"(loud snarling)" "So wasn't the zoo fun, kids?" "Okay, to finish off our field trip, we're going to take a very special guided tour through the botanical gardens, so let's stay in one line, keep together in a group." "(growling)" "We have a very special guided tour of the botanical gardens, so let's just see how many of the exotic birds we can spot together." "Oh, look at what beautiful orchids they have here." "(birds chirping)" "That's it-- stay together in one line..." "(horn honking)" "(Gary panting)" "(birds squawking)" "(snarling)" "(alligator roaring) (girl screaming)" "Priscilla, run!" "(screams)" "Here, here, eat that, go on, go on." "(Priscilla screams)" "Oh, my God." "(roars)" "You all right?" "Mm-hmm." "(roars)" "(theme music playing)" "CHUCK:" "What if you knew, beyond a doubt, what was going to happen tomorrow?" "What would you do?" "There's no easy answer for a guy who gets tomorrow's news today." "* *" "NEWSCASTER:" "...the girl, eight-year-old Priscilla Applegate of Highland Park, was unhurt." "Her teacher said she managed to wander from the group in spite of supervision by teachers and accompanying parents." "It was one of those parents..." "Tune in to next week's Wild Kingdom, as Gary Hobson faces..." "Irritated squirrels." "So how does it feel to be a hero?" "Well, I was, uh, just here at the right time, right place kind of, kind of thing." "How did you happen to have chicken fingers on you?" "It was lunchtime." "What were you doing at the zoo anyway?" "What do you-- I wanted to get away." "Is that all right?" "What, from the stress from hanging out in a bar?" "Hey, maybe he likes the zoo." "At least the animals don't talk back." "Here's a look at that amazing home video that was shot today at the Memorial Park Botanical Gardens, where a young girl nearly became a meal for a hungry alligator." "It's on again." "...the gator with his lunch in time to carry the girl to safety." "So how does it feel to be a hero?" "Check this kid out." "It was nothing, really." "It was just the right time, right place kind of thing." "He's good." "And guess what?" "He's from Callahan's district." "So?" "Yeah, I know him." "He took over McGinty's place for a while." "What do you think, Dutch?" "Appoint him supervisor to finish out" "Callahan's term?" "I mean, we're only talking three months here, right?" "What do we know about him?" "He looks good on TV." "That's more than I can say about Callahan." "(laughs)" "I thought you were going to appoint Declan." "No, the press is watching this closely." "Callahan's indictment caused too much of a stink." "I mean, we could live with the bribery charges, but those weekends at Lake Geneva with the judge's wife?" "Whoever takes over to finish out his term needs to be squeaky clean." "Did the zoo reimburse you for lunch?" "GARY:" "Uh, well, no, I, I..." "I think we just found Callahan's replacement." "It's very simple." "If a supervisor resigns or retires early..." "Or is, uh, removed for running off with the judge's wife." "...someone is appointed to finish his term." "Why me?" "Well, you're a hero." "The whole city saw you on TV." "Look, what, are you nuts?" "I don't know anything about politics." "CHUCK:" "What's to know?" "You kiss a few babies, you hire your friends." "Excuse me." "I didn't know beans when I was appointed, and I've been in office four terms now." "Look, we're talking three months here." "If you don't like it, you don't have to run for reelection." "CHUCK:" "Oh, come on, Gare, take it." "Why don't you take it?" "Can I?" "No." "No." "Look, guys, thank you very much, but me and politics, we don't get along too well." "Thank you." "(whispering):" "Hey, Gary, are you crazy?" "This is the best thing the newspaper's ever done for us." "GARY:" ""A seven-year-old girl was struck dead by a truck" ""late yesterday afternoon as she was crossing" ""the intersection of Emerson and Wingate Avenues." ""It was the second fatality" ""at this intersection in the past year." ""The victim, Graciela Abdogo," ""was struck down at the intersection" ""by a cement truck from the Coveleski Construction Company." "There is no stop sign or light at this intersection." (horn honking)" "I got to go." "Whoa, ho" " Ga" "He's, uh, he's just playing hard to get." "Come on, man, I'm open." "Pass the ball." "Come on, let's go." "Oh, no, my homework." "WOMAN:" "Hold hands." "Here you go." "Okay." "GIRL:" "Look out, a truck." "BOY:" "Hurry, Graciela." "Get up!" "No, Graciela!" "(horn honking)" "(horn honking)" "Oh!" "You scared me to death." "I'm okay, Mama." "Oh, thank God." "And thank you." "You saved my daughter's life." "Well, I was just, uh..." "I was lucky." "I was in the right place at the right time." "This corner is so dangerous." "You see that?" "Little Bobby Ortega got hit by a car here last year." "And he was my best friend." "We petitioned Supervisor Callahan for a light, but he didn't lift a finger." "Oh." "Well, uh, Callahan's out, so maybe the, the next supervisor'll get you a, a new light." "(sighs)" "You don't know much about local