The Man in the Glass Booth

Happy birthday, Mr. Goldman.

- How is your mother? - Never better, thanks.

That woman ought to go on a diet.

- You say it's my birthday? - Yes.

Friday, September 20.

- How old I am? - You are timeless.

That old? Thank you, Charlie.

- What's the temperature outside, Jack? - Fahrenheit or Centigrade?

- You know my preferences. - 68, 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

68, 5... It's cold.

If I wasn't so old, I'd done my vicuna.

Matilda always adored me in my vicuna.

It's a house without a woman.

- I should get a new wife. - Yes, Mr. Goldman.

It's all these empty closets that's gettin' me down

All these coathangers with no frocks on 'em

A man without a woman

When are we due at the Banks?

11:07, the National Bank of North America; 11:22, the Royal Bank of Canada;

11:47, Security National and 12:40, Sterling.

When will I see the wit?

He's coming from Boston this afternoon, Mr. Goldman

Call Schwab and tell him I'm in.

- For how much, mr Goldman? - All the way.

He's my blood brother.

The thing about the woman, Charlie...

- Where do I go tonight? - To the opera.

You are escorting the Duchess.

And there's twenty-two begging letters this morning.

Give them something, but not too much.

Listen, when you call Schwab tell him my limit's 100,000.

I think you're right there. I think you made a substantial point

- I don't like that Carter, do you? - No I don't, Mr. Goldman.

I do not like that Carter.

I do not trust him. I don't trust him neither.

Do you have the MacTavish contract?

- Yes, here it is. - What's the date on it?

- March 19, 1947. - See? Make copies.

- Make photos of this. - Xerox, Charlie.

To each one, his merits. It is a Jewish invention.

Give me that old newspaper.

Mr. Goldman, here's a lot of money.

Maybe a million dollars.

Two million, Charlie.

What's the date of the newspaper?

November 20, 1964.

Excuse me, but...

Do you have two million dollars there?

The New York Herald Tribune. Alav ha-shalom

He did not resist the New York Times.

To each one, his merits.

Alav ha-shalom means "rest in peace" in Hebrew.

There must be a poem in the box, Charlie. Search it.

Jack, did you know that the Pope forgive the Jews?

Forgive the Jews for what?

For killing Jesus.

In the movies were the Romans.

Maybe the Pope never went to the movies.

Listen to this:

"The Jewish people should never be presented as a rejected or deicidal people.

The council condemns the persecutions of the Jews...

present and past."

What do you think, Charlie?

It is very generous of him.

You never disappoint me, my boy.

November 20, 1964.

What would they want 2,000 years later? Money?

You have found the poem. Read it.

"I am old, I am old, I have bought and I have sold.

Friday 20, 1964.

The Pope has absolved the Jews.

I am old. I am old.

I have been bought. and I have been sold. "

Tear it up, Johnny.

- What about the money? - Save it for rainy days.

Charlie!

Do we continue with the MacTavish brochure?

Yes, right away, mr Goldman.

- "It was in the golden spring of 1947." - Cut "golden".

"It was in the spring of 1947.

at about the time the Pelican building project was about to rise-

You have put two "about".

- You 've got two "about". - Oh yeah.

"Spring of 1947. At the time - without the "about", then...

that Mr. Goldman's Pelikan building was about to rise into the skies...

that the beginnings of the lease to the MacTavish Publishing Company were planted.

It's a house without a woman, Charlie.

- I must have a new wife. - Yes, Mr. Goldman.

I must have a pretty woman to look at.

Miss America, that's what I need.

I knock her up in no time, you know what I mean?

Or maybe I should go for intelligence,

one of those reporters

one of those Time magazine long-leg Washington Post.

That is known to express.

With a pretty face, somebody aristocratic.

- Miss America is in town? - I could find out.

Never mind.

Babies..

I ought to have babies.

Go on.

"... the beginnings of the lease of the McTavish publishing company were planted."

You don't plant beginnings, you plant seeds.

"Mr. Goldman entered into the Lexington building.

He crossed the lobby to the counter..."

- Jack! - What is it, Mr. Goldman?

A cognac, Jack. No, bourbon.

Make it a Jack Daniel's.

By all the saints! Do I know what I am doing?

What was it, mr Goldman?

My father... pushing a traveling cart.

Nobody's going to say:

"Mr. Goldman, your father was murdered in a shower in Auschwitz...

in 1943, at the age of 70,

he couldn't push a cart on 5th Avenue"?

What else can I expect?

Even He was denied three times before the cock crowed.

Do I continue with the brochure?

No. I have to meditate.

Are you a Black Panther?

You're a Muslim?

No.

It does not matter.

It would even be better. I would have more protection.

- Nobody is after you. - Are you sure?

Where would you be in that day?

I'm white and rich.

That's what matters.

Well, the money comes from the Arabs, right?

I thought it was from the lottery.

Jack!

Help me!

Mea culpa, compatriot.

Mea maxima culpa.

Why am I still alive?

I have built a city of rock.

A city without substance,

made with discolored skulls of pterodactyls.

Send me a sign, God of the Hebrews.

Was I right?

Was I wrong?

Say something!

- What's wrong today? - Nothing, doctor. I'm better than ever.

The Pope put me right on.

- Have you taken the medication? - Do not be condescending.

Be at the table of recognition.

- I'm not a gynecologist. - Big block, I greet you.

What a magnificent city! Look at my palaces!

Which one do you prefer, doctor?

The one on 85th street with Lincoln.

I remember all my children.

I have shared a bed with Scott Fitzgerald.

We sat naked in the Astor bar.

I, who enjoy the reputation of consolidated builder,

I'm still friends with Scotty and Zelda, the hedonists.

Scotty and I swam with Zelda's panties...

in the Pulitzer font.

I with the roses, him with the dwellings.

- Did you know the Fitzgeralds? - Of course.

We drove at the roots of our lands...

from Broadway down to Washington Square.

Then we went to Harlem, where everyone threw tapes.

And we ended up having breakfast at Child's from 55 with 57.

- Will you take your medicine now? - Of course, anytime.

Why has not told me before? Go right ahead.

That has been quoted from my brochure. Thank you for remember it.

We should send your brochure to the Pope.

It is a piece of art. Now, sing for me.

Rape my senses. Sing my favorite song.

There was an edelweiss,

a small edelweiss.

There was an edelweiss,

a small edelweiss.

Lonely and distant,

on a cliff,

There was a small flower under the blue sky.

The last time I saw Dorff...

The last time I saw Dorff...

he was goin from bed to bed, from place to place with his pistol

He was tappin them on their domes with the barrel,

he was testing their brains out,

he was listening to see what was hollow. One, two, three...

There was only one echo heard: boom!

Do you mind if I stop singing?

I prefer it. You have a horrible voice.

Read more from the brochure. What is this?

- Valium. - You take it.

It's good for you.

Continue, Charlie.

"Over the years, the construction program accelerated..."

- They are watching us. - I beg your pardon?

We are being watched from a blue Mercedes.

I do not want conspiratorial looks.

Jack, watch your looks.

Yes, sir.

Continue, Charlie.

"Constructions as outstanding...

as the 50 floors of 1003 Cedar Street..."

May I ask who is watching you?

Of course. Tell him, Charlie.