The Internecine Project

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1

I'll take my cue from the monitor John.

Camera one in on professor Elliot.

One minute... You have camera one.

Now let's see a close up of Arnold.

Camera one Arnold.

You now too camera two. Hold it back.

Get a shot of Mr. Drake.

Where the hell is this Robertson woman.

Is she coming John, or isn't she?

Well if she doesn't turn up, we'll have to press on.

On line now.

She's just arrived. Thank god for that.

Wheel her on.

Twenty seconds.

On you camera one. Standby to roll telecine.

Fifteen second studio.

Standby studio.

Mr. Robertson? I'm Arnold price Jones.

This is Justin Blake. Hello.

I'm terribly sorry about this. I was held up in traffic.

You really had us worried there for a moment.

Oh, this is professor Elliot.

I know.

Quiet studio.

Two..

One...

Right. Go ahead studio.

Roll telecine. Cue music.

Good evening.

The world this week takes a look at inflation.

Here this evening, to discuss this matter,

ls professor Robert Elliot.

Author and lawyer.

The senior elector on economic

studies at Harvard university,

and special adviser on financial affairs,

to the United States foreign relations committee.

And to pose the questions, Mr. Chester Drake,

financial correspondent to the London times.

And Ms. Jean Robertson.

Journalist, novelist.

Last years winner of the Kern award for journalism.

And currently the political correspondent

on the Washington daily news.

Well professor Elliot,

the constantly increasing spiral of wages and prices.

What can we do about it, can it be stopped?

I know in the United States last year,

the consumer prices rose a dramatic eight percent.

But then on the other hand, the overall prosperity

of the country increased just as dramatically.

And yet wages always seem to lag behind prices.

Yes, but they catch up just as rapidly.

The unions take care of that.

Surely professor, the only way to stop

the race between constants and wages.

Is to peg prices. To control cost of living.

Well in a free economy,

control is a dirty word, Mr. Drake.

I know that it's, uh...

Very tempting to produce rigid, controllable

prices and wages. But, at what level?

No one raises prices just to make...

- Oh, hello.

- I hope I'm not too early.

A bit, yes.

I'm sorry.

Oh, that's alright.

Gives us more time.

No, obviously if a manufacturer can

reduce his prices, he'll sell more.

And, have a bigger profit.

But, with the increased costs of, uh, overhead, labor...

Raw materials...

We're forced to meet these increases correspondingly.

Then, you are arguing a case

for neutral wages, professor?

No, no, not at all.

The more money the working population

earn, the greater their spending power.

Of course, as the world becomes smaller,

every country, particularly America...

The European community...

America has had to go elsewhere for its expenses.

Corruption, for instance...

The desire in question for the United States business...

Of the cold war. More than the U.N. Has ever done.

I imagine their doing business with Russia...

Mr. Baker, their tests are happening now.

Right.

Mr. Clark.

- Are you ready?

- Uh, yes we are, sir.

- Okay, let's see it then.

- Alright.

You alright, bill?

Here we go, then.

- What was the frequency?

- A hundred thousand.

Let me have your figures. I'll check them.

We'll do it again tomorrow.

Alright.

You keep talking about selling. I'm

talking about political pressure.

I still didn't think that's quite

the issue here, Ms. Robertson.

I'm talking about putting the squeeze on little countries

getting involved in their domestic politics.

I know that it's the nature of your...

Who, for instance, was really behind the military

overthrow of the government in Rico last month?

I assume the populace.

It prevented E.D.C.

From losing millions of dollars.

E.D.C.

Isn't your firm involved in E.D.C., old boy?

Involved?

They own us, old man.

Bought us out two years ago.

Well, then.

- Oh, take it easy!

- Sorry, sir.

Within the world markets, um, in order to...

Big corporations go to the under developed countries.

The developed countries, and exert whatever

influence is necessary, Ms. Robertson.

I am talking about...

I think we've gone far enough

on this point, Ms. Robertson.

- Call the embassy.

- Yes, sir. Lunch, Wednesday, 12:30.

Can I make that?

Yes, your meeting with international isn't until three.

Then, you have a trade reception at seven.

Uh huh, thank you.

Thank you very much, you two, for

using my show to pick a fight on.

Oh, we're old protagonists, aren't we?

- Yes.

- So, I gather. You coming upstairs for a drink?

You have a conference call with

Washington booked for eleven thirty, sir.

Well, there's your answer. I'm sorry.

- I quite understand. Goodbye.

- I'm so sorry, too.

- Goodbye and thank you.

- Bye bye.

Goodbye, thank you.

- Goodnight, professor.

- Goodnight.

- It was very nice.

- Jean.

Thank you.

You were coming on very strong to me in there.

Well, there was nothing personal. I was

just trying to get at the truth.

The truth?

That's what my paper prints, is the truth.

God, for five thousand years men and women all over the

world have been trying to discover what the truth is.

- Yes.

- You tell me your paper prints it?

Aw, come, it's my job.

- Your job?

- Yeah.

- Listen, you're a bright, beautiful lady...

- Really?

Why don't you find a job that suits your talents?

Well, like what?

Write a cookbook.

You chauvinist.

There's nothing that drives me up the wall

more than crusading, lady journalists.

Especially this one.

Car's just outside, professor.

Thank you, fella. Goodnight, Jean.

Um...

Robert?

Robert!

- What is it?

- Uh...

Well, could I, uh, have a lift?

Please?

You know, there is one thing I'll be

thankful for when women finally achieve

their equality. It'll give me a right

to punch you right in that nose.

- Can I get a lift?

- Get in.

Well.

What bring you to London?

You.

Me? C'mon.

Well, I'm serious. You're news.

That was no, uh...

Coincidence that you were at that

television interview, was it?

Oh, no, no. I used my charms.

Yes, I...

I remember your charms.

How long has it been?

Two years.

Two years.

It doesn't seem that long.

No, it doesn't, does it?

You've gone a long way.

I would like an interview with you.

Would you like to have dinner with me?

I'd love to have dinner with you.

I'll be staying at the Dorcester.

Uh, driver, would you drop the

lady at the Dorcester, please?

Yes, sir.

Well, I'll call you.

Good.

Goodnight.

Ciao.

Did you talk to Elliot? - What?

Elliot. Did you talk to him?

Well, of course I talked to Elliot.

- What'd you get out of him?

- Nothing.

Nothing?

Well, Charlie, he's just not a

very communicative kind of person.

And I want to know how.

- I'll try.

- Farnsworth is flying out there tomorrow.

- Who's coming in tomorrow?

- Hello?

Hello?

I can't hear a thing. Betty, would you hold that

for a minute. I just can't hear Washington...

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