01x04 - Girl on a Flagpole

[bunniefuu]

[waves crashing]

[music]

Letter to Loretta.

Starring Loretta Young.

Dear Loretta, my boyfriend
is a doll, a real doll.

Except for one thing.
He is so stubborn

about silly, unimportant things.

I mean, for instance, he thinks
that I get too friendly too quickly.

You know, like calling people
you meet for the first time,

honey and darling. And I
just think that I'm being nice.

And enough for instance.

The other night I was
in a telephone booth

and a bunch of nickels
came pouring out.

And do you know, he
made me send every

one of them back to
the telephone company.

I just couldn't
talk him out of it.

Well.

Maybe it's a
principle with him, Gloria.

I mean, suppose the
situations where a reverse.

Like it actually
is in the case of a

girl I recently read
about in a magazine.

Her name is Jenny Tobit
and she teaches maths school.

Now, in our discussion
of this division

of power it must be
remembered that our.

Constitution is a written
agreement entered

into by the people of
the 13 original states

and agreed to by
the people of the 35

states which have
since entered the union.

[laugh]

The national government has
delegated our federal powers

and the state says.

[laugh]

Excuse me.

[running]

[door closing]

Fred, please stop that.

-This is public building you know
-I pay taxes.

Let's start filing a
joint return this year.

Oh, If you're asking me to
marry, you can save your breath.

I accepted your first proposal
a year before you made it.

Now be a good boy
and don't bother me

anymore. And I'll see
you later. Goodbye.

[door opening]

I'm sorry [door closing]

Now, as I was saying, the state
governments can do all things

other than those provided for in
our Constitution. In other words,

[music]

The national government
must show some specific

or implied grant of
power for everything.

[people shouting]

Way have gathered here tonight
to talk Turkey.

You all know me. I
may be the party leader

of this district,
but I shall always

Mr. Gallagher.

Is it too much to ask you to
take your campaign elsewhere?

Ms. Tobit.

Would you deny us our constitutional
right of freedom of assembly?

I deny you nothing.

Except the right to
disturb the peace.

It's campaigning for
the election of a great

man like Mark Mercer.
Disturbing to you?

Disturbing to my class.

Go, shut up.

[laugh] Mr. Gallagher

while we're on the
subject, your choice

of a candidate is as
bad as your manner.

Thou see here jenny.

No, I'm sorry.

But Mark Mercer is fit only
to be elected to a place in the

Road to Previer section under
the title Wealthy Sportsman.

Good night.

[closing window

[laugh]

For pete Say, can't you stop
correcting those examination

papers for a minute? I'm
talking about our honeymoon.

And high times.

you have 2 should have been

married and raising
a family long ago.

I'm glad you mentioned
that. Let's face it, dopey.

I've had my eyes on you
since I was six years old.

All right, you've waited.
We've all waited.

You can't build a successful
newspaper overnight.

No, of course not.

By the end of the year the
paper should be paying its way.

I figure we can set
a date in December.

Fine.

Jenny, listen to Fred.
He's being romantic.

The trouble with Jenny and me
is we know each other too well.

[telephone ringing] Telephone.

Answer someone.

And we've known each other too long.

Not long enough for me.

Only practically
from the cradle. [laugh]

Every time we hear Rockabye Baby,

-Hello.
-She says,

listen honey they're
playing our song

excuse me repeat
that pelase. [laugh]

Your name was picked out of
the telephone book, Miss Tobit.

Now, if you answer
the Jackpot question,

you will win our grand
final Jackpot Prize.

It's a quiz show.

Are you ready?

Yes, I'm ready.

Here it is. How many
children did President

Cleveland have and
what were their names?

How many children did President

Cleveland have and
what were their names?

Quickly, encyclopedia.

[laugh]

The Cleveland had five
children, three girls and two boys.

And her names were Ruth,
Esther, Marion, Francis and Richard.

Richard Folsom Cleveland.

Folsom was his middle name.

Right.

Right you are.

