Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Please. Please.
Don't worry. Don't worry.

It's utter chaos around here.

And I'm terrified that

we're running out of time.

Am I trying to be
too perfect?

- Oh, but I want it to be so exquisite.

- So do we.

- But we're trying to be too exquisite.

- Why not aim for the stars?

- Good morning.
- Good morning.

- We do need some answers on the flowers.

- Ah, yes, freesia, freesia.

Everywhere freesia.
Daddy loves freesia.

Good morning. Good morning.

Oh. Hello. Hi.

- Lights?
- "Lights. "

Not too bright

and not too dark.

I'm looking for

a saffron glow,

sort of tea-dance '20s.

If food is the prose

of a party,

then lights
are its poetry.

It works. If food is the prose of

a party, lights are its poetry.

I like that. If music were the food of

love, play on. I'm going out of my mind.

Good morning,
Mr. Parrish.

- What do you think of all this, Helen?

- It's gonna be beautiful.

And Allison says

the president may come.

The president's got better things to do

than come to my birthday party.

Like what?

- Daddy? Do you have a minute?

- Good morning, Allison.

Not much more.

Big day in the big city.

- What's on your mind?

- Fireworks. Update:

We are constructing
the number 65 on the barge.

Archers from the State College of New

Paltz will shoot flaming arrows at it.

When it catches fire, it will give

us the effect of a Viking funeral,

but with none

of the morbidity.

The Hudson River Authority says that for

you, they'll make a special dispensation.

But, of course, there will be

an overtime bill...

for the Poughkeepsie

Fire Department.

So, what do you think?

Good?
No good?

Allison, I trust you.

This is your thing.

But it's your birthday. I hate

arrows. They make me nervous.

- Good morning, Dad.

- Good morning, honey.

- Morning.
- Morning. You're "Honey. " I'm "Allison. "
Oh.

Oh, Dad, Drew called from the helicopter,

and they're still two minutes away.

- Drew's aboard?
- Mm-hmm.

He wanted to ride
back down with you.

So why don't you sit down, relax, and get

some food in that flat tummy of yours.

- Are you coming?

- No.

You've got patients to attend to.

I've got three hysterical chefs,

one of whom loves truffles,

the other one hates truffles,

and the third one doesn't

even know what truffles are.

- I hate parties.
- But, Daddy, calm down.

You're gonna love it.

I swear.

Isn't it enough to be on the Earth for 65

years without having to be reminded of it?

No.

Will you relax?

I know it's a big deal day.

- How'd you know that?

- Drew told me.

Does he tell you everything?

I hope so.

You like him, don't you?

Yep, I guess so.

- I don't want to interfere, but, uh...

- Then don't.

Well, here comes our boy now.

Shall we?
- Okay.
- Hello, beautiful.

Hi.

Good morning, Drew.

Thanks for coming up.

Well, big day. Wanted to line up

a few ducks before kickoff.

Any thoughts, last minute

refinements, variations, anything?

Thoughts, no.
I did hear a voice last night.

- A voice?
- In my sleep.

- What'd it say?
- "Yes. "

- Yes to the deal?

- Maybe. Who knows?

You know how voices are.

Hmm?
I thank you, Delia.

Okay, let's go.

Delia, your pen.

- Hi, Bill. How you doin'?

- Morning, Quince.

- I'm doin' great, and you?

- Oh, I'm great.

- This is it, "B-day. "

- Huh? Sorry.

Bontecou day.
We're gonna close... with Big John.

Look at you, Bill.

You're all cool as a cat.

Over at Bontecou's, I'll bet he's

just shittin' in his pants.

Remember, everybody,
big meeting tonight at Daddy's.

Dinner. You, too, Drew.

We have lots of loose ends.

- Not my birthday again?

- You're only 65 once, Dad.

Thank God.
Now let's get the day started.

Remember, dinner in the city

at Daddy's!

Mm-hmm.
It's so ridiculous.

Do you love Drew?

No, don't do anything.

Just stay exactly where...

Do you love Drew?

He's not gonna get a better offer than that.

- You mean, like you loved Mom?

- Forget about me and Mom.

- Are you gonna marry him?

- Oh, come on.

I'm probably.

Listen, I'm crazy about the guy.

He's smart. He's aggressive.

He could carry Parrish Communications

into the 21st century and me along with it.

Mm-hmm.
So, what's wrong with that?

That's for me.

I'm talking about you.

It's not what you say about

Drew. It's what you don't say.

Maybe you're not listening.

Oh, yes, I am.

Give him whatever he wants.

There's not an ounce of excitement,

not a... whisper of a thrill.

And this relationship has all the

passion of a pair of titmice.

I want you to get

swept away out there.

I want you to levitate.

I want you to...

sing with rapture

and dance like a dervish.

- Oh, that's all.

- Yeah. Be deliriously happy,

or at least
leave yourself open to be.

Okay.

"Be deliriously happy. "

I shall, uh...

I shall do my utmost.

I know it's a cornball thing.

But love is passion,

obsession,

someone
you can't live without.

I say, fall head over heels.

Find someone you can love like crazy and

who will love you the same way back.

How do you find him? Well, you forget

your head, and you listen to your heart.

And I'm not hearing any heart.

'Cause the truth is, honey, there's no

sense living your life without this.

To make the journey

and not fall deeply in love,

well, you haven't lived

a life at all.

But you have to try, 'cause if you

haven't tried, you haven't lived.

Bravo!

Oh, you're tough.

I'm sorry. Okay.

Give it to me again,
but the short version this time.

Okay. Stay open.

Who knows?
Lightning could strike.

Yeah?

Yeah.

What do you think?

Is it just the executive committee,

or are you guys gonna use me?

Quince, man, thanks for the offer,

but it's all set for just me and Bill.

More people might...

I know. I know, gum up the works.

"I want you to get swept away. "

Huh?

I was just sayin' to Quince

that we won't need him until...

- Did you hear something?

- Yeah, but I was just sayin' to Quince...

- No, no, no. Not you.

- What's the matter, Daddy?

Nothing. I'm sorry.

"I want you to levitate.

I want you to sing with rapture

and dance like a dervish. "

- "Dance like a dervish"?

- Daddy, what is it?

Nothing, I'm just talking

to myself. You know me.

No, I've never known you

to talk to yourself.

Oh, well, can I give you a lift?

No, I'm gonna catch a cab.

Listen, are you okay?

Yeah.

Got my garters on, my ears

pricked... ready for action.

Okay. Well...
Go get 'em, Pops.
You're damn right.
Okay.

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Oh, haven't heard

that one before.

I'm sorry. I had to say it.

- Honey? Honey?
- Hi, George.

Honey, you have to go on.

Okay? There's a time to sow

and a time to reap.

You have to sow.

Sorry. Excuse me.

No, I liked him.

I don't like him anymore.

'Cause you're my honey.

Someone messes with you,

they mess with me.

That's it. I'm on a plane in a

heartbeat. You let me know.

Yep, when I get my phone in,

you're my first call. I promise.

Hit the books, get the degree. One day

we'll be hanging out a shingle together.

How's that?
Mmm? Okay.

You all right?

Yes.

You bet. Be strong.

I love you. Bye-bye.

- Morning.
- Good morning.

I was talkin' kind of loud there.

I'm sorry.

Oh, not at all.

It was fascinating.
Yeah, what was fascinating
about it?

Um...
You and, uh, "honey"?

- It's my kid sister.

- Oh.

And she just broke up with her

boyfriend and was thinking...

about dropping out

of law school.

- Oh, I'm sorry.

- No, nothing to be sorry about.

That's the way it is with

men and women, isn't it?

What's the way?

Nothing lasts.

Oh. Yeah, I agree.

Really? Why?

No, I'm interested.

I was just trying

to be agreeable.

Okay. All right.

I was sharpshooting.

- Oh.
- No, just that "nothing lasts" stuff.

That was the problem with Honey's guy.

He didn't know what he wanted.

So, he's fooling around,

and she catches him at it.

You know, like one girlfriend

isn't enough for him.

- So, you're a one-girl guy.

- Yes, I am.

- That's right.
- Right.

Looking for her

right now, actually.
Mmm. Who knows?
You might be her.

No, don't laugh.

I just got into town.

I got the new job.

I'm trying to get

into this apartment.

Anyway,
so you're a doctor.

Mmm.
How'd you know?

'Cause everyone's
a doctor around here.

This apartment building... Everyone's

in green slippers, the green pajamas.

The guy I'm waiting for

to vacate...

- ... doctor.
- He's a doctor.

What kind of doctor?

I'm a resident...
internal medicine.

So, if I needed a doctor,

you could be it.

I could be her. Yeah.

You could be... her.

Uh-huh.

Yeah, I could.

- I'm-I'm working at the hospital, so...

- I see.

This is my lucky day.

I just get in the big, bad city,

not only do I find a doctor,

but a beautiful woman, as well.

Do you mind me saying that?

Oh... No, of course.

No, it's fine.
It's fine.
It's just...

Listen, could I
buy you a cup of coffee?

I have some patients coming in,

so I should probably...

- ... get goin'.

- Yeah, yeah.

I gotta get to the apartment

and get off to work.

Yeah.

But I'd still like to have

another cup of coffee.

- Um...
- Would you let me do that?

- Well, yeah, okay.

- Deal.

Mmm.

- Good morning, Mr. Parrish.

- Morning, Jennifer.

So, board convenes tomorrow.

You'll recommend we close,

and it's a deal, right?

