The Fixer

Want to take him for a spin?

No, thanks, dad. Horses are for girls.

There's no need to be afraid.

Once you get the hang of it,

it's just a little pressure of the legs--

no, i--movement of the hands.

No, dad. It's all right.

All right. I made the offer.

I'm gonna go change, and I'll see you in a minute.

Great.

See you in a minute.

Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor.

I'll see you at the party. We'll talk about it then.

All right?

You want to explain this?

Where'd you get it?

Your mother found it in one of your drawers.

What's she going through my stuff for?

Who gave it to you? Your crew?

What crew?

The guys you hang with.

Isn't that what they call themselves?

Jack, honey, we'll be late.

In a minute.

Johnny, you know what happens to little gangsters?

They grow up to be big gangsters,

and then they wind up in prison or dead.

That's mom. Gotta go.

Hello, Cheryl.

Looking very well.

Thanks. You too.

Hi, Johnny.

Hey, mom.

You have a good weekend?

Fine.

Later, dad.

I take it you talked to him.

So the kid has a knife.

It's not like he did a drive-by.

You know, when I want your advice

on how to raise my son, I'll ask you.

I, uh, think I left my watch in the study.

So? What'd you say to him?

Little gangsters grow up to be big gangsters.

Yeah, you know all about that, don't you?

Bonnie, I deal with lots of people.

Some of them are not saints.

Don't try and sell me, John.

I stopped buying a long time ago, remember?

Jack, your watch is not in the study.

I wonder why.

Jack?

Hello.

Hey! How you doin', Jack?

Good to see you, Pete.

Jack, I'm gonna kick things off right now.

Absolutely.come here, Jack.

Nancy.

Good evening.

If you build it, they will come.

Well, I haven't built it yet,

but you all came anyway.

I will build it, though,

at a cost of $19 billion,

the biggest public works project

in the history of Chicago.

Ladies and gentlemen,

the Richard j. Daly international airport.

The Richard j. Daly international airport

will be the world's most technologically advanced

transportation facility.

It will create over 60,000 jobs

and provide $15 billion annually

to Chicago's economy.

The crown Jewel in this environmentally friendly,

energy-efficient complex

will be the new soldier field,

the professional football stadium the city

has been eagerly awaiting for more than 20 years.

And now, my good friend, mayor Francisco melendez,

whose vision conceived it

and whose statesmanship will see it through.

David Michael corliss, ladies and gentlemen,

who disproves the myth

that you cannot trust a man with three names.

Building the daly international airport

will reaffirm this city's proud position

as the transportation hub of america

and launch the midwest into the 21st century.

This goof sticks a gun in iron John's face.

Says, "give me your money."

So John takes the gun away from him,

smacks him around, and that's that.

A week later, some other clown

sticks a gun in iron John's back.

Says, "give me your money."

Iron John kicks him in the chest,

takes the gun away, and beats him

within an inch of his life.

So I says to John, "hey, what's the gaff?

Both guys tried to Rob you."

Iron John said, "the first guy

"approached me like a man, from the front.

The second was a coward."

Here, here!

Who's iron John?

Iron John was my father.

A great man. For 20 years,

the real clout in this town.

Just like Jack is now, right, Jack?

Wolf lake.

What about wolf lake?

It's where runway 23 is gonna be.

So?

Some goddamned treehugger filed a lawsuit.

The last open wetlands in cook county.

Great speech!

Like it's the fucking everglades.

I'll look into it.

Dede, what do you think of your new soldier field?

Mm, the location is perfect.

I cannot wait to see my boys charging onto that field.

What?

Expressway ramps.

What about them?

I gotta have my own, separate from the airport's.

That's not up to me, dede.

Don't vise me, David.

You're talking federal highway funds.

Two years ago, people in this town didn't want your goddamn airport.

Now, what changed their minds?

The herald,s.T.

My paper, my TV station.

You're not exactly getting shafted.

I'm only gonna build you the finest football stadium on the planet.

I want my ramps.

Talk to Jack.

Fucking right I'll talk to Jack.

This is the '68 convention.

For three days, coppers are busting heads all over town.

So, daly calls a press conference.

He's gonna straighten the whole thing out.

The first words out of his mouth are,

"gentlemen, get the thing straight

"once and for all.Excuse me.

"The policeman isn't there to create disorder.

The policeman is there to preservedisorder!"

I don't get it.

I'll explain it to you later.

Excuse me.

Jack... I need to talk to you

about expressway ramps for soldier field.

Dede, when I get to Washington,

I'll sit down with the guys

from transportation, ways and means.

Won't be easy, but you'll get your ramps.

You can make it fly in Springfield, right, Jack?

Yes.

Bond issue doesn't pass, there's no airport

and I'm going belly up.

Don't worry about it.

Those downstate boys, Powell and Landry,

they never give me a break.

David, I've been taking care of business with them for years.

True. True shit, Jack.

Did you ever stop to consider where this town would be without you?

Gray wolves, babe, at each other's throats.

Have some breakfast, Jack.

Busy day.

How's patsy?She's great.

You should take her to that new place on Navy pier.

Oh, yeah?

Just opened. Italian place.

It's good?

Oh, it's sensational.

Okay.

Take care, David.

Mr. Killoran.

Hey.

Who the hell is he?What was that?

Going to David's on Sunday?

Has Pinocchio got wooden balls?

I learned a new polka for the occasion.

Heard he got a new nag.

Warm blood. Supposedly from a good line.

Ah, whatever.

The only horses I give a shit about are the ones I bet on.

Know who's handling this?

Odessa Washington, a good friend of mine.

Fine judge.

I'm sure he'll make a careful study of the arguments,

and after solemn deliberation...

Render a just and fair decision.

You got something to say?

Good morning, Mr. States attorney.

I'll be a good morning when I take you down, killoran.

For what? Living in the real world?

You and all your first-ward friends.

You're a one-term wonder, Mitch.

You'll be unemployed come November.