"My friend, governor Mac Cullen is going back to Springfield again.." "You know what I see when I look at you, Mac?" "A piece of shit." "And a man whose moral turpitude." "Taints the office he has sworn to uphold." "The mayor has decided to double down." "On the state treasurer for governor." "I don't think it's a good idea." "Oh, me neither." "Your guys at O'Hare sitting on their asses all day?" "What's going on that we're not supposed to see?" "It's this guy from "the Chicago sentinel"... miller." "His questions are getting more pertinent." "Woman:" "I've got results from the water sample you sent over." "My husband has told me great things about you." "Mrs. Kane, I really can't discuss anything about your husband." "I'm here to discuss your relocation." "Woman:" "Dr. Harris no longer works at this hospital." "Lewy body, there's no cure." "I have it." "I'm sorry, dad." "It's too late." "♪ Satan, your kingdom must come down ♪" "♪ Satan, your kingdom must come down ♪" "♪ I heard the voice of Jesus Christ ♪" "♪ Satan, your kingdom must come down. ♪" "Woman:" "You know, I think I'm going to vote." "Get registered and just do it... vote." "It's silly." "It's just a primary." "And I know things never change." "It's just..." "He speaks to me, you know." "The other girls at the park, you know what they call him?" "Zajac Crackerjack." "Did you hear him in Springfield yesterday?" "What he said about the blame game," "No winners, only losers?" "He's not scared." "He's decent and he's not scared." "I'm thinking yellow." "There's no need to rip into the old man's drawers." "A suit is one thing." "You can't wear." "The same tie two days in a row..." " It's bad luck." " I have a stash at the office..." "Definitely yellow." "It's your color, mr." "Mayor." "Mmm." " I can make you an omelet." " No thanks." "I'm running late as it is anyway." "What's this?" "Something from his files." "He likes it when I read him things from his days in office." "I heard on a talk show that reinforced memory of minutia." "Is good for the brain." "And seeing." "That those were the happiest days of his life..." "I don't know," "I think he likes it." "See you tonight?" "I think it's better if you don't ask me that, okay?" " Kitty:" "Zajac." " I'm listening." "He made the splash we were hoping for in Springfield." "Played the state treasurer card to thrash Cullen on fiscal sobriety." " Yep." " He's headed to farm country..." "Photo op at a diner in Danville." " And?" " It could be hostile territory." "It's government-corporate- nexus farming issues." "He's really not up on it." "There's no telling some locals won't try." "To turn the photo op into a one-way food fight." ""admin failure java select"?" "The fucking people who make this shit." "I've scheduled a conference call for you at 3:00." "To review the script with him." "You know, get desk jockey out there to call the guys at the..." "In the..." "The computer guys to help me set this thing up." "Yes sir." "Zajac... here's a better idea:" "You meet him in Danville," "Handle things there... better on the ground than on the phone," "Especially if he does get thrown to the dogs." "Sir, I think with everything happening..." "The more reason to cover things out there." "Thank you." "Kitty!" ""the blame game in politics has no winners, only losers."" " Was that yours or his?" " Mine." "It was good." "What is it?" "Cullen." "I think we made our point." "He overstepped on O'Hare;" "We embarrassed him in his run." "Had he not understood his error," "I'd be advising you to run the kid all the way." " But?" " I think the governor came to us." "And made a case." "He's on his knees." "I'd be remiss if I didn't tell you I think he's right." "Zajac isn't going anywhere." "We groom him," "Save him, play him much further down the line." " Are you afraid of Walsh?" " No." "This is about making the right play." "What if it's about fucking Cullen?" "It could be read wrong..." "Over-hitting," "Disproportionate, emotional." " By whom?" " Anyone who wants to do business with the city." "I want disproportion." "Yes sir." "That's the end of it on this one." "Yes." "Today, 10:00 A.M. Meeting with Kohler, 37th ward." "Scientia just underbid him." "On the contract to deliver student lunches to the public schools." "In his ward." "He went apeshit on the phone with me." "And then begged for a sitdown." "Before the contract takes effect Tomorrow." "I know this is a sensitive one, Tom," "With Scientia and all that." "But my guys and my trucks." "Have been making good on this