As close as a deal could be.

Olympic.

Yes.

Yes.

- "Yes" what?
- Yes is the answer to your question.

Ah.

I didn't ask any question.

I believe you did.

Who are you?

- Goddamn it. What's going on here?

- I think you know.

- I don't.
- Try.

"'Cause if you haven't tried,

you haven't lived. "

What are you talking about?

What you were talking about.

Who is this guy?

- Tell me who you are.

- Are you giving me orders?

- No. I'm sorry, I...

- No, you're not.

You're trying
to handle the situation.

But this is the one situation

you knew you never could handle.

It's enough...

now.

Huh?

Talk to me, please.

There's gonna be
plenty of time for that.

What do you mean?

I think you know, Bill.

It's kind of a pro bono job.

- "Pro bono"?
- Yeah.

- Meaning, doing good?

- That's me.

Gonna be doing good

all your life?

I know what you're saying.

It doesn't pay so well, but, I like it.

Mm-hmm.

Eventually it'll depend

on the woman I marry, I think.

Maybe she'll want lots of kids,

a bigger house, better car, uh...
College doesn't come cheap.
You know? I don't know.

Wow. Give up what you want

for the woman you marry.

Hmm.

Yeah, you know what?

I would.

- Yeah?
- Gladly.

'Cause you make your choices,

you know?

Say, you and I, if we were married,

I would... No, for an example, okay?

If you and I were married, I would

want to give you what you need.

That's all. I'm talking about taking

care of each other the best you can.

What's wrong with taking care of a

woman? She takes care of you.

You'll have a hard time finding

a woman like that these days.

- Shoot, you think so?

- Mm-hmm.

I don't know.
Lightning could strike.

I've gotta go.

- Yeah. Listen, did I say something wrong?

- No.

- No? Sure?
- No. No. It was...

It was so right, it scares me.

That's all.

Just...

You know, I was thinking,

I don't want you to be my doctor.

I don't want you to...

examine me and...

Why?
Because I like you
so much.

And I... I don't want

to examine you.

You don't? Why not?

Because I like you so much.

Oh, boy. Okay.

Now I gotta go, so...

- Yep, understood.
- All right. All right.

Fair enough. See ya.

- Bye. Bye.
- Bye-bye.

Music.

I know how you love music, Daddy.

And I want to have music that pleases you,

but doesn't put a thousand

other people to sleep.

I've agonized over it and finally

settled on Sidney Brown.

Good.

- Twenty-four men... very eclectic.

- Mm-hmm.

Plus, I'm feathering in

a Latin sextet on their breaks.

You haven't heard

a word I've said, have you?

- What, honey? Sorry.

- Daddy.

Yes.

Daddy?

Mr. Parrish?

- Yes?
- Dinner's served.

- Yeah.
- Never mind.
Leave it to me.

Did you miss me, Bill?

Chow time, you guys.

What are you looking

so provoked about?

Did you miss me?

It's a normal question.

I missed you.
But what do I get back?

"Not an ounce of excitement.

"Not a whisper of a thrill.

This relationship has all the

passion of a pair of titmice. "

I'm waiting outside

the front door.

Did you speak to the governor?

- He's coming.
- And his wife?

Yeah, unfortunately.

I sat between them at the Bronx Zoo

benefit. It was better than Seconal.

I'm waiting outside

the front door, Bill.

Won't someone let me in?

Lillian?

- Is there somebody at the front door?

- I didn't hear a ring, sir.

Have a look, would you, please?

What about the mayor?

He said he's going

to be there with bells on.

Good.

- Maybe they'll drown him out.

- Please don't be negative, Drew.
I'm sorry.

We have an acceptance list

that would do the White House proud:

The chairman of the F.C.C.,

the Secretary General of the U.N.,

- Wow.
- Nine senators,

I don't know how many congressmen

and at least 12 of the Fortune 500.

- Any jocks? Hmm?

- No.

No 20-game-winner, Masters champion,

someone I can talk to?

You were right, Mr. Parrish.

There was a gentleman at the door.

He's waiting for you

in the foyer.

Show him into the library.

Tell him I'll be right there.

Yes, sir.

I've arranged favors, silver

charm bracelets for the women,

- Mmm.
- And platinum key chains for the men,

all engraved "W.P."

But now I'm thinking of scrubbing them.

They seem so ordinary.

Are they ordinary?

Do they seem that way

to you, Daddy?

I don't know.

I don't know.
I, uh...

Let me see.

I don't think they're ordinary.

I think they're great.

I love key chains.

Hello?

Anyone here?

- I said, is anyone here?

- Quiet down.

- Where are you?

- I'm here.

What is this, a joke, right?

Some kind of elaborate

practical joke?

At my 40th reunion,
we delivered a casket...

to the class president's

hotel room and, uh...

Quiet.

Where are you going, Bill?

I, uh...

The great Bill Parrish

at a loss for words?

The man from whose lips fall "rapture"

and "passion" and "obsession"?

All those admonitions about

being " deliriously happy,

that there is no sense

living your life without. "

All the sparks and energy

you give off,

the rosy advice you dispense

in round, pear-shaped tones.

What the hell is this?

Who are you?

Just think of millenniums

multiplied by eons...

compounded by time without end.

I've been around that long.

But it's only recently that your

affairs here have piqued my interest.
Call it boredom.

The natural curiosity of me,

the most lasting...

and significant element in

existence, has come to see you.

About what?

I want to have a look around

before I take you.

Take me where?

It requires competence,
wisdom and experience.

All those things they say

about you in testimonials.

And you're the one.

- The one to do what?

- Show me around,

be my guide.

And in return, you get...

I get what?

Time:

Minutes, days, weeks.

Let's not get encumbered

by detail.

What matters is
that I stay interested.

Yes.

"Yes" what?

Yes is the answer

to your question.

- What question?
- Oh, Bill.

Come on. The question.

The question you've been asking

yourself with increased regularity,

at odd moments, panting through

the extra game of handball,

when you ran for the plane

in Delhi,

when you sat up in bed last night and

hit the floor in the office this morning.

The question that is in

the back of your throat,

choking the blood

to your brain,

ringing in your ears over and

over as you put it to yourself.

- "The question. "

- Yes, Bill.

"The question. "

The question.

Am I going to die?

Yes.

Am I dreaming this?

Are you a dream?

I'm not a dream.

You're coming to take me?

What is that?

And who the hell are you?

You are...

Yes?

Who am I?

Death.

You're Death?

Yes.

- Death.
- That's me.

You're not Death.

You're just a kid in a suit.

The suit came with

the body I took.

Let me ask your opinion.

Do I blend in?

You want me
to be your guide?

You fill the bill, Bill.

- I do?
- Mmm.

Will you be staying long?

We should hope quite a while.

And then?

It's over.

It's over.

Mr. Parrish?

Will the gentleman be staying

for dinner, sir?

Yes.

Thank you.

This is crazy.

You're not gonna

eat dinner with us.

No, I am eating dinner with you...

and your family.

And that is what we're doing.

It's not open

for discussion, nothing is.

Don't you understand?

Yeah.

Good.

Now lead the way.

Bill,

lead the way.

- Excuse me, may I say something?

- Yes, of course.

Well, it just occurred

to me, if, uh...

Speak up, please.

When I introduce you,

if I say who you are,

I don't think anyone

will stay for dinner.

Then don't.

Here's another possibility.

It's a little last minute,

but tell me what you think.

Kaleidoscopes.

Little gold kaleidoscopes.

Some German company went kerplunk,

and Tiffany's picked all these things up,

and they're perfect

party favors.

Okay, they're not personalized or

anything. They're just winter scenes...

dachshunds, snowflakes.

Hi there.

Hello.

Sorry to have...
stepped away for so long.

This is a friend of mine

I asked to drop by.

We got to talking
and stuff, and, uh...

He's gonna join us for dinner.

- Great.
- How nice to meet you.

And wouldn't it be nicer if my

father would introduce you?

How nice to meet you.

Yeah, I'm sorry. This is my daughter,

Allison, and her husband, Quince,

and Drew, my number one,

works with me.

Daddy, does your friend

have a name?

- A name?
- Something he goes by?

Oh, yeah, excuse me.

This is, uh...

This is, um...

- Daddy, come on. A name.

- Bill, the suspense is killing me.

I'm sorry. It's, uh...

It's gone right out of my head. Um...

I'm sorry. This is... Joe.

- Joe. I love that name.

- Just plain Joe.

Me too. Hey, buddy.

- Is there any more to it?

- What do you mean?

Like "Smith" or "Jones" or...

- Black.
- Oh, at last.

- Nice to meet you, Mr. Black.

- Hey, hey, Joe Black.

Won 15, lost 2 for the

Brooklyn Dodgers, 1952.

I'm king of my rotisserie league.

- Are you?
- Yeah, he is.

Shall we sit down?

Right there.

Have we met?

- He's from out of town.

- How long you here for, Joe?

As long as it takes.
- You and Bill, you old friends?
- No.

No, thank you.

I have one, thank you.

I get the feeling you've

done some business before.

I got it.

Have you done

some business before?

We have an arrangement now.

What side of the industry

did you say you were on?

I didn't say.

Joe sounds like a ringer, Bill.

I have a feeling you guys got

the broad strokes already.

You need any help

with the details?

I'm sorry, business at dinner.

- Forgive me for being so rude.

- Certainly.

Hi, everybody.
I'm sorry I'm late.

