The Associate

Very impressive. Nice work, Walter.

It was Frank and Laurel's show. I'm here to make you feel important.

Don't listen to him, Carl. Everything coming from this company

- has his stamp. We do the grunt work. - I didn't grunt once.

It's amazing, I'm making money and I don't even understand

- what Fusionics does. - It changes the way you use energy.

Is that so?

Reader's Digest just ran an article on it.

What a kidder! Science Digest.

Look at the time. We're going to be late for a meeting.

Keep up the good work, you two.

Quite a team.

Reader's Digest, Frank! - Without your comment, they wouldn't have noticed.

If you'd read the material I give you, we wouldn't have to worry. - Laurel,

I have a life.

- I know something and I'm not telling. - I can make you tell.

- You've got to be a whole lot nicer to me. - Not really. See, watch.

That was nice. All right, here it is.

CW is being moved up to senior VP.

Meaning the standard for VP has dropped dramatically.

That too. Now there's a VP spot opening. Who's next in line?

Who? - You know. - Just say it.

You, baby. You've got seniority

and, thanks to me, the most kills. If we kill tonight,

you're in. Come on, we've got to go in 2 minutes. Don't be late. Sally!

2 minutes. - Alright. Harry, you've got those proposals for me?

Your promotion will get me more respect in Xerox. - 2 minutes.

Oh, wow! Tie emergency.

These clouds, this new age thing is going to render people mute.

- Why did you pick it? - It was a present from Carl Bode.

He wouldn't even notice. Save me.

- Harry, those proposals. - 30 seconds.

- Proposals. - Thank you.

- And the magazine article? - You doubt Harry?

Metals, depletions of resources, soaring costs of mining.

The iron ore made me weep.

Okay, thanks Sweetie.

Sweetie.

- We're late. You're wearing that? - Yes. What are you, Mr. Blackwell?

- I can't run home just to change. - Never mind. It's dark there.

- Dark? In the Huntley Club? - We're not going there.

- We're going some place much hipper. - Fine, as long as it's quiet.

Don't worry, Mom.

You're just satisfying your need for raw material. With ReCon Recycling

you'll cut that need 30 percent, saving 13 million annually.

I say, 13 million annually.

- How does she do it? - I'm in love.

Yeah, I want to have her baby.

What's the payback period?

- 16 months. Look on page 6. - You need numbers?

This deal's approved by Frank Peterson and you need numbers?

Holy shit, look at that! Here you go.

What's this?

- I'm giving the clients what they want. - You think Sandy wants this?

Trust me, it's nothing new.

See?

Another round here.

- Do you like her breasts? - What?

I might have mine done.

- Why? - Why not? It helps.

At an important meeting, show some cleavage and see the difference.

Will you excuse me?

We need to talk. - Now? - Now.

How can we do business here with them throwing money at a naked lady?

This is business. We're male-bonding like crazy.

It's time to go. Now.

Come on. You did your job, and very well, I might add.

- Go home. It's a done deal. - We haven't closed yet.

They're flying to Chicago tomorrow. - We'll do it on the phone. - When?

- In the morning. - Frank, I want to close this tonight.

Okay fine. Go over there and tell them

it's time to go back to work.

- Fine. - No.

Don't do that. Just go home. You killed them. They loved you.

- I love you. - You're drunk.

Go home. Celebrate with someone.

What's wrong?

Coming through.

Coming through. Coming through.

Morning, Sally. - Morning, Ms. Ayres. - Frank in yet? - Since 8 o'clock.

- Am I late? - I wouldn't say that, Ms. Ayres.

Where is he?

- At a staff meeting. - A staff meeting?

The one Manchester called for 8:15

Anyway, they kept playing hard to get. Typical dog and pony show.

They're concerned about ReCon's debt and payback period.

Masters of the obvious. I work them, I work them.

I hack away at their concern, then at 3 in the morning, I close it.

Hell of a score, Frank.

- Well done. - Of course,

- Laurel made it possible. - Atta girl, Laurel.

Way to share the praise, Frank. With a kill like this, all can profit.

- You told me to close my deal on the phone. - Our deal.

They liked it so much that they wanted to present it to the board right away.

This is a big win for us. For you.

For your promotion. You killed.

Manchester was eating it up.

What are we fighting about? We should celebrate.

- What are you doing for lunch? - Nothing.