Madam. You have just
won the Jackpot prize.

I won, I won.

You won what?

Oh, what did I win.

You won an automobile.

An automobile.

What kind of an automobile?

What kind of an automobile?

A brand new Crescent convertible.

Crescent convertible?

Oh, I'm sorry, sir. I
cannot accept your car.

Jenny.

I said I'm sorry. I cannot
accept your Crescent convertible.

Jenny what you're saying.

Yes I'd be delighted
to tell you why.

Because Marc Mercer's a
political candidate in this state.

And I do not hold what Marc
Mercer represents politically.

He also happens to own three fourth
of the stocks of Crescent motors.

And therefore, I feel
at my duty to object

to his candidacy in
whatever manner I can.

-Jenny.
-Jenny.

[laugh]

[music]

My dear Miss Tobit.

[music]

In my opinion.

May we point out.

No.

-No.
-Look, I'm begging.

No.

I wouldn't change my mind if I
had to go around on a pogo stick.

But a new car, honey,
a piece of machinery

more beautiful
than a human being.

Oh I know you
think I'm an idiot.

But I am not going
to take that car.

Force yourself.

[laugh]

Now, listen to me
and try to understand.

I've been telling
my pupils about the

precious privilege
of casting a vote.

And I refuse to sell my opinion now
for an automobile or anything else.

Jenny or a walking editorial.

[laugh]

Good night.

I beg your pardon.

Good evening, Miss Jennifer Tobit.

Who are you?

Marc Mercer.

Marc Mercer.

The people's choice.

Well, this is Fred Broc.

How do you do?

Pleased to meet you.

Don't you come in Mr. Mercer.

Thank you.

-Sit down.
-Oh, thank you.

Excuse me.

Coffee?

No, thanks. Cigarette?

No, thank you.

Light?

No thanks.

Well, I guess you're
wondering why I'm here.

We sure are.

Well, I just wanted
to meet in person.

The young lady who
dislikes me so much.

I wanted to ask her why
she won't accept my car?

Well, since you asked Mr Mercer.

I'll be explicit.

I'll retract that statement.

I think you've been explicit
enough in the last few weeks.

I'm not equipped, you
say, to handle the various

problems of my constituents
and so forth and so on.

You know, now that
I see you, Ms. Tobit,

I'm inclined to believe
that you're sincere.

And I want to be
honest with you.

Oh, Mr. Broc is my fiance

Oh.

Oh of course.

Afraid, why don't you sit down?

No doubt you're
aware, Ms. Tobit, that

you've been a disturbing
element in my life.

It's quite embarrassing when
a company can't give away its

product. Not to mention what
you've done to my campaign.

Well, to get to the
point, just what do

I have to do to get
you to accept my car?

Take your hat out of the ring.

-What?
-Don't run for all.

Aren't you being rather
naive? My dear girl,

I've known many
politicians in my time.

None of them appear
to be extraordinary.

Very well. Don't look at
me. I wanted to take the car.

After all, what was one
known to be a politician?

What about these?

These what?
Books.

Government, history, civics.

Oh.

What about them?

Mr. Mercer, may I ask
you a personal question?

Well, that might be
a pleasant change

from your personal
remarks. sh**t.

Can you recite the
preamble to the Constitution?

But,

now we're being childish.

Well, can you?

Of course.

We, the people of
the United States,

in order to form a
more perfect union.

Ah.

Whistling.

Establish justice.

Ah.

Whistling.

Insure domestic tranquility.

Ah.

Hm.

Hm.

I'll probably think of the
rest of it lying in bed tonight.

For the moment, you've won a point.

The point is, Mr. Mercer,
you don't even know

as much of the members
of my night class.

Not just a minute.

I'm awfully sorry if
I've embarrassed you.

Not at all.

You'd be surprised
at the things I forget.

You'd be surprised that
the things I remember.

For the sake of my one precious
folk, I've taken the trouble.

to have your record
checked, and this is the result.

