The Next Man

I didn't realize you were so hungry.

Famished.

But you'll be with me, old friend, to pick up the pieces.

Air Lingus flight number 35 arriving from Paris.

Will be deplaning at gate number 6.

Passengers are cautioned not to leave their... So good to have you back, Miss Nicole.

Thank you.

I'll drive.

There was a call for you, wasn't there?

Any message?

Just a number for you to call.

I have it somewhere.

I'm sorry.

A call for you, Miss Nicole.

Excuse me.

Why does she bother to come home?

Yes, sir?

Where?

The basement?

Yes, sir?

Charlie, the Minister of State wants to go to the basement.

What the hell's in the basement at 4 a.m.?

Maybe he's interested in plumbing.

No, there's a train station in the basement.

Train station?

Yeah, there's a train station in the basement of this building.

Oh.

What's he saying?

Some of this country's great leaders used this station.

Roosevelt, Eisenhower, MacArthur.

I was a student here in New York when Eisenhower was nominated to be president.

On the battlefield of indecision lie the bleached bones of countless thousands...

who, in a moment of decision, waited.

And in waiting, died.

I was part of a speech by Senator Everett Dirksen.

It was a keynote speech at the Republican Convention.

Everybody wanted to know where the quotation came from.

Dirksen eventually admitted that he'd got it from an advertisement for soap.

It was a bleaching chemical.

Bleached bones.

Written by some obscure copywriter.

It's wonderful.

You'll be just as eloquent tomorrow at the United States.

The United Nations.

Eloquent.

Yes.

My good friend, I shall be just as eloquent.

Wait, no more questions.

....

Your Excellency, I heard your speech.

You're marvelous.

Are you there?

Of course.

Miss Salyer, excuse me, please.

Excuse me.

Perhaps we can discuss this later.

What is it?

The Palestinians will never sit down and talk.

The Israelis?

Surely you must know that.

I know it, but I don't understand it.

I don't understand it.

Because talk from the barrel of a gun is a sad and mindless language.

Not mindless, Salyer.

The Israelis used it and became a state.

And unless you understand that, your politics have no point.

There is only one point.

These murders must stop.

What is this death wish you have?

What are you saying, Adil?

You turn your back on the Palestinians?

You'll withhold your dollars?

They pour in dollars and guns from more places than you know.

We will miss Saudi Arabia's support.