The Freshman Page #4

Charlie, wait a minute.

General Motors went down 10 points,

and you didn't call?

What about Polaroid?

It went down?

Down what?

I told you before,

I don't like it when they go down.

I used to have another broker.

He bought stocks for me

that went down.

And it got very unpleasant.

Very unpleasant.

Wait a minute. That's right.

Next time you call me,

I want to hear good news.

Right? That's only good news.

I must be getting soft.

Business.

Business in this country

is run by children, not men.

Anyway. Forget it.

- A nice espresso?

- No, thank you.

Sir, I have to talk to you.

I want to tell you something.

Larry London called me.

He couldn't stop talking.

He went on and on.

He's a very interesting man.

- I heard of the adventure at the mall.

- You did?

Of course.

Clark, what's on your mind?

I have to talk to you.

It's about these...

- It's about these reptiles.

- What about them?

They're endangered.

Not anymore. They're fine in Jersey.

It's against the law

to bring them here.

It's a crime.

You're speaking in generalities.

You said my work here was legitimate.

It's perfectly legitimate.

No, it's not.

I'm illegally transporting

endangered species.

Please, sir,

I'd like to be let out.

This is an impossibility.

What do you mean?

I have a certain standing in business.

How would it look, some college kid

making me look like a fool?

This is humiliation.

It's "infamia."

Know what people will say?

"What's wrong with him?"

You understand what I'm saying?

I'd never tell a soul.

It wouldn't leave this club.

I only meant that...

- Are you trying to hurt my feelings?

- No.

That's not the issue at all.

I'm going to tell you something

from my heart.

You're a great boy.

You are one of a kind.

Thank you.

The kind of kids I used to have

working for me, the mooks...

...the muscleheads.

But you, you're from Connecticut.

It's nothing personal.

It's not you.

In any discussion

about our relationship...

...we won't forget

the most important thing.

Which is...?

You marrying my daughter.

You should have heard Tina.

Clark this, Clark that.

She wants to get married yesterday.

I said, "Wait for spring.

Planning takes time."

The food, place, time of year.

Who to invite, who not to invite.

That's important.

You got to figure that my

business associates alone...

...must be 2000 people.

Not including the senators,

congressmen, judges.

And don't forget the police.

But you know, love.

Love doesn't ask

these questions, right?

Yeah, I guess.

Come outside.

I got a little surprise for you.

Come on.

I don't know where this talk

of marriage began, but I'm not ready.

I'd like to sample life a little bit first.

Wait. After you get married,

you sample life.

This is what men do.

Marriage is an institution.

It's the bedrock of society.

What you're talking about

is a little va-voom.

This is self-understood.

I'm talking about social order.

Try to put yourself in my position.

I wish I could, Clarkie.

You're such a beautiful boy.

- Know why I'm so nuts about you?

- I don't, no.

Because you're not a sneak.

You come down to my club.

You open your heart to me.

You say what's on your mind.

That's how I know

you won't be a snake.

A snake in the grass.

That's how I know

you'll be loyal to me...

...until death.

Until death.

Like a real son.

Oh, I don't know.

The son I never had.

I got an engagement present for you.

It's not much, but it's from my heart.

For me?

You're a lucky guy.

Take it for a little spin.

Go pick up Tina.

She's waiting at school.

I understand.

Sometimes in life...

...these emotions are beyond words.

Go ahead.

College of the Sacred Virgin in Queens.

Let's move it.

He kissed me on the mouth.

You know how big this is?

The kiss of all kisses.

The highest! You're in for life!

It's like we're brothers.

God bless you.

Anything wrong with it,

we'll get you another.

You have fun.

Say when.

When.

Screw this.

Turn right. Right!

He's parking?

Hello?

I want it to be very conventional,

old-fashioned...

Oh, hi, Clark!

We have to talk.

This is Father Frank

of the music department.

We're discussing wedding music.

"Ave Maria" for the recessional...

Excuse us.

Of course. Congratulations, my son.

Thank you, Father.

- You're hurting me.

- I'm tense.

- I was involved in a car chase.

- And?

And? No "and."

This is part of your life,

but not mine.

People are flashing their lights at me.

I have to get away.

- It's just part of a working day.

- It is not!

You weren't forced

to commit to my father.

It's beyond commitment.

It's like slavery.

People telling me who to marry!

- You don't want to marry me?

- I don't want to marry anybody yet.

So we'll wait.

We don't have to rush into anything.

I know that you'll wait for me.

You're part of the family permanently.

"Permanently"?

Your father kissed me.

Vic says I'm in for life.

- You are.

- I'm not!

It's a fluke.

I got ripped off by this Vic.

And I caught up to him. What?

You think it was an accident

that you "caught up" to him?

You were chosen, Clark.

You were hand-picked.

- And it is the greatest honour.

- What are you saying?

Vic has great instincts about people.

He saw you where? Grand Central?

- It was a setup?

- "Setup" is so negative.

There are so many levels to this.

I just want my life back.

I can't talk to you

when you're so hysterical.

What is the deal? What is it?

Am I some kind of dupe?

They looked in my yearbook

and found a chump?

Are you serious? A dupe?

You think I'd marry a dupe?

Everybody's talking about the job

you're doing. It's all over town.

Larry London called my father.

He said how bright you were.

How gentle. How perceptive.

If you weren't all those things...

...would Vic be out now

getting you a gun permit?

I don't need a gun permit!

You will if you'll be carrying a gun.

People are chasing you.

That's quite a story. Charming.

I can't take it so lightly, sir.

It has a real film-noir quality.

Smuggling lizards into New Jersey.

If it was done right,

black and white, grainy...

...sort of "Kiss Me Deadly."

It's my life, not a film idea.

They are the same when perceived

through the twin lenses...

Clark Kellogg.

I'm Chuck Greenwald.

This is Lloyd Simpson.

We're from

the Department of Justice...

...Fish and Wildlife Division.

We've been looking for you.

- This is what I'm talking about.

- I know nothing about it.

We were discussing a film project.

Oh, God, I'm late.

Excuse me, please.

Mr. Kellogg.

This is actually a federal office?

We're undercover, Mr. Kellogg.

Special agents.

- I think I better contact a lawyer.

- You may.

You have a lawyer?

My stepfather.

- What?

- Your stepfather turned you in.

My stepfather?

How did he know anything about this?

You know a Carmine Sabatini,

also known as Jimmy the Toucan.

"Toucan" I never heard.

My stepfather?

Do you know Hans Kurt Schlegel,

alias Larry London?

- We've met. I don't know him...

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