You hunted lions in Africa,
you skied in Switzerland,

you played polo in
America. You had a love

affair with a show girl
that barely missed the front

page, that made good
meat for the gossip columns.

[laugh]

Nancy Darson, remember?

Bruh I remember.

[laugh] Well, anyway.

Crescent Motors was built by
your father and has progressed

smoothly without your help. And your
industrial holdings you inherited

That's not very nice, Ms.Tobit,
prying into a man's private life.

Well, unfortunately.

a man's private life is no longer
private once he has decided

to run for public office. Now,
will there be anything else?

Yes.

When are you going
to accept my car?

Now. I'm prepared
to make it worth your

while. We produce
a beautiful little

custom built
convertible that's really

a honey. And
you'll get it tax free.

Take it, take it.

Fred

Of course, you're prepared
to make it worth my wife,

but are you prepared
to read those books, to

know them and understand
them and believe them?

Are you prepared to
feel the responsibility and

the dignity of the office
to which you aspire?

Are those the conditions under
which you will accept the Crest?

Yes, they are.

I think I'll take a
look at those books.

In fact, I think I'll stay in town
for a short while. And if you

don't mind, Ms. Tobert, I think
I'll drop in on your night class.

Oh.

No telling what I might pick up.

Besides, it might be a welcome
change from kissing babies.

-Goodnight.
-Goodnight.

[door closing]

Tax free.

[laugh]

[claping]

[music]

Take the car Jenny.

It's bread and honey.
It's flower in the pot.

Mercer wasn't kidding. A custom
built job with all the trimming.

It's bribery, Fred.

On you poor but,

dishonest young editor.

Can't you see what I see, honey?

A plot of ground.

a little white house
and a big white garage.

Our garage. And in it,
a snazzy Crescent eight.

My bus is eight years.

[laugh]

If you ever had an
ideal at a dark loneliness

I'm ever going to
set you straight.

Love.

Patience

understanding.

And taking that eight
cylinder dreamboat.

No, no no.

Good evening, Peter.

[laugh]

Well, thank you, Mr. Mercer.

Hi, Mr. Broc.

Good evening.

[music]

Can you name the
order of a presidential succession?

Mr. Mercer

Of course.

In case the President of
the United States should die,

the Vice President would
automatically assume the office.

Yes, go on.

Go on.

[laugh]

I mean, should the
vice president die?

Oh of course.

if the Vice President
should die, well,

the most important
man would, naturally.

Let's see. That would
be the army navy.

[laugh]

Yes. That's beautiful.

. Vice President, speaker
of the House. President

Paul Thomas senate
secretary of the State Treasury,

defense attorney General
postmaster General secretary

of the Interior, Agricultural,
Commerce, and labor.

Very good, Ms. Fritafas.

[music]

It's a wonderful story.

Hi.

Hi, fred.

What were you talking about?

Taxes.

What's so funny about taxes?

Oh,

Never mind.

[laugh]

Can anyone tell me the
function of the Electoral College?

How bout you Ms. Fritafas.?

Well.

It had to do with voting.

I think.

I'm not sure.

Yes, Mr. Mercer.

The Electoral College, as a
state body is consisting of as

many members as the number
of states representatives in both

Houses of Congress combined together
to act as the intermediaries

in the casting of ballots
in the presidential election.

Excellent, Mr. Mercer.

[laugh]

Read this time.

Oh, hi Fred.

Still Mad?

No. So you had dinner
with Mark Mercer. So what?

Yeah, good boy.

Was it fun?

Very interesting.

Interesting?

Oh sure interesting.

Well, all I want to know is
when you're going to take that

gorgeous carriage and let
Prince Charming go fly a pumpkin.

Pretty soon now.

You know he's a
very intelligent pupil.

And he's trying awfully hard to
learn as much as he possibly can.

Okay, let's forget about
teacher's pet for a while.

[laugh]

Oh, Fred.

Say.

they've got a new band
over the roadhouse.

And they?

