Rules Don't Apply

How do we know he's not in Los Angeles?

We were promised,

as you know, the call would come to us at 4:00.

It's now 10 minutes after 4:00.

We're waiting here, in Los Angeles, for a phone call

from legendary billionaire, Howard Hughes,

which could debunk...

We're waiting here, in Los Angeles, for a phone call

from legendary billionaire, Howard Hughes,

which could debunk a writer's claim that he's written

an authorized autobiography of Hughes,

and that Hughes is in a permanent state of dementia.

The location of Howard Hughes,

still a complete mystery to us.

And if he's unable to call,

as promised by the Hughes organization,

and prove that he is of sound mind,

well, the organization's defense contracts,

its medical foundation,

even its casino licenses could be in jeopardy.

If he doesn't call as promised,

it's gonna be hard for him to defend himself

against the charges in Miskin's book.

Yes, wherever he's hiding.

Yes, I'm told now that we can only wait

for Mr. Hughes' phone call until 4:30.

Very few private citizens

can be said to have developed

such an astounding amount of influence,

celebrity and achievement.

Always with an eye out for new talent,

Hughes developed a reputation

for employing dozens of young, aspiring actresses,

and keeping them under contract

...for years at RKO,

regardless of whether or not

they ever appear in one of his pictures.

Hello?

Howard Hughes was once the American ideal.

A moviemaker, an aviator, an inventor...

Howard?

...and an industrialist, who, at the age of 18,

inherited a fortune which gave him a monopoly

on the best device in the world

with which to drill for oil.

This is a man with relationships

with presidents, military leaders and people who are...

Howard, you've got 18 minutes left to place the call.

In 1930, he produced the most expensive movie ever made.

Well, Miskin's book says

that Howard Hughes cannot remember anything,

that he's completely unable to communicate.

Well, despite his countless plane crashes,

all of which he survived...

Howard, can you hear me?

His design set new speed records in his own racing aircraft,

and he essentially became an American hero.

Of course, he's an American hero.

But it's not as if

he's incapable of making a mistake.

He could be in the middle of making

a big mistake right now.

I think you're mistaken, Mr. Hughes.

I think you're mistaken.

I don't make mistakes, Colonel.

Okay, he doesn't make mistakes.

The Department of Defense has scheduled your flight...

The Department of Defense didn't invent this plane, Colonel.

I did. I paid for it,

and I'll land it when I'm goddamn ready to land it!

You are picking up the Apple Blossom Queen.

Her name is Marla Mabrey.

Go down there, get her,

and drive her straight to her house.

Remember, any driver who tries any hanky-panky

with a contract actress is gone.

He's fired.

Thank you.

Miss Mabrey, I'm Frank. Nice to meet you.

Congratulations on being the Apple Blossom Queen.

The car's just over there. I'll get the, uh...

I'm Lucey, Frank. I'm Marla's mother.

Oh.

- Uh... - This is Marla.

- Hi, I'm Frank. - Hi.

Uh, this way, please.

Oh...

- Sorry, sorry. - Okay. All right.

Thank you.

Let me get that for you.

- Thank you. - Of course.

Marla's so excited that she's actually

gonna finally meet Howard Hughes.

Will that be happening today?

That's hard for me to say, ma'am.

I'm new on the job.

I just, I got here from Fresno two weeks ago.

Oh, my goodness.

Two weeks in Los Angeles

and you're working for Howard Hughes?

No harm having high hopes, ma'am.

And what church do you go to, Frank,

if you don't mind my asking?

Well, it's First Methodist. It's in Fresno.

Oh. All right, you're a Methodist.

- Right. - I forgive you.

- Oh. She's kidding. - We're Baptists.

Blessed savior!

Oh, my goodness! What a view!

This is very, very nice. This is...

Where in the world is that coming from?

That's the Hollywood Bowl down there.

I think they're rehearsing.

Really?

$400 a week on top of this?

And your father never saw $400 a week

even as a full professor.

Um, the bags are all upstairs. The kitchen's stocked.

Uh, I'll be right in the...

Outside in the car, if you need me.

Do you know where the nearest Baptist church would be?

I'll check on that right away, ma'am.

So it just doesn't seem likely

that we'll meet Mr. Hughes this afternoon?

We assumed we'd meet him as soon as we arrived.

And where is the script for Stella Starlight?

Oh, I'm sorry, I don't...

Any idea when I do the screen test?

I'm sorry, I really...

Excuse me, sorry.

Uh, I'll be right outside in the car

until your next driver comes on.

His name is Levar.

Oh, my stars!

Why are these chairs so far back?

I'm gonna move them up.

President Eisenhower

went on to say that the government

has what he termed,

"all sorts of useful projects on the shelf,"

to be put into action

against the recession if and when they're needed.

The economy of this country

is a lot stronger than

the spirit of those people that I see...

"Bless us, oh, Lord, for these, Thy gifts

"that we are about to receive from thy bounty,

"through Christ, Our Lord.

- "Amen." - Amen.

Well, from all I've read about Howard Hughes

I hope he doesn't expect to meet you in some hotel room.

Hi.

So, did you get caviar?

Yes, I got caviar but I still haven't met him.

Do you have any idea how many houses

he has for actresses under contract?

I think something like 14.

More like 22.

More like 26.

- Twenty six? - Twenty six?

This is how we get paid?

Lord in heaven!

Nadine, am I meeting Mr. Hughes today?

Sit.

This is an engineering problem.

You do know what these are?

Are these hulls of an aircraft?

What?

I don't know. Twin pontoons?

We do movies, Howard.

We don't know pontoons, propellers...

Gentlemen,

the way that the dress fits around the breasts

makes it look like they're padded.

If the brassiere incorporated some kind of point at the nipple

it would solve that.

And try not to let Miss Russell

hear you call them pontoons.

Good afternoon, gentlemen.

Both girls are going away for the weekend,

so go now.

Oh, Frank, there you are.

Listen, you're doing swell,

and I want you to be prepared to drive the boss any minute.

Well, my mom passed away.

Actually, I was raised mostly by my grandma.

And your dad?

Uh...

Well, he, kind of, took off before she passed away, so...

I think every few weeks,

I'll probably be able to go back

and see my grandma and my girl.

I grew up across the street from,

actually, my fiancée.

Right now she takes care of her father's dog kennel.

Do you think I'll ever get to meet Mr. Hughes?

So, who was it that said...

"They also serve who only stand and wait"?

John Milton on his blindness.

Good for you, smart cookie.