The Candidate

We want Neil! We want Neil!

A short time ago...

...our CBS vote profile analysis

declared Bingam the winner...

...and now NBC and ABC

computers agree.

- How is your sister?

- She's fine, thank you.

Jerry! How are you?

I thought you were in Philly.

I came back for the victory speech.

Victory?

I want you to meet somebody.

Neil, we'd better go down now.

Let him through.

Get in the elevator.

They said when we got into this

we didn't have a chance.

They said there was

nothing we could do.

Now, the count has gone against us...

...whatever that means.

I'm not sorry,

and I hope you're not sorry.

I think we've proved our point.

We may have lost our personal campaign.

That's not important.

What matters....

- Some sauce for the road.

- Next time we'll get a live one.

I knew he didn't have a chance.

- The golf clubs are in my car.

- Let's clear out.

- Big Luke!

- Have a good night?

We took 2 out of 3.

Not bad for an off-year election.

You're glad you didn't

run this campaign, huh?

It was in the cards.

- Hell of a guy, though.

- Yes, nice guy.

He never had a chance.

Luke, I want to talk to you.

We'll keep going until we've licked

the things that brought us into this.

What's your hurry?

I'll walk you out.

We're supposed to see Forbes?

- He wants to talk about California.

- You got something going in California?

Maybe.

The Democrats should nominate Jarmon

themselves, they're so afraid of him.

You never know.

What's this?

- A guy I knew at Stanford.

- McKay's son!

I saw all this stuff, the legal aid bit.

Doesn't prove he's got kishkas.

Nobody will beat Jarmon.

Tell me something else I don't know.

What are these occupation charges

he's talking about?

He's talking about storage charges.

He charges us 3 times what it's worth...

...and wants to charge us

for not getting our car back?

Bill McKay?

Marvin Lucas.

I thought a beard was taboo in politics?

- Excuse me a second.

- He won't budge.

Ask him if he knows

what a license renewal hearing is.

Can we do that?

- What happened?

- They threw me out.

Said it was a matter

for the Federal Courts now.

Go back with a petition--

- We've had 3 months of briefs!

- The watershed thing is too important!

- Can I help you?

- No, I'll wait for McKay.

- They aren't going to move.

- They have to.

- What's it about?

- Senator.

- You have thought about it?

- You know what I see?

A bunch of party hacks

reacting to publicity.

I've talked to people about it.

What do you think of Jarmon?

A smooth character.

You think someone ought to take him on?

- Some bigtime Democrat.

- They're all afraid of him.

You're stuck, then.

Unless we find someone

who has something he believes in.

Whatever that means.

Someone to tell people

what's important.

Not that way he doesn't.

Not in any political campaign.

It doesn't have to work that way.

Don't tell me.

I watched my dad for 20 years.

It was no good?

Yes, it was good for him.

He got to be governor. What good it did

for anybody else, though, I don't know.

I'm not talking about him.

I mean someone

who can call his own shots.

This stuff you call politics...

...politics is bullshit!

I was wondering what it was.

I have to go home for about an hour.

Janice, did Nancy drop the car off?

Did she call?

I can drive you home.

I'll wait outside.

No, these have to be signed...

...then just give them to Donna.

You could go on filing lawsuits

in the sticks for 100 years...

...or take a year and lay out a real

position for yourself in this state.

Hi, kid.

Marvin Lucas,

this is my wife, Nancy.

- Don't let us interrupt.

- You want a beer?

Here you go.

Some goodies.

Contacts, for example...

...people who can get things done.

It's a matter of resources.

I just worked through the weekend,

20 straight hours...

...and I loved it. Why do I need

what you offer? I'm happy.

Clams are happy.

What'd you accomplish?

You want a list?

You saved some trees.

- You got a clinic opened.

- No good?

- You feel good?

- Not bad!

Jarmon sits on committees

carving up the land, oil and taxes!

You seen him?

Have you ever seen him operate?

What's in it for you?

An air card, a phone card,

a thousand bucks a week.

That's all?

Marvin wants me to go into politics.

What else is new?

What office?

Senator.

Why not, if he really

put his mind to it.

That means you'd have to register.

- He never has.

- There hasn't been any reason.

I hope you keep that a secret.

Unless you took it seriously.

The point is you can go

with the things you believe in.

For openers, you've got credibility.

You've got the name.

The name? You're not

bringing my father into this.

Okay.

He's got the looks.

And he's got the power.

What does that mean?

- You know what that means.

- No, I don't.

If you gentlemen will excuse me...

...I have to remove some film

from the bathtub.

You're saying I can say what I want,

do what I want, go where I please?

That's right.

Here's your guarantee.

I lose.

That's it.

So what are you worried about?

You're free, McKay. You don't have

a chance, so say what you want.

It's between you and the public.

The question is whether

you can put your ass on the line.

No, the question is

whether it's worth it.

Thanks for the beer.

But I remember this:

I remember my mom and dad...

...went through the 1930's without

welfare, without poverty programs.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes