Escape Clause

Probably wouldn't want to insure this roofing company.

But what about situations like this?

A storm in a hurricane zone

that, since records were kept,

has never been the site of a storm with winds like this.

A railway crossing accident.

A driver's misjudgment at a railway crossing

That had never been the site of an accident before.

Should we have insured the railroad company,

a company with a perfect safety record, as we did?

Or the merchants and the homeowners

in the hurricane area, as we did?

Were these acceptable risks,

Even if they could have been foreseen?

Now, I know some in our industry don't like to hear this,

Especially some of our more senior members.

Maybe that's why they called my work the ramsay curve.

Or maybe it's because I happened to be on the other side of the street

Working for the consumer's union at the time.

In any case, it's time to step up to the plate.

What the ramsay curve boils down to is this.

Simply because a person has been injured,

He or she can no longer be presumed to be just an innocent bystander.

In fact, time and again, in casualty and liability,

the case studies show, the greater the degree of victimization,

The more responsibility the victim has for his or her own plight.

You don't leave the front door unlocked

If you live in a high-crime neighborhood.

You don't change a tire at night on the traffic side of the car.

Now, if that's true for ordinary people,

why isn't it true for companies, too?

Well, it is.

We cannot keep blaming trial lawyers

and passing on our bad risks to the consumer.

The public will not stand for it, and frankly, why should they?

The consumer can no longer be expected to pick up the tab

For our indifference to the facts of life as we know them today.

Otherwise...

Thank you.

dj on radio: That was bill Bentley, in the wake up hour here on wcto jazz fm,

Hartford. Insurance city to the world.

It's 6:30.

So?

Well, if you don't move, it's gonna be 7:00.

So?

Thought I heard the kids.

Liar.

Richard: Anyway, we're allowed.

As long as we don't scare the horses.

Of course, we don't have any horses, but if we did...

Where would we put them?

You're kidding. Uh-uh.

I only have a couple of pages left.

When else am I gonna get to read?

Graham Greene?

We're supposed to be glowing.

You are.

Momma, daddy, are you up yet?

Hi, sweetie. Hey, honey.

Hey, hey, hey! Hey!

You keep that up, your finger's gonna fall off.

It will not!

Cereal causes hair loss.

Yeah? Only uneaten cereal.

Does not.

Eat.

It's okay. No worry. No cold. Just too much smell flowers.

Good morning!

Hey! Don't you look great.

Well, Harvard's offering a six-week business and arts course again,

that Leslie thinks I ought to get into

If I'm thinking of getting back into gallery work.

Martha can pick up the kids.

Martha: Yes, I pick up.

What about New York? The conference?

You were gonna drive down, meet me after.

Today?

Yeah. We were gonna spend the night.

Oh, my god. Why didn't you remind me?

Well, looks like I have to these days, doesn't it?

I didn't even check with my parents about arrangements for the kids.

Are we going to granddad's?

Looks that way, huh?

That's all right. Forget it.

I'll call you later. You look great.

Bye, little monsters.

Bye.

Woman on pa: Flight 212, shuttle to New York now boarding at gate 10.

So did you have any luck?

Can you believe it?

Two hours on the fucking phone.

A loyal customer for five years,

And insurance won't pick up more than $2,000 damage on my corvette.

Who's your company?

We are!

You're right. Something's gotta be done.

Yeah. How's my beautiful Sarah?

Good.

She returns to gallery work, yes?

Hmm?

Well, she told me.

Sunday drinks, at your house.

An old Hartford tradition.

Ah, you see?

I am not a husband. I listen and pay attention.

See that lady?

43%, within a reduced statistical sample,

That she is already spoken for.

We are actuaries, Richard.

Actuaries do it by the numbers.

We are the fortunetellers of insurance.

We're supposed to know the odds of what's gonna happen.

Oh, the question we're always asking is,

"are the capital reserves realistically invested?"

Oh, thank you.

Announcer on radio: The temperature in Boston's a balmy 62

with increasing overcast and possible showers expected

over the Boston and Cambridge areas tonight.

Personal responsibility.

You put your finger right on it,

and I didn't fall asleep at all.

Ever think of going into politics?

I'm just getting used to insurance, congressman.

Ask him about jazz or early rock and then you'll hear him talk.

Congressman page, Abe shinoda.

Are you here to learn the way we do business, Mr. Shinoda?

No, congressman. Are you?

Abe's on our side, Vic. One of our executive team.

Andre.

Richard convinced him to leave national casualty at my request.

They've known each other since mba days at Harvard business.

A citizen of Japan, but a yankee at heart.

My family sent me here to get rid of my American crush,

And, boy, did they make a mistake.

We're targeting Tokyo as our flagship when we expand overseas.

We expect Abe to head it up.

He couldn't have a better teacher.

Ah! Well, you're Andre's boy, 100%.

He'll offer you the century 2000 and beyond study, and then... bingo!

We're all part of the same team, Abe.

Oh, yeah. Where? Back in Tokyo?

With a father waiting to cut off my balls if I do something on my own?

Hello? Richard: Hi, sweetheart.

Richard, hi! How'd it go?

Maybe I'll go into politics.

I bet you were a big hit, as always.

How about you?

Cambridge was fine.

Kids are asleep, but I had to send Martha home with a 102-degree allergy.

We'll be lucky if we don't all come down with the damn thing.

Great.

What's that? Oh, Leslie.

She went with me to Cambridge today.

She says hello. I asked her to stay on for the kids.

She's on her way to new haven tonight.

How about you? Did you get any time for yourself?

Ah, you should've been here.

Next time.

Well, I'll be back in the office by morning.

I'll see you and the kids tomorrow night.

You know I miss you.

Me, too.

All right. Bye.

Bye.

Hi. Can I get some aspirin, please?

Yes, sir.

Ooh.

Not my cup of tea, but my lady friend says I'm missing something.

Leave it to the ladies, hmm?

Yeah.

Abe: Richard!

Join us for a drink?

Hey, come on. A nightcap.

Uh... good night.

Hmm. Well, shall we?

I'm gonna call it a night.

Bye.

Thanks very much.

Receptionist: Good morning. Century insurance. May I help you?

Eli wants to know if you need the file footage any longer

Or should he return it to legal?

Back to legal.

And Tom blatt's waiting, then it's Carlisle, nye...

I couldn't find my glasses last night, Janet.

And John tapper for division review. They're on your desk.

Tom, good morning.

Look, Neal does not need to send these up to us for an opinion.

Tell him that's what he's being paid for.

Besides, his loss-control scenario, it stinks.

I have your permission?

You have my blessing.

Yeah?

I always do that.

It sounds like early Oscar Peterson.

Who is this?

Mr. Ramsay?

Yeah? Hello.

You don't know me, Mr. Ramsay. Your wife hired me.

Uh, look...

But I thought I should talk to you first.