l`m going to lose my house and there`s nothing l can do about it.
There is Helen, you can fight for it.
We have to figure out a way get Holsted to give you more money for your homes.
How we going to get them to give us more money?
Very simple Mrs Zabenko.
We give them a fair sheik.
Harvey O`Connell from the Union came to see me yesterday.
They still miss you down at the plant, all those terrible jokes you used to tell.
Katie is still at me to move in with her and Stan in Westfield.
Can you imagine me in the suburbs?
AWay from Hawthorn Street and the old neighbourhood AWay from you.
l wish she`d get pregnant and let me alone.
They`re tearing down the houses on Broom Street.
l have a feeling they`re headed our way next.
l don`t know where l`d go if l had to move.
l can`t picture myself anywhere but in that house.
Mrs Zabenko says l`m getting to be a recluse.
l didn`t think she even knew the word.
She`s right l am.
l`ll see you tomorrow.
l`m still mad at you for dying first and leaving me all alone.
That wasn`t fair.
Good morning Mrs Spencer, how are you?
l`m fine, Mrs Zabenko.
And you?
l`ve been better.
You been to visit the Mr?
Where else?
Fresh oranges and grapes.
lnside l got some real good Persian melons.
lf it`s so good who can afford it?
Hey mum! Got time for a cup of coffee?
- Sure, l`ll put on the pot.
The new house is so gorgeous, you`ve got to come and see it.
There`s more room than that apartment we had over in Oakhurst.
Stan is fixing up the basement and turning it into a den.
How`s the kitchen?
- Everything is brand new.
Cabinets, counter space, no clutter.
l`ll be able to put away everything l have and still have room.
Not like this one, ha?
l don`t know how you can find anything in this whole house.
You still have stuff here from when l was a kid.
Look at this.
Do you realise when that was done?
You did it in the 2nd grade.
lt`s a picture of your father.
Why do you keep it?
l`ll tell you.
l thought you would become a famous artist and it would be worth something.
lt`s mine and l like it.
Look at this.
This goes back to
- To before you were born.
Before Frank and l were married.
He brought that the day he proposed.
Said he couldn`t afford champagne.
That brewery has been closed 1 5 years now.
Maybe the bottle`s worth something?
- lt is to me.
Want some honey?
- Sure.
Excuse me, Mrs Spencer.
- You look like you`re going somewhere.
l am.
Alaska.
l don`t know if l can explain this properly.
A couple of hours ago l was reading about Point Barrow.
Suddenly l heard this voice Seemed to come from inside my head.
Said ``Dolan, don`t read about it, go there``.
``Now`s the time``.
So l packed my clothes and l`m going.
l hear it gets pretty cold up there.
l`m ready, first thing in the suitcase was the long johns.
l feel bad about leaving, but l`m paid up until the end of the month.
Maybe you can find another boarder.
That`s all right.
l hope you`ll be happy.
l think your voice told you a good thing.
lt`s good to have a dream to follow.
Good luck.
Send me a postcard.
l will Mrs Spencer and thank you for understanding.
Goodbye.
Bye.
Alaska?
l can`t imagine Mr Dolan up there with all those Polar bears.
He`s been here for 2 years, ever since your father died.
l`m going to have to put an ad in the paper right away.
l hope l can get another boarder, l need the extra money.
Mum! You don`t have to take in boarders.
Sell the house.
Live with Stan and me.
When will you understand?
This is my home.
Mrs Spencer?
We understand you have a room to rent?
What?
How could you possibly know?
- Mum, what is it?
These gentlemen want to rent a room.
How did you know?
lt was the strangest thing.
We were walking around the neighbourhood and saw this gentleman carrying a suitcase.
He said he was going to Alaska.
Mr Dolan.
He told us about your house.
l don`t know when l`ve had a prayer answered so fast! You do have a room?
- Yes, room and board, $70 a week.
Eat dinner at 5.
You have to be finished by 6 because l work.
You sound busy.
l`m a cleaning lady at the Holsted building.
Now about the room
- We`ll take it.
You haven`t even seen it.
We`ve seen the Landlady.
That`s good enough for us.
Well come on in then.
Clean one of the other offices.