I had to have dinner

with my department chief.

You ate?

I'm here, aren't I? I wouldn't

miss a loose ends meeting.

What's on the table for discussion?

Party favors, flowers...

- Hi, Dad.
- Hi.

- Hello.
- Hi, Drew.

What are you doing here?

You know each other?

We've met.

This morning,
the Corinth Coffee Shop.

He was, uh...
He was looking for a doctor.

Well, I guess he's found one.

Joe, you do get around.

- That's your name?

- And isn't it a lovely one?

So sturdy, so straight.
Stop it.

Incidentally, Joe,
where are you staying?

- Here.
- You're staying here?

- In this house?
- Yes, in this house.

Great. Great. Great.

Will that hold you, Joe?

Incidentally, Joe what?

Black.

This is fun.

Yes. Yes, Quince, it is.

So, what are you doing here, Joe?

Cat got your tongue?

You weren't so silent this morning.

This morning, yes.

I wasn't quite myself.

Well, it's a shame whoever you were

couldn't be here tonight.

Cut it out, Susan.

We've gotta talk.

Busy day tomorrow, everybody.

Joe, let's go.

Yes.

That stuff between

you and Susan threw me.

Threw you? Where?

Shook me up.

I mean, how is it that you happened

to meet my daughter?

I didn't meet her.

The young man I took met her.

That is, the fellow she encountered in

the coffee shop this morning.

What happened to him?

I needed a body, Bill.

So,

come in.

Uh, bathroom,
tub, towels, sauna,

chairs, lamps, bed.

Well, if there is anything else,

- don't hesitate.
- I won't.

- I can try.
- Will she be available next week?

I don't know.

Yes, sir?

Hello. I'm Joe Black.

It's nice meeting you.

Yes, of course, Mr. Black, sir.

A pleasure.

Eh...

What is that?

- You mean this, sir?

- Yes.
It's, uh, Laura Scudder's
peanut butter, sir.

You like it?

Well, I would say,

in my opinion,

it's right up there

with Jif and Skippy.

Could I offer you

a taste, sir?

- Yes.
- All right.

Do you fancy it, sir?

More?

Right.

Mmm.

Mmm.

You're a peanut butter man

now, eh, sir?

Yes, I believe I am.

I thoroughly enjoy
this peanut butter.

And I thoroughly enjoyed

meeting you all.

- I'll be moseying on.

- Right, sir.

What are you doing here?

I'm lost.

I can't seem
to escape you today.

- I'm sorry.
- Yeah.

Would you hand me

one of those?

You must have something very...

big going on with my father.

- Big?
- Yeah.
You appear at his side
out of the blue,

stay at his house,

have dinner with his family.

That's, uh,
practically a first.

You're in the red-hot center

of big business,

and I thought you were

just a regular Joe.

- I am Joe.
- Not the one that I met this morning.

Hitting on me in as nice a way as

I've been hit on in a long time.

The second that you found out

I was my father's daughter, you, uh...

Well, you acted like a stranger.

That is not my intention.

What are your intentions?

Huh?
I mean, just to, uh,

make little dramas in coffee shops,

turn a woman's head?

I don't mind admitting

that my-my head was turned.

I- I liked it.

But, well, ten hours later,

I feel like a fool.

I just don't get it. I don't.

You, my father, here in this house.

It's, uh...

It's upsetting me, and I...

What happened to that sweet guy

from the coffee shop?

Who are you, anyway?

And... what are you eating?

Peanut butter.

Hmm.

But it's gone now.

Wh... No. Please.

You act like you've never

had peanut butter before.

I haven't.

- What kind of childhood did you have?

- Do you love Drew?

Excuse me?

When you put your mouth

to his, it seemed a frequent thing.

Drew is none of your business,

and neither is where

I put my mouth.

I'm sorry.
Do you live here?

No, Joe, I'm swimming here

and now I'm going home.

Yes, I think what

I'm trying to say is,

I would like it
if we were friends.

I've got plenty of friends.

I don't have any.

Well, I can see why.

I didn't mean
to offend you at dinner.

I'm sometimes...

not quite at home

around people.

I get busy doing, uh,

what it is I do.

And I don't seem

to have developed...

Yes?
I have a certain function to perform,
and it seems to take up most of my time.

But sometimes I...

speculate...

that I haven't
left room for...

anything else.

Hmm.

I'm sorry to say

I know what you mean.

Well, um...

Good night, Joe.

Yes.

Good night to you, Susan.

- Morning, Madeline.
- Oh, good morning, Mr. Parrish.

- Everything okay?
- Yes, sir.

Good.

Morning.

Good morning, Bill.

What's on the docket for today?

- Docket?
- Hmm, yes. What shall we do?

- Well, I have to go to work, and...

- Splendid. I'll join you.

Oh.

Would you like to ride or walk?

Walk. I wish to see the world.

This is crazy.
This is the left field thing of all time.

I, uh... I don't know

if I can get through this.

- What do I do? What do I tell my family?

- You'll get through this, Bill.
As far as your family's concerned,
uh, I wouldn't say anything.

You'll ruin the great start

we had last night.

Hmm. It felt as if I was

being treated like a person.

Yes, Joe this, Joe that.

A nice smile.
Quince passed me the rolls.

No passion or rapture or any of these mighty

things you're so intent on imparting.

But I am certain,

should you say who I am,

our adventure would end abruptly.

Mm-hmm.

And I did so enjoy your family.

What about my family? This

adventure involves only me, right?

What do you mean?

I'll tell you what. You promise

this undertaking of yours...

involves only me and, uh...

And what?

- I won't tell anyone who you are.

- Sounds fair enough.

- Good.
- Is it a deal?

- A deal?
- Yeah.

You give your word;

I give mine that we'll do what we say.

Mm-hmm.

It is a truth exchanged
between two people.

- Bill?
- What?
You have a deal. Ow!

That's great.

Great.

You know, I got to thinking.

With you here

and seemingly occupied,

how's your work going,

I mean, elsewhere?

While you were shaving this morning,

you weren't just shaving.

- What do you mean?

- You were hatching ideas,

making plans,
arriving at decisions, right?

Yeah, I guess so.

So you understand the concept.

While part of you is busy doing one thing,

another part of you is doing another,

perhaps even attending

to the problems of your work.

- Correct?
- Of course.

So you understand the idea.

Congratulations, Bill.

Now multiply that by infinity,

take that to the depths of forever,

and you still will barely have a

glimpse of what I'm talking about.

- Joe?
- Yes, Bill?

How about giving a guy a break?

Make an exception?

- Well, there's one to every rule.

- Not this.

And call my family. I'd like them

to have dinner with me tonight.

Didn't the family

get together last night?

- Jennifer.
- Of course, Mr. Parrish, right away.

Uh, perhaps you'd like

to wait in my office.

No.

What I'm trying to say is this is a board

meeting and you're not a member.

I'm sure you'll find a way

to make it all right.

Nice to meet you.

Morning.

Good morning.

Thank you. Eddie.

Uh, this is Joe Black.

He's a...

- ... personal associate of mine, and, uh...

- Hello, Quince.

- Hey.
- He'll be joining us this morning.

I know this is unusual,

and my apologies, and, uh...

Drew, carry on.

It's nice to see you.

Didn't expect you, but, uh...

certainly you can't get

enough of a good thing.

- Thank you.
- Joe, would you like to sit there?

Okay.

Uh, the Board of Parrish Communications

is hereby called to order.

Our sole order of...

Our s...

Our sole order

of business today is a, uh...
is an acceptance of
John Bontecou's generous offer.

And I think Bill...

Do you have any more

of these delicious cookies?

The jelly ones?

Mmm, and a cup of tea.

With milk, I think.

I'd like to try it English style. Yes.

A cup of tea with milk, please.

Is there anything else, Mr. Black?

- How about some water?

- Why, yes, thank you.

- Hot or cold?
- Cold.

- And a glass?
- Mmm.

Uh, to review. We're really crossing

the T's and dotting the I's here.

Uh, Bill had a great and conclusive meeting

yesterday with John Bontecou,

and all that remains for us

is to put it to a vote.

Um, thank you.

Drew, um...

Yeah.

I did enjoy, or rather

I was interested...

in meeting
John Bontecou yesterday,

and, um...

Impressive, I suppose.

But, uh...

But...

It did get me to thinking.

See, I started in this business
because this is what I wanted to do.

I knew I wasn't gonna write

the great American novel.

But I also knew there was more to life

than buying something for a dollar...

and selling it for two.

I'd hoped to create something,

something which could be...

held to the highest standards.

And what I realized was I...

I wanted to give
the news to the world.

And I wanted
to give it unvarnished.

Uh, the more we all know about each other,

the greater the chance we will survive.

Sure, I want to make a profit.

You can't exist without one, but, uh...

John Bontecou is all profit.

If we give him license to absorb

Parrish Communications...

and he has his eye

on a few others after us...

in order to reach the world,

you will have to go

through John Bontecou.

And not only will you

have to pay him to do this,

far more important,

you'll have to agree with him.

Reporting the news is a privilege

and a responsibility.

And it is not exploitable.

Parrish Communications
has earned this privilege.

John Bontecou wants to buy it.

As your chairman,

I urge you to agree.

This company is not for sale.

It sounds like you're not leaving

much room for discussion.

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

I know. I'm sorry, I...

Looks like I'm reversing my field.

That's your privilege, Bill.

