Meet Joe Black

709 00:55:06,929 --> 00:55:12,184 Didn't expect you, but certainly you can't get enough of a good thing. 710 00:55:12,267 --> 00:55:15,312 - Thank you. - Joe, would you like to sit there? 711 00:55:27,282 --> 00:55:28,909 Okay. 712 00:55:29,535 --> 00:55:33,163 The Board of Parrish Communications is hereby called to order. 713 00:55:33,789 --> 00:55:35,791 Our sole order of... 714 00:55:42,673 --> 00:55:44,132 Our... 715 00:55:51,598 --> 00:55:54,184 Our sole order of business today is a, 716 00:55:54,268 --> 00:55:57,563 is an acceptance of John Bontecou's generous offer. 717 00:55:57,646 --> 00:55:58,647 And I think Bill... 718 00:55:58,730 --> 00:56:01,066 Do you have any more of these delicious cookies? 719 00:56:01,149 --> 00:56:02,901 The jelly ones? 720 00:56:03,151 --> 00:56:06,238 And a cup of tea. With milk, I think. 721 00:56:06,655 --> 00:56:10,409 I'd like to try it English style. Yes. 722 00:56:10,492 --> 00:56:11,910 A cup of tea with milk, please. 723 00:56:11,994 --> 00:56:14,162 Is there anything else, Mr. Black? 724 00:56:14,371 --> 00:56:16,707 - How about some water? - Why, yes, thank you. 725 00:56:16,790 --> 00:56:19,001 - Hot or cold? - Cold. 726 00:56:19,334 --> 00:56:21,128 - And a glass? - Hmm. 727 00:56:26,884 --> 00:56:28,010 To review. 728 00:56:28,093 --> 00:56:31,179 We're really crossing the T's and dotting the I's here. 729 00:56:31,513 --> 00:56:35,392 Bill had a great and conclusive meeting yesterday with John Bontecou, 730 00:56:35,475 --> 00:56:38,312 and all that remains for us is to put it to a vote. 731 00:56:41,189 --> 00:56:44,359 Thank you. Drew... 732 00:56:48,322 --> 00:56:49,698 Yeah. 733 00:56:50,490 --> 00:56:57,372 I did enjoy, or rather I was interested in meeting John Bontecou yesterday, and... 734 00:57:00,584 --> 00:57:03,921 Impressive, I suppose. 735 00:57:05,380 --> 00:57:06,715 But... 736 00:57:11,219 --> 00:57:12,763 But... 737 00:57:14,890 --> 00:57:16,975 it did get me to thinking. 738 00:57:19,019 --> 00:57:23,231 See, I started in this business because this is what I wanted to do. 739 00:57:23,523 --> 00:57:27,819 I knew I wasn't gonna write the great American novel. 740 00:57:28,070 --> 00:57:31,698 But I also knew there was more to life than buying something for $1 741 00:57:31,782 --> 00:57:33,909 and selling it for $2. 742 00:57:34,368 --> 00:57:36,203 I'd hoped to create something, 743 00:57:36,286 --> 00:57:40,832 something which could be held to the highest standards. 744 00:57:40,916 --> 00:57:43,210 And what I realized was I... 745 00:57:44,878 --> 00:57:47,631 I wanted to give the news to the world. 746 00:57:48,423 --> 00:57:51,218 And I wanted to give it unvarnished. 747 00:57:52,928 --> 00:57:57,140 The more we all know about each other, the greater the chance we will survive. 748 00:57:57,224 --> 00:58:00,936 Sure, I want to make a profit. You can't exist without one, but, 749 00:58:02,354 --> 00:58:05,232 John Bontecou is all profit. 750 00:58:06,274 --> 00:58:10,320 If we give him license to absorb Parrish Communications 751 00:58:10,404 --> 00:58:13,323 and he has his eye on a few others after us, 752 00:58:13,407 --> 00:58:18,704 in order to reach the world, you will have to go through John Bontecou. 753 00:58:18,912 --> 00:58:20,956 And not only will you have to pay him to do this, 754 00:58:21,039 --> 00:58:24,292 far more important, you'll have to agree with him. 755 00:58:26,253 --> 00:58:30,215 Reporting the news is a privilege and a responsibility. 756 00:58:30,298 --> 00:58:32,467 And it is not exploitable. 757 00:58:33,635 --> 00:58:36,555 Parrish Communications has earned this privilege. 758 00:58:36,972 --> 00:58:38,557 John Bontecou wants to buy it. 759 00:58:41,810 --> 00:58:46,481 As your chairman, I urge you to agree. 760 00:58:47,274 --> 00:58:50,402 This company is not for sale. 761 00:58:56,491 --> 00:58:58,952 It sounds like you're not leaving much room for discussion. 762 00:58:59,036 --> 00:59:00,162 - Thank you. - You're welcome. 763 00:59:00,245 --> 00:59:03,165 I know. I'm sorry, I... Looks like I'm reversing my field. 764 00:59:03,248 --> 00:59:05,333 That's your privilege, Bill. 765 00:59:05,417 --> 00:59:08,128 But given our needs, given the absolute necessity for growth, 766 00:59:08,211 --> 00:59:09,337 given the future, the truth is, 767 00:59:09,421 --> 00:59:12,591 joining John Bontecou is every bit as certain as death and taxes. 768 00:59:13,675 --> 00:59:16,011 - Death and taxes? - Yes. 769 00:59:16,428 --> 00:59:19,181 - Death and taxes? - Yes. 770 00:59:20,140 --> 00:59:22,517 - What an odd pairing. - It's just a saying, Mr. Black. 771 00:59:22,601 --> 00:59:25,020 - Hmm. By whom? - Doesn't matter. 772 00:59:25,103 --> 00:59:27,355 Then why did you bring it up? 773 00:59:27,481 --> 00:59:28,565 (SIGHS) ...