A Shock to the System

It all began one night when the lights went out.

What do I know? They just keep blowing.

The circuit is overloaded.

It's your bloody exercise machine.

It is not my Stair Stepper.

I nearly got electrocuted last night.

This whole house needs rewiring.

We can't afford it. Maybe with your raise...

My raise?

I wanted to do a surprise party for your promotion.

But the deposit check bounced at Mary-Ella's.

The job isn't mine yet, Leslie.

Mary-Ella's supposed to be the only civilized caterer out here.

I said to Mary-Ella it can't bounce.

It's one of the brown ones.

The money market? Jesus, Leslie.

Oh, Kathy and Jason.

Doesn't anybody in this house pay any attention to you?

Well, for God's sake, it's my account.

I said to her the green ones bounce.

That's my husband's account.

My brown ones never bounce.

All right now, you children, run into the kitchen,

and grandma's gonna get you some breakfast.

Anyway, I practically had to beg her to take plastic,

and you know how backed up that is.

Arguing with Leslie about her money again?

Ah, Lillian, as always, your timing is impeccable.

Oh, don't try to be so sarcastic.

I actually came over to congratulate you on your new...

The coffee's hot.

It's all right for us to have one cup before exercise class.

Oh, and that reminds me...

I remembered some more names for his surprise party.

Fabulous. Also, folding chairs, how many do we need?

By the way, did you call...

Try to understand.

He'd always fancied himself a sorcerer,

capable of fixing anything.

And now, in his own house,

there were constant failures of power.

Goodbye, darling.

Love you, darling.

Slay the dragon, sweetheart.

If the sorcerer's house isn't his castle,

what is it?

Still, he was looking forward to his promotion.

He'd worked hard for many years

in the American corporate structure.

He'd earned it.

But the magic was just draining out of him

every time he got on that commuter train.

Back and forth from the suburbs.

Every day.

Excuse me, please.

Every day.

You look fit today, George. Ready to do battle.

No, it's all up for me and I've done what I can for you.

Now, let's just read our papers.

I think you're jumping the gun.

Oh, come on.

The whole point of these takeovers

is to sell off the assets

and put old farts like me out to pasture.

I can hear the fat lady singing, Graham.

I can hear her singing.

Space invaders, Graham.

The new people. All gadgets and the bottom line.

I hear you, George.

Stop them early or they'll run right over you.

"We can be more efficient with such and such program."

Blah, blah, blah... It's all bullshit, Graham.

It's cold. Mass firings and low quality.

Just milk the market dry and get out.

I mean, if our system wasn't any good,

why'd they take us over in the first place?

Hey, buddy, give me a buck, will ya?

What do you make? A million a year?

Yeah.

City's getting to be like Calcutta.

Remember when New York was a pleasure?

I can remember when it was...

Now, that was true.

New York wasn't what it used to be.

Stella...

Can you spare any change?

Lend me 20 dollars.

I know I can win this.

I refuse to keep being the only practical person I know.

Even in their summer dresses,

he scarcely noticed the temptations anymore.

God, he could remember when it was all he noticed.

He tried to remember that power he used to have over women.

Back in his dangerous days.

When you brain-drain boys

came over from England in the 60's and 70's

I had no problem. I know.

I don't know, Graham.

With these young Turks, hell.

Their efficiency system is just a cover.

What was the name of that film?

The one about space invaders taking over living people?

Pods.

Pod People.

Body Snatchers.

That's it. The Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

Yeah, I saw that movie. It was pretty happening.

Pods, pods, pods.

Graham... Can we push J Walter to 10:00?

Yeah. Check with Frank. I think that's good.

You'll love this. Wonder Oats wants to kill the dog.

Have we got the numbers back from the west coast yet?

Not yet. They're supposed to get back...

Don't touch the dog.

Graham. Yeah?

The results of the great Kentucky gelatin wars.

Tell me they're not shit, Amy.

They're not shit, Graham.

They're shit, Amy.

I knew you had a crush on somebody.

Would you, for God's sake, behave yourself?

Stella, I do not know how to play this person.

I don't know who she is.

It's not a role. It's a job. A rent paying job.

Now, come on, I wanna introduce you to the boss.

Graham? Graham, hi.

Excuse me one moment, Stella.

Have a look at this.

The number-crunchers designed it,

but the thinking basically is mine.

What is this?

A program that projects survey responses

from pre-processed data.

That's great, but what is this?

It makes it unnecessary

to go back to the public with a new release.

It predicts how they will react.

Does it buy the product for them?

Well, not yet.

Bring it back when it does and we'll do lunch.

Graham, seriously, this has huge cost-cutting...

Later, Bob.

I'm sorry, Stella.

Thanks, Graham,

I just wanted to introduce you to Melanie O'Conner.

Do you remember I told you about her? My roommate?

Mr. Marshall, I just want to take this opportunity

to thank you for the job.

I'm sure you'll do just fine.

Stella will take you over to Personnel.

And she'll put you to work. Okay?

My resume.

He's nice.

Graham...

Peter Reynolds from Beatrice called with congratulations.

That's nice.

Bob...

About that... That thing...

Forget about this, there's something more important.

As spokesman for some of the younger Turks,

I'm supposed to invite you to lunch.

In celebration of your approaching greatness.

Oh, Christ. Today?

Come on! Executive bonding. Raucous on funny jokes.

And we'll kiss your ass

and hope you'll mistake it for affection.

How degrading for you. I'll be there. What time?

12:30. Bring your ass.

See you at the elevators. 12:30.

Roger. You got it.

Marshall.

Graham. Stella...

Thanks again for the job for Melanie.

She'll make a great receptionist.

She's got an outgoing personality.

And congratulations.

I heard that you're gonna replace Mr. Brewster.

It's about time.

Yes, I guess it is at that.

Just about time.

Jones has got to announce the promotion Friday.

That's what I heard, Friday.

It's the least they can do.

Give you couple of days to celebrate.

Two glorious days, three fun-filled nights.

And how will you fill those fun-filled nights, Mr. Marshall?

Well, right now, I'm planning to have the wife's mother over

to berate me for not letting her live with us

That'd be my choice.

That reminds me...

We're putting the boat in this weekend.

Oh! And we forgot ours, didn't we?

Aww Aww.

Tara's coming out to the house.

Tara? What kind of a name is that?

Her last name is Rah-Boom-Dee-Ay.

The man is dating a plantation.

Gentlemen, gentlemen... You don't understand.

We are the young, the proud...

We shouldn't be ashamed of success.