But given our needs,

given the absolute necessity

for growth, given the future,

the truth is, joining John Bontecou is

every bit as certain as death and taxes.

- Death and taxes?

- Yes.

- Death and taxes?

- Yes.

- What an odd pairing.

- It's just a saying, Mr. Black.

- Mmm. By whom?
- Doesn't matter.

Then why'd you bring it up?

You're not familiar

with the phrase, "In this world,

nothing is certain
but death and taxes?"

- Well, I am now.
- Glad I could be of some help.

I keep regular office hours if there's any

further information you might need...

on sayings, common phrases,

manners of speaking.

My door's wide open. The tea

I can provide, perhaps even the milk.

Low fat.

Yeah, okay, well, uh...

I think we've accomplished everything we're
going to this morning. Shall we adjourn?

But the matter is still on the table, Bill.

Joe?

Yes.

Thank you for

the delicious cookies.

Mmm.

Who is that guy?

So...

what's the deal here?

You gonna be breathing down

my neck right till the very end?

- I don't understand.
- I'd like to be alone for a while.

- Are you sad, Bill?

- Yes, I am.

Why don't you take a walk

or something, get some air?

I know I'll be seeing you.

Of course.

Good. Now I'd like to be alone.

This will hold you for a while.

- You know about money, don't you?

- It can't buy happiness?

Yeah. Uh, Jennifer?

Give Mr. Black a map

of the city, would you?

It's okay, Bill. I can manage.

- Hi.
- Hi.

- I need a medical record number for labs.

- Uh-huh.

And, uh, will you try calling her

husband? The number's on top.
Also, can you page me
when C.T.'s ready?

- Oh, sure.
- Thanks, sweetie.

How nice you look.

Is that your uniform?

What are you doing here?

- Are you ill?

- Oh, goodness, no.

- Then why are you here, Joe?

- I'm here to see you.

Joe, I don't... I don't have

time to see you right now.

I'm, um, about to start

making rounds,

and I'm examining back-to-back

patients until dinner, and, uh...

Very well. I'll watch.

Watch me do what?

Make rounds and examine

back-to-back patients.

Joe, that's impossible.

- I'm a doctor.
- And I'll be a visitor.

- Patients have visitors, not doctors.

- I don't mind.

Miss? Miss?
Doctor.

Oh, um, just one second.

I'll be right there.

Please.
My mama is sicker than him.

Okay.

- Obeah.
- No, Mama.

Obeah, man.

- I goin' die.
- Mama, stop it. It's just a man.

- What's Obeah?
- Bad spirit. She just all fever.

- She don't mean nothing. Please help us.

- Of course.

No Obeah, sister.

Everything gonna be all right.

- Have you registered?

- No.

Okay.

You gonna be all right mama?

Go with the doctor lady.

Mama gonna be fine now.

Don't leave.
Don't leave me.

- She'll be right back, okay?

- Mama.

- Obeah.
- Rahtid.

Obeah evil.
I not evil, woman.

And what you is then?

I from that next place.

You waitin' here to take us?

Like you is
the bus driver to there?

No, man, I on 'oliday.

Some spot you pick.

Oh. Mmm.

The pain.
Pain is bad, bad.

I don't have nothin' to do

with these things, you know.

- Make it go away.
- Doctor lady make it all right.

Uh-uh. Not this pain.

This pain go
through and through me.

- Make it go away.
- I can't, sister.

You can, mister.

Take me to that next place.

- It's not your time now.

- Make it time.

You can't fool with

the way things got to be.

Please?

Where she was born.

Close your eyes.

Go on, sister.

Soon.

You... You can go with her.

I'll be right there.

Come now, Mama.

- She's in a great deal of pain.

- Yes.

- Have you spent much time in the islands?

- Some.

I realize now my being here,

uh, is not quite appropriate.

Oh, no, please...

Please don't apologize.

- Yes?
- Yeah.

I'm glad that you came.

Thank you, Susan.

I'm very happy to be here.

Joe, I'm with Drew.

Not now.

I have to go.
- I'm sorry to say.
- Be sorry for nothing.

Right.

- Thanks, Joe.
- Good-bye, Susan.

- Good?
- Mmm.

- Yes, what is it?

- Cold lamb sandwich with cilantro.

A little Coleman's mustard.

It's, uh, splendid.

Glad you like it.

My wife turned me on
to cold lamb sandwiches.

- Joan... was my wife.

- Mm-hmm.

Yeah.
Cold lamb sandwiches.

Not as chewy as roast beef,

not as boring as chicken.

She knew stuff like that.

Everything reminds me of her.

There isn't a day goes by

that I don't think about her.

One day she didn't feel well.

The next day she was gone.

So what are you gonna do?

Yeah.

I guess you've heard all this

a trillion times before, huh?

- More.
- Why didn't you stop me?

I don't know.

What was it like

when you first met?

I thought you'd heard it

a trillion times before.
This part I'm interested in.

Well, she had on

this little blue suit...

With a little white collar

that had a little...

red piping on it.

Yeah?

Hi.

- Am I interrupting?
- Yes.

- No.
- Just kidding?

Sit down, Drew.

Uh, before I do, I was

hoping we might be alone, Bill.

Well, Joe and I have

no secrets from each other.

How nice for you both.

Pardon my candor, but I was confounded

by your decision this morning.

- Why?
- I was hired.

You told me to help bring Parrish

Communications into the 21st century.

This merger is the vehicle.

- In my estimation...
- Perhaps a merger is a way...

to bring Bill's company into the

21st century, and perhaps it isn't.

And perhaps cheating on your French

philosophers exam at the Groton School...

was an expedient way to get

your diploma, and perhaps it wasn't.

Be that as it may, Drew, a question

can often be argued both ways.

Joe, cut it out.

You too, Drew.
I thought this was practically a done deal.

Well, now it's undone, okay?

Forget Bontecou.
Scrub him.

I'm tired of his fancy name

and his fancy offer.

I'm not going for it.

Okay.

Bill,
why at this juncture...

are you letting yourself be so

concerned by business matters?

'Cause I don't want anybody

buying up my life's work!

Turning it into something

it wasn't meant to be.

A man wants to leave something behind.

He wants it left behind the way he made it.

He wants it to be run
the way he ran it,

with a sense of honor,

of dedication, of truth.

Easy, Bill. You'll give yourself

a heart attack...

and ruin my vacation.

Now listen.

I read you all the way

on the Bontecou thing,

and I know where you're coming from,

and I am with you 101 percent.

Well, thank you, Quince.

But I just gotta tell you,

if mergers are in the wind,

I've developed
some great prospects.

And I want to come and talk to

you about... about 'em next week.

- Next week?
- Yeah.

Or the week after.

- No good?
- No. Why, anything's possible.

- It's up to Joe.
- Joe.

You just don't know

how glad I am you're aboard,

because anybody who can take

some of the weight off the old man,

I am...
I'm in his corner.

- That's very gracious of you, Quince.

- Ah, it's no problem.

Well, I'll leave you two alone,

because I can, uh...

I can tell, you know...

you got something in the fire.

Now, look,
I know you're down.

But you know, when you're down,

there's no place to go but up.

Up. Thanks, Quince.

Forget about Bontecou.

I got a couple other merger

possibilities up my sleeve,

and I'm pitching 'em

to the old man.

- Were you?
- Yeah.

- Hey, listen.
- Mm-hmm.

We're gonna go in together.

I'll clue you in.

The timing has gotta be right,

because the old man
says it's up to Joe.

- He said it's up to Joe?

- Mm-hmm.

- Those were his words?

- Yeah.

- It's up to Joe, huh?

- Yeah.

- That's what he said?

- That's what he... That's what he said.

That's very interesting.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I thought so too.

I want to thank you all

for coming.

Uh, my family, um,

Allison and Quince,

Susan and
the other members.

And, uh...

So glad when we
can get together.

I mean, I know
you all have busy lives.

- Look who's talking.

- Yeah. Speak for yourself.

Yeah.

I remember when you

were little girls, and, uh...

I love little girls.

And uh, now you're

all grown up, and I, um...

I had some words prepared,

but, uh,

I've forgotten them.

Um...
Wait a minute, uh...

- There's so much I wanted to say, uh...

- Daddy?

- You could sit down if you want to.

- Yeah.

So many words I wanted to...

So much I wanted to say,

but, uh...

I can't, and so, uh...

Yeah, I better sit down.

Carry on, everybody, please.

Oh, one other thing.

Um, why don't we all...

have dinner again

tomorrow night, okay?

- Dinner again?
- Yeah.

You haven't had

enough of us yet, Dad?

Mmm...

mmm...

no.

Come here.

- We'll be here.
- You bet we'll be here.

Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

Joe.

Oh, no.

I would prefer
some peanut butter.

How would you like that, sir?

On some kind of toast?

Toast.

- No, just the butter.

- Right away, sir.

Why do you like

peanut butter so much?
I don't know.

Hmm. I adore things like that.

Food I can't do without.

Don't you?

Yes.

- It comforts you, doesn't it?

- Yes, I find that it does.

- Mind if I throw up?

- Drew.

Please.

I'm very concerned about the woman

you attended to today.

- I am too.
- Has her pain abated?

We're doing what we can

for her, but, uh,

it's not looking very good.

- I'm sorry to hear that.

- Yeah.

Who are we talking about?

But I know she's grateful

for the care you're giving her.

Is this a state secret?

No, we're talking about

a patient of mine, 'cause...

Uh-huh.

Joe stopped by
the hospital today.

