Tales of Tomorrow

"What You Need,"

starring William Redfield with Edgar Stehli.

Good evening, what can I do for you?

Maybe you can tell me what I need.

Pardon?

- Your sign says, "I have what you need." Well?

I'm sorry, Mister, uh?

Carmichael, Tom Carmichael.

I'm a freelance writer.

I've been watching your store for a couple of days now.

Oh.

I think there's a story here.

- Well, you're welcome to look around if you like.

Hm-hm.

You know, for a beat up looking joint,

your customers seem to be pretty well-heeled.

I hadn't noticed.

I know it's a bit early, Mr.Talley,

but I really, well, I couldn't wait.

Eh, have you the time to get what I need?

- If you'll wait just a moment, I'll get it for you.

- Hey, you know, I'd like to get one of those too.

What are you talking about?

- Well, the gimmick, the gizmo, what we all need.

Oh, I couldn't, this is much to-

Take it, take it, please.

Good day.

I can't seem to wait.

$5,000 for a gun?

Your eyes take in everything.

- Would you mind telling me what business you're in?

Yes, I would.

- I could check you through the Better Business Bureau.

And you wish.

- The past two days I have seen people walk out of here

with let me see, an egg,

a pair of rubber gloves,

a test tube, and now a gun.

Rather a weird assortment, wouldn't you say?

I would indeed.

And now if you'll excuse me.

Is the price always 5,000?

It varies.

Hmm, I'm beginning to get the point.

You're not interested in talking to me.

Very clever of you.

I could go to the police.

The gun, is there a permit for it?

And what makes it worth $5,000?

Do you think the police could be interested

in your business?

That sounds like a threat.

No, just my duty as a citizen.

Your business might be blackmail.

So it might.

Well, so I better tell the police.

You have my blessing.

Martha, should I put up some tea?

Oh, that would be nice.

Perhaps the young man would like a cup.

- Oh, no, no, he has an appointment with the police.

No, no, no, it can wait.

No, I'd just love a cup of tea.

I wouldn't want to keep you.

Oh, you win hands down.

I had no intention of going to the police

and I think you knew it.

Would make little difference either way.

- Frankly, all I'm interested in is the story

or let's put it another way.

I see a sign which says "I have what you need."

I'm a poor struggling writer, but am I less in need

than the wealthy-looking people that you serve?

- Peter, I think the young man has a point.

- You come to me them, as a customer?

Well, yes, as a customer.

Will you excuse me a moment.

I'll put up the tea.

This Mr. Carmichael, is what you need.

Carry it on your person.

Thank you.

You know, I think I'm beginning to get your record now.

- You're an extremely intelligent young man.

You're some kind of phony medium.

You spin a few dials and tell the future

and then you sell it at 5,000 per, it's quite a deal.

Good day, Mr. Carmichael.

You can whistle for the 5,000.

- I had no intention of charging you that fee,

I know you couldn't afford it.

And what do I owe you?

Pay me after you're satisfied.

When will I know?

Soon enough.

Oh, there's one thing I must tell you very frankly,

I'm not very happy with you as a customer.

I must ask you to promise that you will never come

near my shop again, nor mention it to anyone.

In exchange for what?

- In exchange for what I've given you.

Might this be in the nature of a bribe?

Good day, Mr. Carmichael.

The young man will not be staying.

Oh, isn't that a pity?

Well, I'll probably be back.

No, Mr. Carmichael,

I've done you a service let's leave it at that.

Depends on the worth of your service.

- It will be worth much to you, keep it on your person.

Big bright boy, Tom Carmichael,

the wizard journalist,

he with the nose for news.

I think the old coot's right,

you're probably in the wrong racket.

Writer, huh?

You were probably born to be a dressmaker.

Okay, okay, cut it out.

You cut it out. He gave you the shears.

- I'm not through with the old buzzard yet.

I'll get something out of this.

Yeah, maybe another pair of scissors.

I said stop it.

Don't push me around.

I don't go for it.

Look if you're gonna mope all night,

you may as well take me home.

Oh, I gotta figure it,

there's an angle somewhere.

There's always an angle

and you're always figuring.

Tell you the truth,

I'm getting a little tired of waiting around

for you to come up with a right answer.

- I tell you, I saw it, a check for $5,000,

six backer types walk in and walk out with packages.

What if they all pay 5000, that's 30,000.

- You and your telephone numbers, big talk.

But we always wind up eating in the Ottoman, Dutch.

- The very least I get out of this is a story,

that I promise.

Yeah, you won't even get that.

You wanna to bet?

Come on, drink up.

Well, what's the rush?

It's make up night on Fred's magazine.

I think maybe I can badger him

into to giving me a little advance on this yarn.

Ha, ha, you want the facts.

What then, Sonny boy?

Just watch an operator operate,

five will get you 10, if he okays the story.

Hey, waiter, check.

- Here. - Yeah.

Hey, who-

Take it easy.

Yeah, keep it.

Hey, mister, you forgot something.

Hmm, keep those, too. Oh, wait a minute.

Maybe you better give them to me.

Hey, Frank, can you turn those off a minute so we can talk?

No.

I can sell it to Coleman.

Good, go ahead and do that.

- I like to give you first crack at my stuff.

- You like to come in here when I'm up to my ears in work

and try to talk me into giving you a go ahead

on something that I'll be sorry for in the morning.

You call yourself an editor, huh?

Get nasty, that always helps.

- And it's a natural, it's a strike right down your alley.

An old guy trying to fleece millionaires out of dough.

All right, so we expose him.

A good yarn and a public service.

You're always yapping

about your magazine doing a public service.

- The day you get interested in public service, my friend,

that'll be the day.

Come on, your boring the man.

Rest easy.

Give me one, just one, objection.

Just one?

The last yarn you sold me cost me retraction

and darn near a lawsuit.

All right, I'll document the facts.

Tom, I can't trust you.

You smell a couple of bucks and you sit at home

and get the whole story up out of your own head.

But you can check it yourself.

I'll take a picture of the place.

- Okay, I don't deny that the place exists.

What I wanna know is what game the old man is playing.

I already told you.

Sure you told me, go out and prove it.

Bring it to me on black and white.

Show me where the old man is a fraud.

Give me facts.

Well, give me your a verbal go ahead.

Give me lit-,

give me a little advance.

I'll tie the story tight enough for the FBI.