contract." "Longer than I've ran things in the 37th." "And..." "Can I speak freely?" "Fuck some berkeley-based johnny-come-lately." "Who think they can roll into town and run guys like you and me out." "Or this time Tomorrow" "I'm gonna have some very upset drivers on my hand." "What do I tell them mayor Kane said?" "He's gonna chop his wife up into little pieces." "And feed her to the cocksuckers at Scientia." "Admin failure java select..." "Huh?" " Give me a moment." " Sure, Tom." "What's done is done, Frank." "I gave this one to Meredith." "Thank you, mr." "Mayor." "Cuantos dias el problema... uh..." " Cinco?" " Woman:" "Emma, there's someone here to see you." " Tell her I'm busy." " I can't." "Meredith:" "I know I've shut you out." "I've wondered many times." "If part of you could understand why." "Part of me?" " Why are you here, mom?" " Your father." "Yeah?" "Please, Emma." "I know he's been to see you." "Why does he want to speak to you?" "I'm sorry." "I can't help you." "He's been to a neurologist." "There are certain things I need to know." "I feel I have a right to know." "You're right." "You do have a right." "But not with me." "We pretty much forfeited all of those, didn't we?" " This is serious." " Everything is serious." "I'm sorry, if you want to know these things, why don't you ask him?" "Think it through." "Think how things will be if you allow our difficulties to get in the way." "Forget who I am." "Just look at me." "I'm asking you to look at me." "As just a person." "Can you do that?" "Here's what I know:" "I am not involved." "I need this to be clear." "I need it to be established..." "I am not involved." "Please, Emma." "I'm sorry, no." "When did cody first show signs of illness?" "He was born a little ox, but then at around six." "He started complaining about this and that." "I just thought he was trying to get out of school." "You know how kids are." "But then it kicked in:" "Headache, nausea, blood in his pee." "Long story short, he was sick all right." "A C.T. Scan showed abnormal protein deposits." "And atypical stromal cells in the damaged areas." "Blood test and biopsy found a high red cell count, almost seven million per microliter," "And traces of T.C.E. In his liver and kidneys." " T.C.E., that's trichloral..." " Trichloroethylene, yeah." "Don't know where the exposure came from, whether it was ingested or inhaled." "Anyway, after battling with my insurance," "They went in, removed the tumors, ran the tests." "And came back with renal cell carcinoma." "Kidney cancer." " Well, you know what you're talking about." " I'm his mother." "Of course." "You look more like a doctor yourself than a journalist, come to think of it." "My mother would love to hear that." "Always room to count blessings though." "A few operations, round of chemo, now my kid's making a comeback." "Family down the street, their kid was born the way he is." "At least Cody's got a fighting chance of a normal life," " Even if he's only got one kidney now." " Uh, family down the street?" "The Hales?" "Number 64." "Cody Newell, 11," "Kidney cancer as well as extensive damage to the liver," "Possible source in tri... trichloroethylene." "Sorry." "Check E.P.A. contaminant levels for trichloroethylene." "In the late '80s and early '90s;" "Monitoring reports for any identified plumes of toxic groundwater;" "Cross-reference the incidences of illness with home filtration units..." "Or more likely the lack thereof;" "Run the data for cancer clusters in Bensenville and Dupage county." "Where the fuck is Bentley and why hasn't he gotten back to me?" " He's stuck on a call." " Kane:" "Undoubtedly the people of Chicago, myself included," "Have had their fill of news, good or bad, about the O'Hare expansion site." "You might want to come see this." "And though I'm loath to admit it," "Sometimes it falls on the shoulders of those in office..." "No." "You gotta be fucking kidding me." "To admit the errors..." "Or worse..." "Of those long out of office." "For recent findings have shown." "That, though buried well below ground." "And at appropriate depths," "The area in question was used by the previous administration." "For the disposal of toxic waste." " Turn it up!" "Please." " There will be time for questions." "But now is the time to assure the people." "Of the greater and great Chicago area." "That my administration has diligently been working for weeks." "To ensure the safe removal and relocation of the waste." "Well outside of Illinois." "I am sure that mayor Rutledge would like