And I've got a little
something to discuss with you.

What does it tell me?

I'd rather save
it for tonight.

Oh.

Tonight.

Oh, I'm sorry, Fred. Sorry
about what? Well, you

see, I promise Mark
there's this lecture tonight.

-Marc?
-Yes.

Lecture on a Saturday night?

Yeah, and I promised him.

Well, naturally have got to go.

Well, you don't mind, do you?

Of course not.

I know how sacred
promises are to politicians.

Oh, Fred, it's just that I feel I
can do something for him.

That's all.

Oh, Dopey.

[music]

One more dance and I
need a loop pair of legs.

Oh, my head is spinning.

Champagne cocktails become you.

[laugh]

well, thank you,
Marc and good night.

I had on please, please don't.

It's that dress you're wearing

reminds me of
moonlight and roses and

young love. It reminds me of the
nickels and dimes I saved together.

We'll have to do this again, Jenna.

Yes, it will. Good night.

Good night.

[music]

Hello.

Oh, Fred

These ripe champagne
cocktails do become you.

Oh, hey poor darling.

How long you been setting there?

Oh, not long.

I didn't mean to cry.

Oh.

I'm sorry about what just happened.

It'd be a sucker if he didn't try.

[laugh]

Look, you don't think
I wanted him to dear?

of course not. It's
just that you went to a

lecture and you
thought it'd stimulate him.

Well, the lecture was
postponed till next Saturday night.

Well, when you go, drink a few
toasts to an old acquaintance.

[music]

She was crying this morning.

and then she came
downstairs, calm and collected as

you pleased. And called
Mark Mercer at the hotel.

She did?

She told him she was
going to put him to a test, and

if he passed the test, she
was going to accept the car.

Well.

She gave him the test an hour ago.

Well.

He passed with flying cover.

I didn't tell you, grandma.

But I'm leaving town.

A trip?

A long one.

I'm selling the Chronicle.

Can't stand competition, eh?

I'm just hanging around
to see the excitement when

Miss American Dream climbs
aboard the Mercer bandwagon

You won't have long to wait.

The card is being
delivered this afternoon.

[music]

What do you think of
Mr. Mercer's chances for election?

Well, folks have any
regard for good intentions?

I think he's a cinch.

One more picture as you give
her the keys to the car, Mr. Mercer.

Sure.

Ah.

I want to thank you janne.

For what

For what you taught me.

I didn't write the books, Marc.

What I learned wasn't in the books.

To be true to yourself
and strong in the truth.

I won't let you down, Jenny.

[music]

Thank you.

Good morning.

What are you doing here

while I work here

on Saturday morning?

Well, I asked Todd
Griswold to meet me here.

That's funny. You asked
me to meet him here. Left a message.

What kind of business have you got
with Todd Griswold?

Oh, he's the broker
on the sale of a newspaper.

Yeah,

my newspaper.

That's right. And I'm the purchaser.

You?

I thought it
was a good way to invest my $3,000.

What $3,000?

The $3,000 I got for selling my car.

[laugh]

Now all I need is an editor.

Then that's nothing new.

I've always needed him.

Do you think you can
buy me for a few paltry bucks?

We'll talk about it over
a pineapple soda. Let's go.

What about Todd Bristol?

You just have to keep
his nose out of our family affairs.

[music]

I've just been wondering how many
of us

would have been as
strong in our principles

as Jenny was.

Yes, Gloria, even stubborn.

I think your bull might be.

I heard a wonderful definition
the other day of a good marriage.

The husband makes
up the deficiencies in the wife,

and the wife makes
up the deficiencies in the husband.

implying, of course,

that alone, neither one is perfect.

And it seems to me,
according to this definition,

that your bow with his principles,
and you with your great forms

should make a wonderful combination.

A good marriage.

Now, come one step
closer with me, Gloria.

Whoever keeps the
whole law what offends

in one point has
become guilty in all.

From
the Book of James.

You see, you had

to send those
nickels back.

[music]