?

From Cord Aviation.

But I founded the company!

I can help you make it grow.

Take the money, Amos.

No!

No, that, that factory is me.

I laid out every machine,

the production, technique...

Take the money, Amos.

Like hell I'll take it.

I won't sell my life

for $25,000.

lf you spend it carefully,

it'll keep you in booze

for ten years.

Oh, Jonas.

Please.

One day you'll need help, too.

lf I do, I won't bargain

with anything as precious

as my only daughter to get it.

Did he take it?

Yes.

It won't last him long.

It should if he's smart.

All he understands

is machinery and production.

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