He did?
That's more than we get to do.

Maybe next time you go to the

hospital, you'll take us along with you.

- Perhaps you could remind me.

- Well, I'll make a note of it.

- Anything else I can do for you?

- I wanna come along too.

- See Susie strut her stuff.

- You're on, Quincie.

Destination, hospital. Joe, you

can be the tour guide, okay?

Susan's a wonderful doctor.

I'm sure she is.

- Bill?
- Yeah?

I have to go.
It's been a hell of a day.

I need a few minutes

to sort everything out.

See you tomorrow.

Joe?

Yes, Bill?

Um...

- Why'd you go to the hospital?

- I don't know.

- You just curious?

- I guess.

About Susan?

- I wouldn't put it that way.

- How would you put it?

- You tell me, Bill.

- No, how about you telling me?

I ask a simple question;

I expect a straight answer.

That's what I'm used to.

Anybody who doesn't give it to me, I fire.

Are you going to fire me, Bill?

Drew?

So, uh, I'll see you

tomorrow night?

You include me out. I've had

enough of the convocations.

You don't mean that.

You don't want to disappoint Dad.
Daddy will do fine. Besides, he's
got Joe. And it seems you do too.

You're out of line.

Well, that may be,

but I don't like the ubiquitous creep.

I don't like the way he looks at you.

I don't like the way he talks to you.

And vice versa.

I'm sorry.

'Cause I like the way

he looks and talks to me.

And vice versa.

Okay?

Not okay.

Thought we had
a good thing going here.

I thought
it was a good thing.

Well, that just goes to show

you never know.

Night.

Good night.

How long have you

been standing there?

I don't like the way

he spoke to you.

But I feel better now because

of the way you spoke back.

Tell me about yourself, Joe.

I mean, who are you?

What are you doing here

with my father?

You're not going to tell me?

You're married, aren't you?

Why?
Because men who never say anything
about themselves, they're...

they're always married.

- So you're married?
- No, I'm not.

But you...
you have a girlfriend.

No.

- Gay?
- No.

So, tell me, Joe...

How come a man

as attractive, intelligent,

well-spoken...

diffident in the most

seductive way, and yet...

powerful...

is all alone in this world?

I'm sorry.

I'm s... I didn't...

mean to pry, and, uh,

you obviously don't

want to tell me,

so we'll just...

We'll just leave it a mystery.

- That is the way you want it, isn't it?

- Yes, thank you.

Where are you going?

To bed.

- To bed?
- Yes.

I'm tired.

- Good night, Daddy.

- Good night. Sleep well.

- Okay. See you tomorrow.

- Good night. See you.

- Good night, Susie. Get some sleep.

- Good night.

- Yeah.
- See you tomorrow.

- Good night.
- Good night.

- That was wonderful.

- Mmm.

- It's good to get together.

- Mm-hmm.

Do you mind if I raise

a little caution flag?

Raise away.

What is the nature

of your interest in Joe?

Well...

Remember how you told me

about lightning striking?

Mm-hmm.

The nature of it's

in there somewhere.

Yeah. Well, I won't say you're

on the wrong track, but, uh...

Then what will you say?

I don't think this is the

lightning you're looking for.

I mean, Drew is a good man. I know I didn't

seem to be completely in his corner before,

but, uh, I've come

to appreciate that, um...

Now we love Drew?

And Joe doesn't measure up?

- What's going on?

- Nothing.

When you say "nothing"

that way, it is not nothing.

- Then what is it?

- It's something.

- Okay.
- Good night.

- I'll see you tomorrow.

- Yeah. Good night.

I know you're all as uncomfortable

as I am to be meeting like this.

But I got a call last night

from John Bontecou.

Not only is he still interested,

he's sweetening his offer.

Although it pains me
to say it, in my opinion,

Bill Parrish dealt with us

pre-emptively...

in dismissing any deal

with Bontecou.

Therefore, I'm sorry to say that if we're

to examine this new offer responsibly,

as the Board of Directors

of Parrish Communications,

we must do so
without its chairman.

There's one additional element.

Bontecou is so anxious
to get us,

he said he'd take Parrish Communications

with Bill Parrish or without.

In this crisis, and be assured...

this is a crisis,

it's not pleasant

to say the following.

But I would be remiss if I did not.

When we present Bill with the

improved Bontecou offer,

and if he still refuses

to let us consider it,

once more makes an adamant or emotional

rejection, we will have no choice but to...

You're taking this too far, Drew.

Am I not obligated to?

See if Quince is here.

How did all this come about?

Crisis, Bill Parrish. Crisis,

his company. Crisis for us.

It came about with the arrival

on the scene of Mr. Joe Black.

Mr. Joe who?

Joe Black.

He attends our board meetings.

He sleeps at Bill's house.

He resides in his office.

He never leaves his side,

and, in my opinion,

is always in his ear,

telling Bill what to do.

And Bill is listening.

Who is Joe Black?

What... What is his relationship

to Bill Parrish,

and most important, what is behind

his influence on our chairman?

He's had advisors before.

Nobody tells Bill what to do.

- Thanks for coming, Quince.

- Sure. Hi, Ed.

Hi, folks.

I didn't know everybody

was going to be here.

Nice surprise.

What's with the new digs?

Drew's idea of cloak and dagger.

This is a secret meeting, Quince.

I hope you'll
respect its nature.

Have a seat, Quince.

Now, what we're trying

to do here is to, uh...

to gather our thoughts in light of

Bill's rejection of Bontecou's offer...

and to make an appropriate

presentation to him...

as to how we think
the company might proceed.

Won't you share with our board the

information you gave me last night?

Well, uh, I'm hap... I'm happy

to tell you I got good news.

As I was, uh,
as I was telling Drew,

uh, I've been making a little hay while

the Bontecou sun was shining.

Two, possibly three, new and

boiling hot prospects for merger.

Mm-hmm. And how did Bill react

to the leads you've developed?

He was interested.

Yeah, but he was

concerned about the timing?

- Timing?
- Yeah, he was concerned about the timing?

Yes. He says it's up to Joe.

It's up to Joe.

- ~ Dum-da-dum ~
- What's this?

- Um, Annie made them.

- Who's Annie?

Thank you, Lillian.

From La Rosette?

She's only the most famous

pastry chef in America.

Um, this is orange,

made with real Seville oranges.

And, uh, that's lemon

on a mille-feuille crust.

I don't like cake.

It's for the party, Dad.

Ah. The goddamn party.

The goddamn party.

Mm-hmm.

- Did you hear that?

- I'm sorry.

The goddamn party. Oh.

- Come on, I...

- Here, let's try this one...

right over here.

Mmm.

This, this is terrific.

It has, um,

has vodka in it, Bill.

A little vodka, right?

Has, um, that fruity vodka,

that flavored stuff, right?

Bill, put your lips around this.

It's just out of this world.

I'm sorry, honey.

You know, I'm no good at this.

Why don't you choose

whichever cake you'd like?

- Hmm?
- I knew you were gonna say that.

- What?
- I mean you just don't care.

Oh, why am I doing this?

I should have my head examined again.

Oh, my God. I am trying to

throw the party of the century...

For my father in two days.

- And you just don't give a shit.
- He gives a shit.

- He doesn't give a shit!

- He does.

- Allison.
- He does give a shit. Don't you, Bill?

Come on. Come on.

- Come on. Smile.

- I'm sorry.

But what should we tell Annie?

~ Bum-bum-bum ~

This one. Mmm.

He gives a shit!

Fantastic.

Thank you.

Um, Mr. Black, would you

care for a piece?

Yes, I'd love one.

Have you had a chance

to, uh,

look at my father's rare books?

He has Jefferson's
parliamentary manual, and, uh,

this first edition of Bleak House.

I love your smell.

Well, I like
the way you smell too.

My mom always used to say that

you could set your heart by that clock.

Could you?

I never tried.

Till now.

- Joe?
- Hmm?

May I kiss you?

Why, yes, you can.

Mmm.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

- Joe?
- Mmm.

I don't know who you are.

- I'm Joe.
- Mm-hmm.

And, uh, you're Susan.

Mmm.

And... I have this...

weak feeling in my knees.

- And is your heart beating strangely?

- Yes.

- Mm-hmm.
- Faster.

The taste of your lips

and the touch of your tongue...

that was wonderful.

Mmm.

I should, um...

I should go home.

Mmm.

Shouldn't I?

Yeah.

- Good night, Dad.

- Good night.

Hello, Bill.

Hello.

Would you like to join me and

Allison and Quince for a nightcap?

No. Not right now.

Okay.

Then I'll say good night.

Good night, Bill.

Morning, Quince.
Top of the morning, B.P.

- Hello, Quince.
- Hey!

- Hello, Jennifer.
- Good morning, Mr. Parrish.

- The board is waiting.

- What?

- The board?
- Didn't you call a board meeting?

No.

- Good morning.
- Morning, Bill.

Did you want to have a

cup of coffee or something, Bill?

I don't think so.

Do you?

To get to the point, we've received

new information from John Bontecou...

concerning his desires for this

company to merge with his.

And we wanted
to set the details before you.

Is that it? Bontecou wants

a quick response, and...

The answer is no.

Quick enough for you?

- Don't you want to hear the details?

- I'm not interested.

I'm not interested in the big picture

either. What I am interested in...

is how my board got convened

behind my back...

and is entertaining a further proposal

from a man with whom it
offends me to do business.

I made a decision.
Case closed.