This is rather important.
Paul.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
Very cagey, Paul.
- What did l do now?
How old are you?
- 62.
Which you have been for over 4 months now.
You almost slipped by without anyone noticing.
l assumed it was being waived in my case.
Sorry, no exceptions.
Let me ask you the day l turned 62, did l become unfit to do my job?
Of course not.
But there are rules and mandatory retirement is a good rule.
lt makes way for young people in the company.
Nothing personal.
- That`s the problem.
Whatever happened to personal?
You`ll be able to stay the week, but l`ll need to put somebody in here next Monday.
l should be able to clean out my office by then.
Cheer up, you`re going to like retirement.
You`ve paid you dues, now it`s time to enjoy yourself.
You and Evelyn can enjoy the golden years.
My wife Evelyn died over a year ago.
Then what happened?
- Nothing.
Mr Tarsten went back to his office and just sat there.
Think they`ll make us retire when we turn 62?
He does that a lot since his wife died.
- What?
Just sits there.
l watch him at night.
l don`t think he wants to go home.
l know how he feels.
Did you hear what happened over at 28th Street?
They all got their notices to vacate.
They`re gonna tear that block down just like they`re doing on Broom Street.
How can they make you move if you don`t want to sell?
The company`s got friends on the City Council.
They just move right in and condemn the property.
lsn`t that against the law?
They are the law.
l got a hunch we`re next.
What do you think, Helen?
l think it`s a shame about Mr Tarsten.
How you doing?
- Mr Smith.
Let me take that for you.
This is a nice neighbourhood.
- Some people don`t think so.
l don`t see why.
- Some people like modern.
lt`s not the buildings that are important, it`s the people.
Otherwise they`d call it a ``buildinghood`` instead of a neighbourhood.
l like that.
Looks like you`ve got company.
Mrs Spencer?
Richard Collins, Tri
-State Realty.
l don`t want to sell my house.
- Not even for $50,000?
That`s a lot of money.
- You can buy a lot for $50,000.
l don`t want a lot, l just want my house.
Think about it.
$50,000 now or $25,000 when the City takes over and forces you out.
l`ll put these in the kitchen for you.
That was all bluff out there, you know.
l`m going to lose my home.
We moved in here when we were first married.
My daughter Katie was born upstairs in the room next to yours.
Almost everybody l know lives in this neighbourhood.
l`m going to lose my house and there`s not a thing l can do about it.
There is, Helen, you can fight for it.
One person go up against somebody that big?
Maybe not one person.
Awhole neighbourhood`s a different story.
Put on a pot of coffee and we`ll talk.
You want us to go up against Holsted?
That`s a pretty tall order.
So was starting your own business 9,000 miles from home.
This is my home now, Jonathan.
Then how about fighting for it?
All right, l`ll come to the meeting.
l tell you it can be done.
- You crazy.
How long have you had this market?
35 years.
l buy from my cousin Luige.
You`re willing to throw away 35 years without a fight?
Who says l`m gonna give up without a fight?
That`s all l wanted to hear.
Mr Tarsten?
- Yes.
My name`s Jonathan Smith.
Can l could speak to you for a moment?
lt`s inconvenient at the moment.
lt`s very important, please.
All right.
Sit here, please.
l won`t take up much of your time.
Are you familiar with Holsted`s redevelopment project downtown?
Of course.
l was in on the initial planning stages.
Feasibility studies and budgets.
And what did you think of it?
lt`s a sound business venture.
From whose point of view?
ln feasibility you never take into consideration Oh Now l know what you`re driving at, Mr Smith.
Jonathan.
You should know l`m not employed my Holsted anymore.
l know that.
Mandatory retirement.
That`s why l`m here.
How would you like to get involved from the other side?
l`m afraid you`ve lost me.
A bunch of us are getting together to fight Holsted.
We`re meeting tonight at 6 o`clock.
We`d like you to join us.
No, l don`t think that lt would give you the chance to work again at what you do best.
lt would be a shame to let experience go to waste.
There`d be a salary, of course.
That`s not important.
l have a pension which is more than adequate.
No, l don`t think l`d be interested in your project, Mr Smith.
lsn`t it better than what you`re planning now?