to express his regrets." "If he had the capacity to do so." "But rather than look to our recent past," "Let us look all the way back." "To the founding motto of this great city:" "Urbs in Horto," ""city in a garden."" "Green it began," "Green it remains with over 570 city parks." "And 33 miles of pristine beaches," "And green it will continue to be in the future." " Thank you." " What was that?" "Where the fuck is Bentley?" " Uh, let me call you back." " Tell me you had nothing to do with that." " What?" " That!" "Just calm down, all right?" "How does that slithering piece of shit beat me to the punch, Jack?" "He just stole Tomorrow's headline out from under us just like that?" ""Tomorrow," "Tomorrow," "Tomorrow."" "How many times did you extend your deadline already?" "I told you how deep the muck is on this." "I'm not writing a fucking book review." "Sometimes I wish you would." "My fucking bad, for thinking that you might be the one." "To break an honored tradition around here." "Of jerking off the mayor's office from its back fucking pocket," "You were found trespassing on the site." "Don't lay this all on me." "Doing my job!" "What, what do you want me to say?" "What, did you call him or did he call you?" "Yeah, what's the difference?" ""for excellence in journalism."" "It's heavy." "Give me a second, fellas." "Hi, I wasn't sure I'd ever see you again after last week." "How long do you have?" "They don't know." "A while." "I hope a long while." " Are you in pain?" " No, not yet." "Well, I came to say that if you really want to make this work," "We should try." "I do." "There have to be some ground rules." " Yes." " No unannounced visits." "Okay." "But what would you call this then?" "Listen, you come by unannounced whenever you want." "And cell phone only." "I don't really want you calling the clinic." "Okay, me too." "We could try email." "I have a blackberry and a laptop." "Somebody's got to protect us come cyberwar with China." "Mom came to see me and she knows something's up." " Did you..." " No, don't worry." "Listen, I'm..." "I'm sorry." "If I put you in-between us like that." "Well, once upon a time that was all I was there for." "I have to go." "Can I give you a ride?" "No thanks, dad." "Goodbye." "Bye." " Ezra Stone." "Ezra Stone?" " Ezra Stone." " Man:" "Hey, enough with the fucking Ezra Stone." "How about you're a stone?" "As in "good as dead in gen pop if you don't start talking."" "You've been busted, shithead." "Game over." "We got you." "Ezra Stone." "Fucking douchebag has me googling "Ezra Stone."" "Hey." "Welcome." "I didn't think you'd make it out here on such short notice." "Neither did I." "We can use the hotel conference room if you'd like." "No, this is good." "Number six:" "Genetically-modified seeds." "And the impact on family farming." "Oh, don't get me started." " You don't want to touch this subject with a 10-foot pole." " Among other subjects?" "Number seven:" "The subsidies problem." "Typically the wealthiest 10% of recipients in the program." "Receive upwards of 75% of all farm subsidies," "With an average total payment of roughly $450,000 per recipient." "Over the last 15 years; the bottom 80%, roughly nine grand per recipient." "Hence the plight of the family farm in places like Danville." "Hence a photo op instead of a speech." "I know the script, push come to shove." " Number eight." " You know," "I've run for state office before." "We're on a different scale here." "What is with you?" "You aren't in this race but for the grace of the mayor." "Treasurer is one thing, governor's another." "So if he's concerned about how you fare." "In hostile territory on subjects that aren't your strong suit," "You will oblige him, do the work and prove his concerns unfounded." "Sure." "Let's work at answering without answering, shall we?" "Number nine..." "This is our contract, mr." "Kohler..." "Scientia's." "It wasn't a challenge to see who could get here first." "And Frankly, the fact that I've had to come down here in person." "To remind you how the free market works is a bit ridiculous." " We won it, period." " Shove it up your ass!" "All that contract's worth is shit." "With the mayor's promise that the delivery route is mine." " Has been for years." " Student:" "Fight fight!" "A cracker and a white!" "Kick him in the nuts!" "The mayor is not involved in matters pertaining to Scientia." "He's involved in everything." "Pertaining to everything." "Let's call him." "Right now." "No, thanks." "Asshole." "There has to be a