So am I to understand
from your response...

that you do not want to hear

the details of Bontecou's offer?

Yes, you are

to understand that.

And now, may I ask

you a question?

- Certainly, Bill.
- Are you running this board, or am I?

That's it?

We've got a busy day ahead.

This meeting's already set me behind.

Shall we adjourn?

Uh, before we do, Bill,

while we're here...

There's a second question the

board would like a response to.

Far simpler one.

Who is the man

standing to your left?

I've already introduced

Mr. Black to you all.

But who is he?

What are his credentials?

What is his relationship to you?

The board is deeply concerned.

We have reason to believe Mr. Black is

not only influencing your decisions...

in regard to this company,

but that you are relying

on him to make them for you.

The lack of response, Bill,

is not appropriate.
We are your board.

We have a right to know how you are

managing the operations of this company.

And, most importantly, that you have

not delegated someone to do it for you.

Okay?

One more time.

Who is Joe Black?

A motion has been brought

before the board...

to invoke Article 19
of the corporate charter.

In English, please.

Mandatory retirement
on our chairman's 65th birthday,

at which time the chairman

will be named emeritus.

You're welcome to attend

all meetings...

and will serve as international

spokesman for the corporation.

Plus, of course,
a settlement,

a golden parachute of such magnitude

that his feet will never touch the ground.

Please indicate your vote

by a yes or no.

- Yes.
- Yes.

Yes.

- No.
- No.

Motion's passed.

We will, of course, delay the announcement

out of respect for our former chairman...

until after the celebration

of his birthday this weekend.
Well, thanks for allowing me
to save face, Drew.

The other motion before us is the

acceptance of John Bontecou's offer...

to merge this corporation

with Bontecou International.

Okay. Joe?

Who I am...

and what my relationship is

to William Parrish...

will be divulged
in our own good time.

Okay.
Thank you, Mr. Black.

It's not over till it's over.

Please, Eddie,
no "fat lady sings" stuff.

I still sense some doubt in this group.

We could turn it around.

- You'll be up in the country?

- Yeah.

The big celebration of my mandatory

retirement birthday.

You're an honored guest, Eddie.

I'm gonna stick it out here.

We still have a shot.

Get John's office on the phone.

Tell them I'll be there in 20 minutes.

What did you do?

- You've gotten the old man fired.

- That we did.

Thanks to you.

He was wobbling, mind you,

but you supplied the coup de gr ce.

I'm gonna put a stop to this.

Quince, you can't unscramble

scrambled eggs.
I- I didn't mean to do this.

Train's left the station, pal,

and you're aboard.

Now, would you like to hear

the silver lining?

Check that. Gold.

Once John Bontecou acquires

Parrish Communications,

he's gonna break it apart, peddle it

piece by piece to the highest bidder.

That was the game plan

right from the start.

I set it up for him, and he

smacks it out of the park.

Ramifications for you?

You'll be farting through silk.

You'll sell your stock.

You'll be positively, truly rich.

You can stop kissing ass.

What'll it feel like to be a man?

I'm going to expose you.

Okay. Go right ahead.

You tell William Parrish how you

betrayed him in a secret board meeting.

Tell Allison how you helped

her father lose his company.

It's just life, Quincie.

Wake up and smell the thorns.

You're here.

I am.

I, uh... just dropped by.

I thought I'd scrounge some lunch.

I was in the neighborhood.

I'm so glad.

When I called, they said that you

and Dad had already left the office.

Mm-hmm.
He's taking a nap.

Oh. Yeah.

Well, uh, he must be tired.

You know,
this whole Bontecou thing...

It, um, seems...

Yes, he's tired.

I believe so.

Yeah.

You must be hungry then.

No.

Not anymore.

Are you?

I loved making love to you.

It was like
making love with someone...

making love
for the first time.

Thank you.

Do you like
making love with me?

Yes.

More than
you love peanut butter?

Yes.

Much more.

- Where are you going?

- Nowhere. I'm here.

For how long?

I hope a long, long time.

Me too.

What do we do now?
Um...

it'll come to us.

Hello, Bill.
Did you have a nice nap?

- I couldn't sleep.
- I'm sorry to hear that.

I'll come down.

What's going on?

Hmm?

I saw you kiss Susan.

Yes, I saw you see me.

You're at the wrong place at the

wrong time with the wrong woman.

- I'll be the judge of that.

- I'm her father.

With all due respect,

Bill, I'm not asking your permission.

You goddamn well should!

You walk into my life.

You give me the worst news a guy can get.

You have me dancing on heads of

pins with my business, my family.

- Now you're spooning with my daughter?

- "Spooning"?

Yes! And stop repeating everything

I say and turning it into a question.

Spooning, fooling around

and God knows what.

Oh, you arrive on the scene...

Why you picked me

I still don't understand.

I chose you for your verve,

your excellence...

and your ability to...

instruct.

You've lived a first-rate life,

and I find it eminently usable.
What do you want?

Huh?

Everybody wants something, Joe.

You've been taking me

from pillar to post here.

And, uh,

I thought I knew who you were,

and it wasn't a lot of fun.

But it was almost bearable.

But now I'm getting something

else from you, something very...

very strange.

What is it that you want?

I'm only living

the Parrish bywords...

looking for that

"ounce of excitement,"

that " whisper of a thrill there is

no sense living your life without. "

You know what I mean, Bill?

You're violating
the laws of the universe.

- This universe?
- Any universe that exists or ever existed.

You may be the pro, Joe,

but I know who you are,

and you're all fucked up.

I don't like your tone,

and I don't like your references.

And I don't give a shit.

Perhaps it's time to remind you this is not

simply a dispute with a putative suitor.

This is me.
So be careful, Bill.

Cut all that "Bill" crap out,

you son of a bitch.
I'll say it again.
Be careful, Bill.

Can I help you?

Excuse me, can I help you?

Yes. Dr. Parrish, please.

She comes on at 6:00.

Oh.

Hi.

- Where's Joe?
- Joe?

Joe's not around.

- Do you know where he is?

- I don't know.

Oh.

Why are you looking for Joe?

Love. Passion. Obsession.

All those things

you told me to wait for.

- They've arrived.
- This is crazy.

Why?

A man shows up,

almost never leaves your side.

Well, you clearly trust him,

depend on him.

So why aren't those things

good enough for me?

- You don't know anything about Joe.

- What are you afraid of?

That I'll fall

head over heels for Joe?

Well, I have.
Just like you did with Mom.

Isn't that what you've

always wanted for me?

Susan...
I don't think Joe is
gonna be with us long.

Where is he going?

I don't know.

- I can't say.
- Oh, come on.

The guy's working with you. You know chapter

and verse about everyone working with you.

In this case I can't. I...

I only will tell you that with Joe,

you're on... very, very dangerous ground.

I love him.

I don't care if you love him!

I'm telling you!

Joe's no good for you.

Of course not, Daddy.

I'm sorry.

I love you too.

Mr. Bad News.

'Bout time you show up.

Don't be feisty, sister.

I'm not feisty, mister.

You come for me?

That's good news.

No, I come to see the doctor.

- Doctor?
- Mm-hmm.

- What could be wrong with you?

- Nothin'.

Ohh. You come

to see doctor lady?

- Yeah, man.
- My doctor lady?

Mine too, you know.

You're in love?
You're loved back?

She know your real self?

- She know how she feel.

- Backside!

What the hell kind

of business this is.

Don't need you okayin'.

Schoolboy things in your head.

Badness for you.

Badness for her.

Badness for me, lyin' here,

tumor big as a breadfruit,

poisonin' me inside,
and waitin'.

Bring you flowers,

and all I's gettin' is aggravation.

The only flowers

I want to see...

is the ones over my peaceful

self resting in the dirt.

Can't do no right by people.

Come to take you, you want to stay.

Leave you stay, you want to go.

Rahtid.

You're not in
your right place, mister.

Me neither.

No more.

Take me, and you come

with me now.

But I not lonely here.

Somebody want me here.

Hmm.

It nice it happen to you.

Like you come to the island

and had a holiday.

Sun didn't burn you red-red,

just brown.

You sleep,
and no mosquito eat you.

But the truth is,

it bound to happen...

if you stay long enough.

So take that nice picture

you got in your head home with you,

but don't be fooled.

We lonely here mostly too.

If we lucky, maybe...

we got some nice pictures

to take with us.

You got enough nice pictures?

Yes.

Good-bye, sister.

Yes?

I have the feeling, all in all,

what I made this voyage for

has served its purpose.

What are you saying?

It's time to go?

I'm ready.

You are?

Yeah.

Good. Tomorrow.
After the party.

- Yes, Helen?
- Telephone call, sir.

- Mr. Sloane from New York.

- Thank you.

Excuse me.

Thank you.
Hey!

Hey.

Red or white?

- No. No, thank you.

- Have a drink.

- You look like you need one as bad as me.

- I do?

- Quince?
- Mm-hmm.

I find myself a little confused.

- Confused, huh?
- Yes.

- About what?
- Love.

Love.

Oh, man.
I got problems of my own.

- You love Allison, don't you?

- Yes, I do.

How did you meet?

Well, um,

I was this world-class loser,

and she was this happy little rich girl,

and for some reason

she took me in.

But Allison loves you.

How do you know?

Because she knows the

worst thing about me, and it's okay.

What is it?

No, it's not one thing.

It's just an idea, Joe.

It's just, um, um...

It's like you know

each other's secrets,
your deepest,
darkest secrets.

- Deepest, darkest secrets?

- Yeah, and then you... you're free.

Free?

You're free!
You're free to I...

love each other

completely, totally.

Just no fear.

So there's nothing you don't know

about each other, and it's okay.

Hmm.

Do you like me, Joe?

Oh, yes, Quince.

You're one of my favorites.

What would you say if you knew it was

me who brought down Bill Parrish?

Oh, I told Drew and the board

that Bill depended on you.

Drew and Bontecou are gonna chop up

the company, sell it off for parts.

Bontecou was outside.

Drew was Mr. Inside.

And I was the fool

who made it all happen.

Ohh...

God.

What do I do?

Go to Bill Parrish
and tell him the truth.

He'll forgive you.

- You think so?

- Yes.

You think I should wait

till after the party?

No.
No.

Four down here

and a sturgeon up there.

This one is perfect.

Absolutely.

Okay, I think
I want four here like that...

- Hi, Daddy.
- Hi.

What do you think?

Well, it's, uh...

it's starting to grow on me.

Oh, I've got a baritone

with a balalaika...

coming from
the Russian Tea Room.

I've dressed him in a Cossack shirt,

and he'll be singing Nelson Eddy songs.

Wow.

You really are amazing.

But why, oh, why, Allison,

are you doing all this?

I do it because I love you.

Everybody loves you:

Mommy, wherever she is,

Susan, Quince...

all the people you work with,

anyone who's ever met you.

Ohh, Daddy.

After all, you've been

a wonderful father.

Yeah, well,

I haven't been the father

to you that, uh...

- That you've been to Susan?

- I wasn't going to say that.

But that's what you were thinking.

And that's okay.

Because I know
that you love me.

I mean, it's not

like it is with her.

Whenever she walks into the room,

your eyes light up.

She always gets a smile

from you, as opposed to me.

When I walk in,

this look comes over your face, like,

"What does she want now?"

But you've never let

either of us want for anything.

Oh, God. More than that,

Daddy, more than that.

I've felt loved,

and that's all that matters.

So, never mind favorites.

You're allowed to have one.

The point is, you've been mine.

Oh, Allison.

Oh.

I really feel...

I've everything I could've ever

wanted for my birthday.

Oh, wait a minute!

There's more to come.

Lots of excess, like you love.

You know, this is gonna be

a wonderful party.

Yes, it is.

Thank you. Thank you.

- Happy birthday!
- Thanks.

- Thanks.
- You're welcome.

- Good evening.
- Thank you.

- Hello.
- Welcome.

- Hi, Susan.
- Hi, Simone. How are you?

- Hi, darling.
- Oh, hi, Gene. Hi.

My father told me
you might be leaving.

Your father and I...

Our time together

has come to an end.

I'm in love...
with a man,

but I don't know

who he is,

where he's going

or when.

I can tell you

the when part.

Tonight.

So it does get worse.

No worse
than it gets for me.

I'm in love
with a woman who...

I don't wanna leave.

I don't wanna leave.

Ohh.

Then don't.

There's so little
we know about each other.

There's so much
I should tell you.

That'll come.
That'll come.

- Will it?
- Mm-hmm.

I wanna be with you, Joe.

I opened my big mouth

one too many times.

Everything just got

all, uh, twisted.

It's okay, Quince.

I understand.

You've always meant well,

and I appreciate that.

Sometimes things
just turn out wrong.

Yeah?

- Excuse me.
- No, no... Uh, Joe, come in.

Um, I wanna thank you.

Is it okay, Bill?

- Sure.
- Joe knows the whole story. I told him.

And it was his idea that I come clean.

I mean...

I wanted to come clean,

but, uh,

he gave me a pair of balls,

you know what I mean?

Yeah, I believe I do.

Anyway, uh,

I can see you guys

got business.

No. However, I do have

some unfinished business with Drew.

Get him on the helicopter.

Get him out here tonight.

I wanna tell this guy how I feel

about him face-to-face.

That could be a tall order, B.P. I doubt if

Drew is anxious to see you face-to-face.

- I'll deliver the package.

- Okay.

- How are you doing?

- What the hell do you care?

Just asking, Bill.

You wanna know?

I'll tell you.

You're looking at a man who is not walking

through the valley of the shadow of death.

He's galloping into it.

At the same time, the business he built...

with his own hands and head has been

commandeered by a couple of cheap pirates.

Oh, yes! I almost forgot.

My daughter's fallen in love with Death.

And I'm in love

with your daughter.

Say again?

I'm in love with your daughter,

and I'm taking her with me tonight.

- You what?
- I think you heard me, Bill.

You're not taking Susan anywhere.

What does that mean, anyway? We had a deal.

And I'm sorry.

Susan's my daughter.
She has a wonderful life ahead of her.

You're gonna deprive her of it,

and you're telling me you're sorry?

I'm sorry.
Apology not accepted.

I don't care, Bill.

I love her.

How perfect for you...

to take whatever you want

because it pleases you.

That's not love.

Then what is it?

Some aimless infatuation which,

for the moment, you feel like indulging.

It's missing everything

that matters.

Which is what?

Trust, responsibility,

taking the weight for

your choices and feelings...

and spending the rest

of your life living up to them,

and above all,

not hurting the object of your love.

So that's love according

to William Parrish?

Multiply it by infinity
and take it to the depth of forever,

and you will still have barely a glimpse

of what I'm talking about.

Those were my words.

They're mine now.

Bill, Susan wants to come with me.

She loves me.

- She loves you?

- Mm-hmm.

Who is you?
Did you tell her who you are?

- No.
- Does she know where she's going? Huh?

You see, Susan went for

that poor son of a bitch...

whose body you took, and everything

since has been aftermath.

You don't know what love is.

She doesn't know who you are.

You make a deal; you're breaking it.

Bottom line is, Joe,
you're swindling her soul, and you're
doing it with your eyes wide open.

- I don't like what you're saying.

- I'm past caring what you like and don't.

You're stealing my daughter,

and I'm not gonna let you.

You're not?

- No.
- Are you threatening me?

Yeah, I certainly hope so.

Yeah.

I loved Susan from

the moment she was born,

and I love her now and

every minute in between.

And what I dream of

is a man who will

discover her, and that

she will discover a man...

who will love her, who is worthy of her,

who is of this world, this time...

and has the grace, compassion

and fortitude to walk beside her...

as she makes her way

through life.

Enough!

What I know is what I want,

and what I want is Susan.

And I will have her,

and she will have me.

And that's the way it's going to be.

And there's nothing you can do.

Why did you

tell me all this, Joe?

You're the big shot,

the biggest shot of all.

You don't have to ask permission, but that's

what you're doing. Do you know why?
Because you've somehow developed into
a good guy, and you know this is all wrong.

I don't know what

you're gonna do, but, uh,

how can this be love?

She doesn't know who you are.

Why don't you tell her,

try it out, see what happens?

Reveal everything there

is to know about yourself

and let the chips fall where they may.

Okay?

I've given it my best shot.

I, uh...

I wish I could tell you

to sleep on it.

Oh, um...

I'm sorry.
Would you excuse me?

- Sure.
- Okay, nice to see you.

Nice to see you.

There's something
so indescribably sexy...

about you standing

in the middle of a crowd.

I could make love to you

right here.

You're trying to tell me my future,

you're looking on the wrong side.

There is something
I do want to tell you.

But you can't?

Just now when you hesitated,

I got a chill.

Remember that morning

in the coffee shop?
When you said, "What's wrong
with taking care of a woman?

She takes care of you. "

- Did I say that?

- Mm-hmm.

And I said you'd have a hard time finding

a woman like that these days.

Well, you found one, Joe.

The coffee shop.

That was the place,

and you were the guy.

And you said that, uh,

that you didn't want me

to be your doctor because...

you didn't want me

to examine you.

Why, I got to examine you,

after all.

I could come with you.

You want me to wait?

You'll come back?

May I kiss you?

That felt like good-bye.

What's going on, Joe?

I feel like we're lifting off.

I'm still here.

But you're not.

You're somewhere else.

You're someone else.

Don't you want to ask who?

- Yes, but...
- "But"?

Joe, I'm afraid.

Afraid to find out?

Don't be.

It doesn't matter what I am.

You know who I am.

You're...

You're...

You're Joe.

Yes, I'm Joe.

Oh.

And I promise you...

you will always have what you

found in the coffee shop.

Tell me that you love me.

Tell me that you love me now.

I love you now.

I'll love you always.

Susan.

Yes?

Thank you for loving me.

We should think about

getting started, Bill.

Mm-hmm.

It'll just be us.

Thank you.

Bill?

Come in.

I got him. The helicopter

will be here in two minutes.

How are we on time?

Okay.

Get him in here.

May?
- Yes, sir?
- I know you're busy,

but I want you to put in a call

to Eddie Sloane for me.

- At home, sir?
- No, he's at the office.

This is damn big of Bill.

- Ooh. You all right?

- Yeah.

Also smart, you know?

Well, he had no choice.

He knows you're a formidable adversary.

He said that?

Yeah, I mean,
you got him by the short hairs.

Yeah, the short and gray hairs.

- We're all here, Bill.

- I appreciate this, Eddie.

Members of the board, this will

just take a minute of your time.

As custodians of the company, you may

receive information from what follows...

that will be valuable

to you or not.

- Either way, thanks.

- We're all ears.

Thanks.

Good evening, Bill.

Thank you, Quince.

I just wanted to say how appreciative

I am of this, um, grand gesture.

Shut up and sit down.

You're a useless sack

of shit, Drew.

You played footsie

with John Bontecou...

so you could dismember my company

to line your own pockets.

I don't know where you get

that idea. The board agreed...

The board didn't know you were a mole who

burrowed inside so you could bury us all.

Is this Mr. Black's fantasy?

Another one of his whoppers?

Aren't you sick of this asshole lurking

around? Nobody knows who he is.

But one thing

everybody does know,

he somehow got your ear and has

been pouring poison into it ever since.

You're the poison, Drew.

You've operated behind the scenes

to suborn the trust of a man...

who has stamped you with his imprimatur

of class, elegance and stature.

I've had the opportunity to be witness

to every kind and degree of deception.

But Bill Parrish has been on the receiving

end of machinations so Machiavellian...

that it has rarely been

my experience to encounter.

And yet, he has combatted them stoically and

selflessly, without revealing my identity.

Had he violated
the vow of secrecy he took,

his task would

have been far easier.

He could have turned

defeat into victory.

But he is too honorable a man

to have done that.

Because of me, he has lost his work,

his company, his reputation.

So now,
given these losses,

I'm compelled to end

the need for secrecy.

The time has come

to tell you who I am.

So tell me. Tell me.

I'm peeing in my pants.

- And you're going to pee some more.

- Joe, don't do this.

It's okay, Bill. It's time

we put this person in his place.

It's not necessary, Joe.

Drew's gonna step aside.

- I'm not stepping anywhere.

- I appreciate your gentlemanliness.

But what we need to do here

is drive the dagger home.

- "The dagger"?
- I told you to shut up!

Prepare yourself, Drew.

- I...
- Joe, please.

Kindly let me
take it from here.

- Am...
- Don't.

An agent for the

Internal Revenue Service.

- Bill?
- Huh?

Bill.

- Bill.
- Yeah.

Yes, he's, um...

He's an agent for the

Internal Revenue Service.

Mmm, yes, we were convinced

that Bontecou, on past deals,

has structured his mergers

and acquisitions...
in suspicious and complicated ways so as
to evade paying the taxes he is liable for.

The agency asked Bill for his cooperation in

an undercover investigation of Bontecou.

We wanted to go after him, and this deal

gave us that perfect opportunity.

- And I offered to cooperate.

- And we're very grateful.

Uh, Agent Joe Black here...

Of course, that's not his real name...

smelled out
your involvement, Drew.

He developed evidence you were

working both sides of the fence.

Unfortunately, that is what is

known as a conflict of interest.

Undisclosed conflict of interest.

- An offense.
- An indictable offense.

- And a likely conviction.

- Very likely.

I think I'd like

to talk to my lawyer.

No lawyers, Drew.
Uh, we're gonna offer you a deal.

Confess to the board every detail of your

participation, then submit your resignation.

What do I get?

You get not to go to jail.

You're talking
through your hat.

You're offering me a deal

because you've got no proof.

Proof? We've got plenty of proof.

He's talking through his lips.

Drew, make no mistake. Should you

choose to test my resolve in this matter,

you will be looking at an outcome

that will have a finality...
that is beyond
your comprehension.

And you will not be counting

the days or the months or the years,

but millenniums
in a place with no doors.

All right, you win.

Soon as I get back to the city,

I'll meet with the board.

You're meeting with the board

right now, Drew. Resignation accepted.

Moreover, I propose a motion

to reconfirm William Parrish...

as chairman of the board

of Parrish Communications,

as well as a rejection of the merger

with Bontecou International.

- How say you, board?

- Yes.

- Yes.
- The motion is passed.

Thank you. That's great.

But it's more than I bargained for.

I just wanted to set the record straight.

You have. Sounds like these guys want you

back, Bill. We'll get their apologies later.

Meanwhile, enjoy your party. Celebrate.

I'll attend to the nasty details.

And, Mr. Black,

may we say thank you?

My pleasure.
This is an I.R.S. Agent's dream.

I'll be promoted
chief of section off this.

Who would have believed it?

You an I.R.S. Agent?

Death and taxes.

~ Happy birthday to you ~

~ Happy birthday to you ~

~ Happy birthday
dear William ~

~ Happy birthday to you ~

Speech! Speech!
Speech!

Speech! Speech! Speech!

Thank you.

- I thought I was gonna sneak away tonight.

- No!

What a glorious night.

Every face I see is a memory.

It may not be a perfectly

perfect memory.

Uh, sometimes we had

our ups and downs.

But we're all together,

and you're mine for a night.

And I'm gonna break precedent

and tell you my one candle wish.

That you would have a life

as lucky as mine,

where you can wake up

one morning and say,

"I don't want anything more. "

Sixty-five years.

Don't they go by in a blink?

Hi.

Oh. What a night.

I'm having a hell of a time.

You were right... about Joe.

He, uh...

He is going somewhere.
I'm sorry.

You relieved?

Yes, but...

But what?

I want you to know

how much I love you,

that you've given a meaning to my life

that I had no right to expect,

that no one can

ever take from me.

- Dad...
- No!

I love you so much.

And I want you

to promise me something.

I don't want you

to ever worry about me.

And if anything should happen,

I'm gonna be okay.

And everything's
gonna be all right.

And I have no regrets.

And I want you

to feel the same way.

I love you, Daddy.

That's why it's okay.

No regrets?

No regrets.

That's a good feeling, isn't it?

Yeah.

Everybody's saying good-bye.

I'm still here.

Would you like to dance

with me, Susan?
Yeah.

If you don't mind dancing

with an old fogey like me.

Oh, Dad, you're not old.

You'll never be old.

Can I get you anything, sir?

No.

Do you have any peanut butter?

Uh, I don't think so, sir.

Mmm. Thank you anyway.

You're welcome.

What's that?

The fireworks are starting.

Let's go down and watch.

- Shall we?
- You go on ahead, honey.

I'm just gonna catch my breath.

Okay.

Okay.

Happy birthday, Bill.

Thank you.

Did you say good-bye?

Not exactly.

I guess you have your reasons.

Yes.

Now that we have a moment,

would you mind if I expressed my

gratitude for what you did for Susan?

I've never heard her speak of

any man as she spoke of you.

That's what I always

wanted for her.
But what happens
to her now?

I wouldn't worry about it, Bill.

These things have a way

of working out.

Would you mind if

I expressed my gratitude?

For you,

for the time

you've given me,

for the person you are.

Don't blow smoke up my ass.

You'll ruin my autopsy.

It's hard to let go, isn't it?

Yes, it is, Bill.

Well, that's life.

What can I tell you?

Should I be afraid?

Not a man like you.

You're here.

You bet.

Well, where did you go?

I don't know.

I don't...

I... I don't know,

you know. I...

It's all kind of blurred up

and hazy, but...

Would you know what I mean if I said

I don't think I'll ever figure it out?

But now I'm back.

That's it?

Well, I don't know what else to say.

Looks like a hell of a party.
You think so?

You look beautiful.

When you disappeared

around the corner,

I wasn't sure if I was

ever gonna see you again.

Hey, are you all right?

- The coffee shop.

- Yep.

I asked you if I said something wrong and

you said no, it was so right it scared you.

And then you said...

Forgive me for saying this,

but it's been with me ever since.

What has?

You said you liked me.

- No.
- You didn't?

I said...
I liked you so much.

Yeah.

We know so little
about each other.

But we've got time.

Yeah.

I wish you...

could've known my father.

Me too.

Me too.

What do we do now?

It'll come to us.

Yeah.

~ Somewhere ~

~ Over the rainbow ~

~ Way up high ~

~ And the dreams

that you dream of ~

~ Once in a lullaby ~

~ By, oh ~

~ Somewhere ~

~ Over the rainbow ~

~ Bluebirds fly ~

~ And the dreams

that you dream of ~

~ Dreams really do come true ~

~ Ooo-ooo ~

~ Some day you wish

upon a star ~

~ Wake up where the clouds

are far behind ~

~ Be where trouble melts

like lemon drops ~

~ High above the chimney top ~

~ It's where ~

~ You find me, oh ~

~ Somewhere ~

~ Over the rainbow ~

~ Bluebirds fly ~

~ And the dreams

that you dare to ~

~ Oh, why, oh, why ~

~ Can't I, I ~

~ Well, I see trees of green ~

~ And red roses too ~

~ I'll watch them bloom for ~

~ Me and you
and I think to myself ~
~ What a wonderful world ~

~ Well, I see skies of blue ~

~ And I see clouds of white ~

~ And the brightness of day ~

~ I like the dark ~

~ And I think to myself ~

~ What a wonderful world ~

~ The colors of the rainbow ~

~ So pretty in the sky ~

~ Are also on the faces ~

~ Of people passing by ~

~ I see friends shaking hands ~

~ Saying, how do you do ~

~ They're really saying ~

~ I, I love you ~

~ I hear babies cry ~

~ And I watch them grow ~

~ They'll learn much more ~

~ Than we'll know ~

~ And I think to myself ~

~ What a wonderful world ~

~ World ~

~ Some day I wish upon a star ~

~ Wake up where the clouds

are far behind ~

~ Be where trouble melts

like lemon drops ~

~ High above the chimney top ~

~ That's where ~

~ You'll find me, oh ~

~ Somewhere ~

~ Over the rainbow ~

~ Way up high ~

~ And the dreams

that you dare to ~

~ Why, oh, why, can't I ~

~ I ~