What are you talking about?
You know what l`m talking about.
l think you`d better leave.
Of course.
Your wife, Evelyn How do you think she`d feel about what you are going to do?
lf Evelyn were alive l wouldn`t be doing it! Then why don`t you go to the cemetery one more time and talk to her?
The g*n will still be in the drawer when you get back.
Problem?
- This darn thing is stuck.
lt`s supposed to be open all the time.
Mr Tarsten.
You`re Helen Spencer.
l`m on the night cleaning crew.
Of course.
You always wait so patiently for me to leave.
ls your wife here?
Yes.
My husband too.
Are you from this neighbourhood?
We grew up on Broom Steet.
Went to Bradford High School, City College.
lsn`t this strange?
The gate is unlocked and it won`t open and l`m going to be late.
l`m meeting with the homeowners at my place at 6 o`clock.
Are you going to fight Holsted?
Yes, but how did you know?
Afella named Jonathan came by and l Jonathan?
Yes.
He invited me too.
Did you know they`re planning on moving the cemetery?
They`re what?
They want to turn the cemetery into a small park for the condos.
They`ll move everyone.
Oh no, they won`t! What in heaven`s name made it open?
l don`t know.
Look maybe l`d better drop by this meeting, just to see.
Oh good, let`s go.
You want us to mortgage our homes so we can invest in some scheme?
ls that about right?
Yes, Mrs Zabenko, that`s about right.
Are we crazy?
Most of these houses are already paid for.
lf this doesn`t work, we`ll lose our homes.
We`re gonna lose our houses anyway.
But at least we`ll have money to show for it.
With the plan l have you`ll not only have the money, you`ll have a say so in what happens to your homes.
How?
Holsted has offered you $50,000 for each one of your houses.
There`s about 50 houses in the neighbourhood.
Collectively that`s $2.
5 million.
We take that and buy stock in Holsted.
You want us to invest in people who are throwing us out of our homes?
Correct.
When you own stock in a corporation you have a certain about of say
-so in how it operates.
The more stock you own, the more say
-so.
We fight from the inside.
l like the sound of it.
But what if it goes under?
l`ve seen companies go bankrupt.
There`s little chance of that at Holsted.
What do you think, Mr Tarsten?
Actually you`d probably make money on the deal.
However, you`re being optimistic in having say in Holstead`s business.
$2.
5m is a drop in the bucket.
Ladies and gentlemen l`d like you to meet Paul Tarsten.
He`s an expert, having worked there for 26 years.
You ain`t with them no more?
No, l recently retired.
Does this mean you might be joining us?
This would be far more preferable than my other plan.
We have to figure out a way to get Holsted to give you more money.
You can do that?
- l think so.
But first a show of hands to see who`s interested in the plan.
Hey, let`s give it a shot.
Even if Holsted come up with a better offer l say he knows what he`s talking about.
All right.
How do we get more money from them for our homes?
Very simple.
We give them a fair sheik.
This ain`t ever going to work.
- Sure it is, you were perfect.
Wasn`t he, Mrs Spencer?
l think you make a very good sheik.
And young Tommy Levisos, he`s a very good looking chauffeur.
He may look terrific but he drives terrible.
Almost hit a bus on the way over here.
Take a look.
l told you it would work.
Okay, next stop.
Not Mrs Zabenko?
She wants to introduce me to her niece.
lt`s for a good cause.
Go on! l hate this.
The whole block, both sides of the street and at every place he offered $1 50,000 for the building.
That`s three times more than we offered.
What do you think he`s up to?
He could be putting up competing units and riding in on our coattails.
l`m thinking the same thing.
We can`t let that happen.
Go to 1 51 , but throw up every building on the block.
That`s a lot of money.
Unless you have a better plan, spend it.
We need that block.
lt worked! $1 51 ,000.
l`m rich! Just put it in the pile, Zabenko.
Now we buy stock in Holsted.
l think Paul has a better idea.
l was afraid of this.
Now we`re going to lose our money.
Not if we`re smart.
When l left, Holsted were taking over some smaller companies.
When that happens the price of the smaller companies` stock goes up.
So we buy stock in the small company, Holsted takes it over, and we make money on their work.