misunderstanding." "Bosovic:" "I recall a pretty strong talking-to." "You gave me not so long ago about your concern with appearances." "What do you think this scene looks like right about now?" "Listen to me." "You keep things calm over there." " I'll have this straightened out immediately." " I certainly hope so." "Interdependence, mrs." "Kane, yes?" "The usual cronyism cannot interfere with our mutual goals." " Keep your phone close." " It always is." "I can't remember the last time governor Cullen came through Danville." " Well, that just isn't right, is it?" " No." " It's his loss though." " Now or in November?" " both." " Yeah." "More coffee?" " Just the check, Loretta, thank you." " Okay." "Please, let me." "Man:" "No, let us." "We've been buying empty promises." "From suits like you and Cullen for years, so why stop now?" "Let us buy your breakfast." "After all, most of us in here have the food stamps to pay for it." "Thank you all for coming out, but candidate Zajac..." "" "Goes by Ben." "What's your name?" " Joe the plumber." "Food stamps in the breadbasket..." " That isn't right, is it?" " "It just isn't right, is it?"" "You got that line on reverb or something?" "No." "Then stop sounding like a robot and say something real." "I'm two weeks away from foreclosure on land." "That's been in my family for five generations..." "Because like everyone else I bought into the whole." "Genetically-modified- wonder-seed scam." "From the same corporations that have been trying." "To buy me out of business for years." "What do you got to say to that?" "What do you mean "wonder-seed scam"?" "We were promised a better way of doing things." "Instead we've all bellied up buying their patented seeds..." "The seeds they engineered so they wouldn't reproduce..." "Suicide seeds." "They've got us all hog-tied so we can't grow anything." "Without buying all new ones every year from them." "It's run most of us right into the ground." "Maybe it would help if I could see what you were talking about." "Would you take me out to your farm?" "After you tell me your name, of course." "Riley Ganz." "It's really nice to meet you, Riley." "Shall we?" "Folks, it was a pleasure." "I'll see you again." "That's not the script." "Do you know the fucking script?" "Yeah, I do." "This ain't it." " Kane:" "When?" " This morning." "The D.E.A. picked him up, Olive Park." " A routine sweep." " Did he mention my name?" "Not yet." "Just mine." "Mine soon enough." "How do you want to handle this?" " Is he indispensable?" "I need to speak to you." "You said this domain is mine and mine alone." " What domain?" " You have 1,000 other ways." "To pay your back-door favors in this office," "But screwing my client and making me." "Look like a fucking amateur in the process is not one of them." " What are you talking about?" " Frank Kohler." "You overriding the contract with Scientia." " Override it?" " Don't lie to me, Tom." "I told him there was nothing I could do." "Then why is a supposedly loyal ward boss taking matters into his own hands," "Telling Bosovic he got direct orders to do so from you?" "What?" "Please fix it." "And next time you hang my father's legacy out to dry," "I'd like a little warning beforehand." "Next time." "Nice tie." "Kohler:" "Can I speak freely?" "Fuck some berkeley-based johnny-come-lately." "Who thinks they can roll in and run guys like you and me out of town." "Admin failure java select." "Huh?" " Give me... give me a moment." " Sure, Tom." "Tom?" " The job's yours, Frank." " Thank you, mr." "Mayor." "Not long ago me an' my boys." "Were pulling in bushels by the hundreds..." "The kind of corn meant for humans, not gas tanks." "These days it's just as likely." "The kind you eat back at the diner came." "from halfway around the world." "Here's the thing, Riley." "You're a guy who grew up in a world where self-sufficiency and making a living were two sides of the same coin." "No cameras, we'll just put 'em down." "Hey, Mike, down." "Thanks." "Even 40 years ago, you were a rare breed." "These days you're a dying one." "That's not how it's supposed to be in this country." "This is not how our experiment was supposed to turn out:" "The powers that be abusing the ideals that have always been," "From day one." "That's why farmers like yourself." "Took up the cause of liberty and justice for all." "I couldn't have said it better myself." "Well, that's my job." "Now I can't promise that I can get yours back for you." "I can't." "Because there are too many forces at work." "That even as governor I can't control." "And too many folks have come through here." "Promising you all kinds of things they can't deliver." "But here is what I am going to promise you, all right?" "I will always tell you the truth," "Because you're strong enough, you're resilient enough." "And you're hard-working enough to take a good whack at it in making it on your own." "All you want from the likes of me is something that lets you." "Have an honest appraisal of your prospect in life," "Something that doesn't change," "Something that tells you exactly where you are." "Hell, that's one thing and that's the truth." "I can promise you that." "You're gonna get transferred to C.P.D., then released on a technicality," "If your luck keeps up." "well well." "Ezra Stone after all." "These guys know how to keep a secret, don't they?" "Emma." "Meredith:" "I know that to some..." "not necessarily seated here..." " Eugene." " ..." "My work with the board of education." "Might seem like a pet project." "But I assure you." "That I'm not just interested in better public schools." "It's a better city that I want," "As good as the one is that we have going at the moment." "And the more that private funding for free education can help." "Reapportion city revenues in other areas of need..." "Be it redevelopment at the ports," "Or bandwidth structuring plans," "Or corporate settlement packages..." "The more we can achieve for our students, our teachers." "And ourselves." "Compelling, as usual." "Thank you." "Speaking of common interests," "Mind if we gently turn the tables?" " By all means." " This problem at O'Hare," "The mayor's announcement about the waste," " Should we be concerned?" " I believe it's all as it seems." "Yes." "We'd be lying if we said it hadn't raised certain alarms." "Its potential to damage the status quo has had us, well," "Talking." "For instance," "There's environmental legislation on the table in the council." "It would be a shame for it to gain any bite." "I hate even saying it, but I have cell towers going up in Winnetka..." "Babe has new pollution standards at the port." "Eugene though is enjoying it all thoroughly..." "Licking his lips at the prospect of us in court for the foreseeable future." "That won't be necessary." "Tom's focus is where it's always been." " It's all under control." " Good to hear." "How is Tom?" "He's fine." "Why?" "Oh, I don't know." "I've always admired the administrators among us." "It takes a certain taste for self-immolation to keep at it for so long." "He tends to weather the storms." "He does, but the climate is different these days." "There is no doubting that." "Different or not, it's always advisable to be looking ahead, thinking of the future." " Hear hear." " As you and the mayor no doubt have been doing with this young Zajac fellow." "That would be Tom's doing." "Kudos to him." "The kid's a goddamn comet." "Just the thing that office needs." "Change on the outside, continuity on the inside, right?" "I wouldn't know." "I haven't met him yet." "Well, we'll all have that chance tomorrow night at the field." "Where you no doubt will give those Egyptian queens." "A run for their money." "What?" "the cameras." "What?" "Why didn't you want the cameras on today?" "Aren't you the one who couldn't wait to get outta there?" "Oh, at the diner." "But the way you turned it around at the farm," "That's the kind of moment that comes once in a campaign, if it comes at all." "And you fucking pray the cameras are rolling." "Maybe you forgot to debrief me beforehand." "I'm serious." "Kane, Cullen, anyone else would have shone a bright light on that moment." "Why did you go black?" "I don't know." "It felt like the right thing to do." "The name of the game is publicity and how you spin it." "For those few minutes with that guy who was losing his farm..." "It seemed like a way bigger deal." "Than any of this." "Hmm." "We should go." "We're working." "No, we're not." "We're getting dressed." " Back to Chicago?" " First thing in the morning." "Remind me when you're back next." "Not soon enough." "Are you gonna get that?" "Nope." "Do you mind?" "You have to hook the little top thing first." " Oh, okay." " Is this how you do it?" " Yeah." "Like that?" " What?" " Like this?" "Yeah, like that." "Like that." "Oh, this fucking belt." "Thanks." "I'm impressed." "With everything..." "What you're doing here, how you're doing it." " Thanks." " I mean it." "I know." "Listen, these are expensive." "Are you sure it isn't a problem?" "It isn't for me if it isn't for you." " And