Great.

Manchester asked us to buy Anton Schuler's wedding gift.

We'll get it afterward.

Wait. Damn it! I already have a lunch. It's too late to cancel.

What do I know about gifts? Take Sally with you. She has taste.

Just send Sally and I can work.

- Sally can't use the company card. - If you don't wish me to go...

Nonsense. Women love shopping together.

Sally knows Manchester's tastes. We all want him to be happy.

Right?

Thanks, Sweetie.

That's it. You go have lunch, I'll go to the office. - I eat at the office.

Do you want to walk together?

We'll grab a cab. My treat.

Sorry, Ms. Ayres, I forgot my place.

- Get a cab. I'll walk. - What?

I see how you look at me, when you look at me.

- Like the ghost of Christmas past. - Has Frank finally driven you nuts?

He's a jerk. I can deal with that. But you treat me like a relic.

Me? - Like a secretary. Like a career secretary.

I'm good at what I do.

The women's movement didn't make it down to Wall Street.

- Affirmative action didn't help me. - It wasn't supposed to.

And so you're clear, I got here by talent and hard work.

Ms. Ayres, would you come with me? I want to show you something.

It won't take long. Just one minute. Let me show you.

So? He's at lunch with Manchester.

I could have had lunch with Manchester.

Why wasn't I invited to that lunch?

So much for "time's changing.",

You!

I trained you and get promoted.

You got screwed. But that shouldn't change things

between us. Look,

even though I'm your boss, you should think of us as a team.

Should I move my desk? The sun hits me all afternoon here.

What?

Sally!

I'm in a meeting! How about some privacy?

I went to the mat for you. Manchester had already decided.

So I should scream at Manchester? - He's flying to London. - Convenient.

And confidentially,

he thinks that women who get passed over

exhibit negative attitude.

Then why do the men who get passed over turn up with an Uzi?

I'm your friend. - You are not. Friends don't do this to each other.

You're a low-life,

brain-sucking pig that would sell his mother up the river to get a deal.

A VP has to be a closer.

- How? I work and you take the credit. - I hope you've got PMS.

Baby, if I did, you'd be dead.

- Can you handle the truth? - Can you tell the truth?

You would never make VP.

It sucks, but that's how it is.

You're better off working for me. I can protect you.

Frank, as my new boss, let me tell you first: I quit.

It's cold out there.

- Well, hello gorgeous. - Hey, color, you Barbara!

- It's the new me. Fabulous, hey? - Like butter.

My Babes is making twice as many tips as when I did Marilyn or Judy.

May they rest in peace. Which reminds me,

I have your rent check here for July and August. I owe you for September and October.

It's November now. - You would have to rain on my parade.

God, how the months mount up. But Barbara never ages.

Well, girlfriend, I'm late for the midnight show. 'Night, Mrs. Cupchick.

- Goodnight, Barbara. - Just talk amongst yourselves, girls.

You're home late.

- I had a great day, so don't ruin it for me. - Career women!

When you come home to an empty home, what do you really have?

- Independence. - It's overrated.

I'm going to make some cocoa and you're not invited.

I'll be up in 5 minutes. Have the little marshmallows I like.

- 150,000? That's an ambitious start. - Here's a prospectus for you

with the startup costs, the overheard,

projected business profits...

Are you currently employed?

If I was, I wouldn't have the time to start up a business, would I?

Do you have any assets?

I have drive, courage, and ambition. If you look at the prospectus,

you'll see a very sound business mind, too.

I'm talking stocks, bonds, property.

We're starting to sound a little like a Men's Bank now.

Oh, as the Women's Bank, we should ignore standard banking practices

and give you this unsecured loan

because you're the right gender.

Well, it would send a message.

Right, that women can't run a bank.

- Touché. - We have depositors to protect

just like the boy banks. I'm sorry. We must have collateral.

I have a 6-unit apartment building that my father left to me.

Ms. Ayres, I admire your courage, but are you sure?

No, but my father took a chance buying it

and I'm sure he'd like me to take a chance on this.

Alright. I'll draw up the papers.

Thank you.

Hi, Lisa. It's Laurel Ayres.

I've got my own firm, Laurel Ayres Investments.

Is Mr. Anderson in?

We were very excited, but the West Coast partners weren't. Sorry.

No,

I'm no longer with Manchester. I've got my own place now.