Which company?
That`s the problem.
They were considering 3 seperate organisations when l left, but the Board kept it very secret.
ls there any way of finding out?
- No.
Security`s very tight.
What we need is an insider.
- And we`ve got them.
Who?
You, Helen.
And you, Mrs Zabenko.
What are you talking about?
Trash.
Trash?
Trash.
ls this it?
lt`s 6 in the morning! We wanted to make sure we got every scrap of paper.
That`s us, finicky cleaning people.
Trash is trash.
lt all goes on the truck.
See you in the morning.
Okay, you got it! l`ll pick you up after work.
- Okay.
Now what?
l`ll be glad when this whole mess is over.
The sooner she sells that house, the sooner she moves in with us.
You think that`s best?
Stan, ever since Dad died she`s lost interest in living.
She`s gone down hill.
l know, but she You should have heard when she called last night.
She wants me to spend the whole day with her.
She really needs someone.
Come on, l`ll walk in with you and say hello.
Keep everything separate, we don`t want to have to go through this again.
We`ll never find it.
l feel it in my bones.
We`ll find it.
Katie come in.
You`re in charge of the kitchen.
Open each bag separately.
Anything pertaining to business, put it the cardboard box.
What is going on?
- They`ll explain in the kitchen.
Paul, have you found anything yet?
- No, nothing yet.
Get a move on! Darling, if you`re not here to work just give us a kiss.
Goodbye.
Paul, let`s check the kitchen! What are looking for?
- A memo, most likely.
Referring to a company with a made
-up type name.
Electronics would be a good bet.
You mean like Electrocomp?
- Exactly.
Electrocomp would be just the kind of Let me see that.
This is it.
This is it.
This is it! That was my bag of trash.
He found it in my trash! Where have you been?
Let me sit down.
l`m shaking like a leaf.
How did it go?
l bought every share of Electrocomp that was available.
l got it between 2 and 2 and 3/8ths.
At 10 o`clock the stock went crazy, word went out that Holsted was going to acquire it.
Sounds good to me.
- lt`s incredible! The stock closed at 6 1/4.
But l wonder how word leaked out?
Holsted is usually good on security like that.
l guess you`d have to say it was heaven sent.
lf you all make a load of money why not take it and live wherever you choose?
We are dear.
You are?
Yes.
We`re going to live right here.
Did you read it?
Our stock went through the roof! We know.
Paul is already out.
He`s buying up the Holsted stock with the money.
But Holsted is going down?
- We know, Mrs Zabenko.
We sell stock that`s going up, to buy stock that`s going down?
lf my figures are correct we now have a working control of Holsted.
l know we made a lot of money on the stock deal but control Holsted?
That`s a multi
-billion dollar corporation.
l said a working control, Mr Yoka.
We have the voting right to slightly over 6º/º of the stock.
That`s doesn`t seem like very much.
lt isn`t until you understand that nobody has any more than that.
That`s right.
lt`s important we keep this quiet until the stock holder`s meeting.
We don`t want to tip off Holsted.
What`s going on here?
Foster! Get in here! Yes Sir.
- What`s going on here?
You mean Electrocomp?
- Yes, Electrocomp.
How many shares did we purchase?
- Purchase?
Yes purchase! You didn`t want the buyers to begin until tomorrow, Sir.
What! Do you realise what this has cost us?
- Yes Sir.
Find the man responsible for leaking this information.
Do you understand?
-Yes sir.
Bug all the offices.
- Yes Sir.
Get out of here! Wait! All right, what we do We`re going to start to buy Electrocomp tomorrow.
Sell Holsted and buy Electrocomp.
Electrocomp closed at 6 1 /4.
lf we start to buy l don`t care! Once we push the merger through we can name our own price on Electrocomp.
l`m not so sure that`s a wise
- Just do it! Yes, sir.
l feel useful again, Evelyn.
l didn`t feel it could work, but now it`s made me feel l want to live again.
You`d be so proud of the old neighbourhood.
l didn`t realise how much l miss l`m sorry.
l saw you over here and l That`s all right.
l guess it seems silly talking to a grave.
l hope not, l do it all the time.