no one..." " No, don't worry." "Oh, there's... there's more here than we talked about." "Just put the rest of it toward the clinic." " You don't have to..." " Just think of it as an advance." "On a grant from city hall," "One I'm going to arrange for shortly, whether you like it or not." "Okay." "Hey." "I know, kid." "It is what it is." "What do you mean you won't drive me home?" "It's like six more blocks." "I told you I'm picking someone up." "Fine by me." "Pick her up, drop me off," "Then do what you gotta do." "Will you get out and get some exercise, you lazy fuck?" "All right, all right, chill." "One for the road though." "Not in here." "Man, what the fuck is up with you?" "Who are you trying to be for this girl?" "My boy buys a 40 and a blowjob on Valentine's day," "Calls it a date and then tells me how to roll?" " Man, you a trip." " Can't be two people at once, D." "Don't try to be someone you ain't." "You'll end up hating her more than you ever loved her." " Go." " All right, man." " Mission accomplished?" " Yeah, thanks for getting that." "My guy said it's some pretty powerful shit." " Who's it for?" " Um..." "A friend." "A friend I need to know about?" "No, relax." "There's nothing to worry about." "I'm just saying," "I am who I am and I do what I do." " You know?" " What are you talking about?" "I don't know." "Mike." "What, Mike?" "You want my car keys for a tip?" "Really?" "This is cause for a workday bender?" "Yellow-bellied editors," "Drunken journalists... it seems as though neither of us can escape." "The Chicago clichés at the moment." "Seltzer and lime." "So let me get this straight:" "You convince me that this story's far bigger than some unknown toxic-waste dump," "That it's sick kids in Bensenville and Dupage county." "Being poisoned by groundwater." "You extend your deadline not once, not twice, but three times." "Then Kane beats you to the punch announcing the dump, so you walk away from the bigger story about the kids," "Licking your wounded ego?" "Is that it?" "You do know how to edit a story, Jack." " I'll give you that much." " Oh please." "If the give and take between Chicago news and politics is such a problem for you, why not go." "Cover the scene up in Skokie?" "Why don't I write a story about you." "And your shit-ass ways, you fuck?" "You can't beat the system, Sam," "If you waste all your energy hating it." "Royko." "Think he stayed a thorn in Daley's side." "By quitting the paper?" "No." "He rode it out for the day when better tools." "Would come his way for a bigger, better fight." "But keep drinking." "Hello." "Yeah." "Okay." "Governor." "Please sit." "Have a seat." "Something tells me." "You take yours neat." " Neat's good." "Oh relax, son." "We're not doing anything wrong here." "What are we doing?" "I have to ask you a question, and my guess is." "Nobody in Kane's camp has thought to ask it." "I'm not sure what you mean." "What happens if you lose?" "Have you considered the consequences..." "Professional, emotional, otherwise..." "If you actually lose in the end?" "Not to me, not in the primaries." "At this rate you'll probably hand me my ass something bad come election day." "But after that it'll be you against Walsh and the generals," "And all bets are off." "What if, in the end," "You lose?" "To a woman I've beaten three times." "Always a possibility." "Not one you've properly considered, it seems." "I mean, caught up as you are in the heat of the moment," "Naturally." "But lose to Walsh..." "who cut her teeth as a page in the '68 convention while you were still in diapers..." "And then what?" "You fade from public memory, like a photogenic flash in the pan, who bit off more than he could chew." "Naw." "I beat her next time." "Losing to you didn't stop her from running again and again, did it?" "The difference is she's her own candidate with her own agenda." "Hmm, and I'm Tom Kane's puppet." "Aw, semantics don't interest me." "My point is I was his guy too once." "And look where that has gotten me today." "You think Kane is gonna treat you any better," "Not if, but when the weather turns?" "What then?" "When he won't even take your calls." "And the entire cook county machine is out." "To erase whatever future you had?" "It would be a shame." "To see someone of your caliber." "Disappear before he even turns 40." "Why are you telling me all this?" "Why not let me fall flat on my face and get my comeuppance?" "Because..." "There's a different view of the world from the one you have at the moment." "If you want to see