The Luck of the Irish Page #7

to understand, sir, because you-

you are the type

that wears no man's collar.

You are a proud, free man.

It is for that reason

that I am proud to serve you.

Will that be all, sir?

Yes. Yes, Horace, that'll be all.

Thank you, sir.

- Mr. Fitzgerald!

- Where's Mr. Augur?

- He's gone out, sir.

- When will he be back?

- I don't expect him back this afternoon.

- Where can I reach him?

I don't know. But if it's important,

I know he'll be home for dinner tonight.

He's expecting some guests.

- Have some more steak, Senator.

- No, thanks, D.C.

I lost my appetite 20 years ago.

- You'll find out.

- I already have.

I'll pay for this in the morning.

- What is it, Jenkins?

- There's a Mr. Fitzgerald to see you, sir.

He says it's important.

- Ask him to come in.

- Yes, sir.

Paula, were you listening

to thejudge's conversation?

- Yes, I was!

- Wasn't it brilliant?

No, it was boring!

Come on in, Fitz.

Come in.

So good to see you.

- I believe you know everyone here.

- Yes.

- Mrs. Augur, I'm sorry. I thought you'd be finished.

- That's quite all right.

Senator Ransome, this is Mr. Fitzgerald,

my good right hand.

- Ah, yes. I've heard of this young man.

- Senator.

- Have some dinner, Fitz.

- No, thank you. I'd like to see you alone, if you don't mind.

- Sit down. We'll be through- - I'd rather

wait in the study, if it's all right with you.

- Sure. Make yourself a drink while you're waiting.

- Thank you. Excuse me.

I'll help him.

Will you excuse me?

How much do you want

for Mr. Fitzgerald, D. C?

- He's not for sale.

- Really?

I understood he was.

Well, I hear Father's been

his usual sweet, tactless self again.

Never mind the drink, Frances.

I'm not in the mood.

- Now, really, Fitz- - As you were

instrumental in getting me this job...

perhaps you'd like to be the first

to read my resignation.

I hope you know

what you're resigning from.

I think your father made that

quite clear this afternoon.

I guess I shouldn't tell you this because

it's still supposed to be a secret...

but I happen to know what

he has in mind for you.

He hasn't let me in

on the secret yet.

If he wins the election...

he's going to have to find someone

to run the publishing house.

Naturally, he'd prefer to promote

somebody in his own organization...

somebody who understands

the Augur way of doing things.

- Go on.

- Of course, it would have to be somebody he can trust.

Or manage.

What about Higgenbottom?

Oh, no, Fitz.

This isn't a job for a yes-man.

It's for a man who has the intelligence

to recognize his big chance...

patience to wait for it

and the resolution to seize it.

Father's a bit of a fool

to go into politics.

He has more power right now

than a dozen senators.

The man who sits in his office

will inherit that power.

Not if he's still running things

by remote control.

- He won't be. I'll see to that.

- You? How?

Leave that to me.

D.C. Augur will be perfectly happy

making speeches in Washington...

while Stephen Fitzgerald

makes history here in New York.

Well, it's a very

alluring prospect, but-

Of course you'd use the power for good,

Fitz, but the important thing is to have it.

It's all very well to have ideals...

but what good are they

if you can't reach the people with them?

- But I'm not sure that's what I want.

- It's what I want.

- But you have it now.

- No, I haven't. I can wheedle certain things...

but I'm not a partner.

You go with the job?

If you want me, Fitz.

Got some cigars here-

Oh.

Excuse me.

Here they are, Senator.

You needn't have

waited up for me, Horace.

I thought you might

require something, sir.

- I'd like a drink.

- Yes, sir. Right away.

- Fix one for yourself too.

- Thank you very much, sir.

I'd like you to drink

to my health, Horace.

I'm going to be married.

Aye, indeed, sir?

Would it be the tall lady, sir?

Hmm?

Oh, Miss Augur. Yes.

Ah.

You're a fortunate man.

She'll make a fine mother

for your children.

There's more to marriage than

just having children, you know, Horace.

Oh, indeed there is, sir.

In riches and poverty,

sickness and health...

love, honoring and obeying.

She'll make you a fine wife, sir.

It's a very important decision...

probably the most important

that a man makes in his life.

Oh, indeed it is, sir.

May I ask what prompted you

to make it?

Well, one doesn't stop to analyze

one's behavior when one's in love.

No, sir, but there must be

something about the tall lady...

that made you select her

as your partner for life.

- Well, she's beautiful, for one thing.

- She is indeed, sir.

- With a man's courage and a man's brains.

- Yes.

Is there anything wrong with

a woman's courage and a woman's brains?

We won't discuss it any further.

No, sir.

- You have something against her, haven't you?

- Me, sir?

No, sir, nothing at all, at all.

No one's forcing you to stay here

and keep on working for me, you know.

No, sir. After the wedding

I'll be looking for another place.

You don't have to make up your mind

right now, Horace.

You'll have no further need

for me after that, sir.

Will that be all, sir?

- Yes, that'll be all.

- Yes, sir.

- Good night, Horace.

- Good night yourself, sir.

Oh. The saints forgive me, sir.

- I forgot to tell you that I waxed the floor.

- Yes, Horace.

It was very thoughtful

of you, Horace.

This is good, Fitz!

It's great!

I like this ad-lib finish. I think it's just

perfect for theJournalists Club.

Sort of one newspaperman to another.

How would it be if I put my hands in

my pockets? You know, informal, homespun.

I wouldn't get too homespun.

You're liable to unravel.

Yeah.

Mustn't overdo it.

But this speech could be one of

the most important in the campaign...

if we don't make any mistakes.

- You're certainly right there, D.C.

- Of course I'm right.

Don't you have anything to do

this afternoon?

No. I'm all finished for the day.

Finished for the day.

Well, this is our chance

to recapture the working press.

Well, if you don't have

any further suggestions or criticism...

I'll see if I can get that deathless

document mimeographed.

By the way, I've arranged for you

to sit at the speaker's table tonight.

- I wasn't planning to attend.

- Well, change your plan.

My agreement with you doesn't cover

the way I spend my evenings.

In this case it does.

Take it easy, Fitz.

If these were normal conditions

I wouldn't insist...

but you're a member

of this Journalists Club.

What'll your friends say

if you don't show up?

- Assuming that I have any friends left.

- Ah, you're oversensitive.

There aren't 50 newspapermen in this town who

entirely agree with their paper's policies.

- Our relationship's a little different, isn't it?

- Sure, but this is politics.

- Politics makes-

- Strange bedfellows. I know, I know.

I haven't been sleeping

very well lately.

Well, if I'm not complaining,

why should you?

Consider what Lincoln had to put up with.

Here, have some of this.

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