- You do?
Oh yes.
When you`ve been with someone a long time you want to share your thoughts with them.
l think he hears me too.
So do l when l talk to Evelyn.
After all, she`s the only one l have to talk to.
Well, l don`t want to intrude on your privacy.
Helen! Would you like to have some dinner?
Yes l would.
Almost finished?
- This is the end of it.
l can`t wait to see their faces when we tell them we control the company.
l still don`t understand it.
l believe it, but l don`t understand it.
This Paul is a genius.
Yes he is.
Helen, what`s that look in your eye?
What look?
l know a look when l see a look.
Come on, let`s go.
l can`t get over it, a couple of cleaning ladies telling the Holsted Corporation what to do.
Only in America.
``l can`t wait to see their faces when we tell them we control the company`` ``l believe it, but l don`t understand it.
This Paul is a genius.
`` Mr Crawford?
l found the leak.
l think you`d better call a meeting.
ls that everything?
- Everything so far, Sir.
Gentlemen we have a major problem.
Foster, why don`t you spell it out?
As you know, we`ve agreed to purchase all of the houses on Hawthorn Street for $1 51 ,000.
To make a long story short, the home owners have borrowed against the guarantee of purchase and bought a massive amount of stock in Electrocomp.
Then they sold high and bought shares in Holsted.
You said you were going to make it short.
Yes Sir.
What is boils down to is they control 6.
3º/º of Holsted.
As a group that gives them controlling interest.
Why would a bunch of people take a chance like that?
To save their crumby houses, that`s why.
To put a stop to the whole development.
And now they can.
Yes, now.
But not 90 days from now.
Gentlemen, l have the solution.
We invite them to a board meeting and we surrender.
We drop all development immediately.
What kind of a plan is that?
Let me finish.
As of now, we as a group buy stock options in Holsted, until we have sufficient holdings to go beyond that 6.
3º/º.
Where do we get the cash to cover those options?
We sell Electrocomp.
After the merger is complete, of course.
They don`t know about our business and their only concern is the neighbourhood.
At the end of 90 days we`re back in control and we reinstate the project.
All in favour, say aye.
Aye.
Aye.
Aye.
Aye.
Aye.
Aye.
The ayes have it.
Look in the newspaper! Holsted announce we are in control.
They want to meet with us!
- We know.
We`re on the way to the meeting.
Hey Paul, why don`t you ride in the front with me?
There`s something you ought to know before the meeting.
Well l see we`re all here.
Paul, congratulations.
You did an amazing job for these people.
l suppose for an old guy.
Yes.
This shouldn`t take too much time.
You have won.
We are withdrawing plans to develop Hawthorne Street.
Your homes will remain in tact.
That`s what you wanted and that`s what you`ve got.
Only in America! True.
Now if we`re all in agreement, let`s proceed with business as usual.
Not quite.
There is one other item.
Yes Paul, l was going to mention that.
You are welcome back with us.
That wasn`t the other item.
Well, what then?
- Electrocomp.
What about it?
Our group has decided not to let Holsted have it.
That`s ridiculous! We did a lot of research on this acquisition.
So did we.
And we don`t want it.
Electrocomp`s stock will collapse when this is announced.
Yes.
And you will be stuck with stock options you can`t exercise.
You knew.
How in heaven did you find out?
Exactly.
The point is, we found out.
Here`s our offer.
Our group will buy all your Electrocomp stock if you call a stock holder meeting and resign from the Board.
recommending our group take your place.
You must be kidding?
An old man and a bunch of night maids running Holsted?
Oh shut up Crawford! They`ve got us.
All those in favour say aye.
Aye.
Aye.
- Aye.
Aye.
We won! We honestly won! Mrs Zabenko, it was all your lovely trash! We get to keep our homes! Frank, we did it, we won.
Now you won`t have to move and neither will we.
l`m on the Board now.
l have my own office.
Of course l clean it myself, old habits die hard.
l`m going to be all right now.
You can stop worrying.
And l want you to know l`m not angry with you anymore.
Frank, l want you to meet Paul.
His wife Evelyn is here too, right by that great Maple over there.
He`s a very nice man, and a dear friend.
You`ll like him.