it," "There's a certain group of people in Chicago I'd like you to meet." "Bottom's up before your staff begins to wonder where you are." "Thank you for the bourbon." "The fuck if I'm the one who has to answer." "For all that waste on judgment day." "Makes you wonder what the bigger waste is though:" "The food or the capital spent on keeping Kane happy." "Kohler:" "The thing that gets me, he was always true to his word." "You might not have liked his word, but at least you could count on the fact." "That he would carry it out, opposition be damned." " Now though..." " Is the time, Frank." " For what?" " For change." "That's what you're saying, right?" "That Kane has changed?" " Well..." " Well what?" "Then let's hold him to it, if change is in the air." "If we don't act now, we may lose the opportunity." "Of both our political lifetimes." "You talking you and me leading the charge?" "I'm talking you simply joining a groundswell already in motion." "Kane:" "Nothing like extinct species and bygone kingdoms." "To put our own affairs in proper perspective." "Though our counterparts of ancient Egypt were not above certain burial rites to ensure them immortality, which in some cases money could buy..." "Being interred with such goods for the journey as jewelry, food, combs..." "ladies, take note." "These corpses were often given." "Funerary texts with instructions to help them navigate the afterlife." "If only such instructions." "Were given to us upon entering this one." "For it is this life and this life alone." "With which we are concerned this evening," "Thanks to the Chicago children's cancer fund." "And your generous support." "As this t-rex can attest," "Nothing lives forever." "All these brave young souls ask us is that we help them live longer." "And better." "Thank you." "Ah well, that's over with." "I'm surprised the governor would show up in even the same zip code as you." "Who knows?" "Maybe he's looking for a sarcophagus." "And what's this we hear about you... oh, Meredith." " Gentlemen." " Suzannah." "Mr. Zajac, a pleasure." "Half as much as mine." "Man:" "I was just saying the word is Ben here." "Just knocked the socks off some belligerent farm folk." "On the trail this week." "Now what was that about?" "Just trying to put the heart back in the heartland." "Man #2:" "Now how terrible of a slogan is that?" " Man:" "Yeah, Lukewarm's better than terrible." " Excuse me." "The mayor's out front in 10 minutes, Frank." "You should've gassed up beforehand." "You're not out there, you're fucking fired." "Oh, mrs." "Kane." "You know when the pharaoh died, his handmaidens were buried with him." "The end of his life was the end of theirs." "Can you imagine?" "I guess that's one way to ensure allegiances." "Even past the grave..." "Lest a maid have plans to serve." "Or even woo the next leader." "God knows they probably tried though." "Then again, we've come a long way," "Haven't we?" "Yes, we have." "They don't throw parties like this in Springfield, you know." "Then one of us should do something about that." " Are they here?" "The people that you want me to meet?" "Is this your way of saying yes?" "They are." "And all of their eyes are on you." "Congrats on that." "This ended up in the mailroom somehow." " What the hell is rosebud?" " "Citizen Kane."" " Haven't seen it." " Right." "Generation y..." "As in why bother?" "I'm going to pretend that you didn't just say that." "You all right?" "You know what the problem is these days." "When the internet and cable news have turned every clown out there with a leak into deep throat?" "You don't know whether something is the lead of a lifetime or just pure chump bait." "So what is that?" " Mrs. Kane." " I thought you would have called." " Why?" "Is this a bad time for you?" "Won't that upset his stomach?" "It's for your husband, ma'am." "He's been coming over lately..." "Sometimes late, for dinner." "So I gather." "It looks like you're low on milk." "Why don't you run out and get some?" "I'm really not supposed to leave your father alone, ma'am." "We'll be fine." "He made the announcement yesterday, in case you heard it on the news." "Dragged your name through shit." "I don't blame him for it." "It was the right play to make." "It's just..." "The way he did it." "It was the one thing you could never reproach him for..." "His commitment, his steadiness." "He seems to be..." "I don't know." "I don't know what's happening to him." "You didn't deserve it..." "Everything we've done." "I'm so sorry." "I'm so sorry." "I'm so sorry."