politics, do you?" "Coveleski Construction uses this street to get its cement trucks to the highway." "Time is money, right?" "Yeah, I guess so." "We'll never get that light." "(horn honking)" "MAGUIRE:" "And as supervisor," "I will abide by the codes, bylaws, and statutes of the precinct, the ward, and the city." "And as supervisor," "I will abide by the codes, the bylaws, and the statutes of the precinct, the ward, and the city." "Congratulations, and welcome to the club." "(indistinct chatter)" "Congratulations, Supervisor." "Molly Greene, Sun Times." "Mind if I ask you a few questions?" "Come on, Molly, give him a chance to get his feet wet." "Oh, Molly Greene." "Uh..." "Gary Hobson." "I know." "No, I mean, I know you know." "I-I read your column, though; it's very good." "Oh, wow, he can read." "That's an improvement over Callahan." "All right, one question." "Supervisor Hobson, what would you say is your strongest qualification for holding office?" "Oh, well..." "Other than gator monitor." "That's it." "Because, I mean, that would really qualify you for more a congressman or a senator's job, wouldn't you say?" "No, Miss Greene, I-I'll tell you why I took this job." "It's an opportunity to do some good." "Right." "Come on, I got some folks I want you to meet." "One of Maguire's boys?" "He don't know it." "Should be interesting." "Mm-hmm." "GARY:" "Okay, so all I got to do is," "I got to get that signed and then I get the ball rolling, right?" "Yeah, then it goes to the supervising council, then the engineering superintendent, and then you submit it for a traffic board hearing." "Okay, easy enough." "You must be new to this." "(horn honking)" "Peterson!" "I got a 20-man crew on the clock who are doing absolutely nothing because a certain civil engineer hasn't made his inspection yet." "I'm making an on- the-site inspection for Mr. Hobson here." "Yeah, get in the car." "You're costing me money." "You're the boss, Mr. Coveleski." "Yeah, that's right, I'm the boss." "Come on." "There." "Thank you." "Hey, aren't you going to fill out the rest of this?" "Hey, if he signed it, he signed it, all right?" "Wait a second, I need him to fill this out..." "And just who are you supposed to be, huh?" "Well, I'll tell you." "I'm Gary Hobson;" "I happen to be the new supervisor." "How do you do?" "Oh, yeah." "Stan Coveleski." "Wait." "Coveleski Construction?" "That's me, son." "If you want something built, you come see Stan." "Yeah, so these are your, uh, your cement trucks come barreling up and down through here?" "Yeah, biggest fleet in the city." "Yeah, well, lemme, lemme..." "Hey, no time to gab." "My number one rule is:" "get things done." "And son, if I'm talking to you, I'm not getting things done." "Well, your trucks that come barreling down... (truck starts)" "(tires screeching)" "MAN:" "Contractors built dwellings at the specified 70-foot allotment from the curb, but... when the precinct split in 1954, however, the new houses were not built according to the old code." "It's my feeling that the old code is actually preferable..." "Supervisor Johannsen, in light of the late hour," "I move we postpone further discussion of, uh, whatever your topic is to a subsequent meeting." "JOHANNSEN:" "But..." "HENDERSON:" "Second." "COUNCILMAN:" "Call the question." "All in favor of the chair proposal?" "ALL:" "Aye." "Move that this meeting be adjourned, please." "MAGUIRE:" "Seconded." "Call the question." "All in favor of adjournment?" "Uh, new business." "There is a motion on the floor." "GARY:" "Yes, I know, but you didn't mention anything about new business." "It's late." "Well, you see, I have cons-- uh, constituents who-- they really need a traffic light." "I thought if we could pass it real quick..." "I-I've got the on-site inspection right here." "Congratulations." "Unfortunately, that's only the tip of a very large procedural iceberg, and we don't want to hold up everyone else while I explain it." "In favor of adjournment?" "ALL:" "Aye." "Motion carries." "(gavel bangs) We stand adjourned." "W-Whoa, Parliamentary procedure says..." "This isn't Parliament, Gary, it's Chicago." "Well, yeah, I know that, but..." "Freshman supervisors don't make proposals, okay?" "It upsets the balance of things." "You with me here?" "GARY:" "Well, I'm not trying to upset anything." "Rookie mistake-- no harm, no foul." "In the future, you want to put something on the agenda, come to me first." "Well, I want a traffic light at Wingate and Emerson." "That's..." "Look, we don't hand out traffic lights like lollipops." "We've got a very limited budget for that kind of thing." "Plus, I happen to know for a fact that keeping those particular streets open is very important to the welfare of the city." "You mean Coveleski Construction." "Stan Coveleski's an outstanding citizen of Chicago and a highly valued supporter of this party, which-- let me remind you, Supervisor Hobson-- has put you into political office." "You want to make a difference?" "Learn the game, kid." "Keep your eyes open and your mouth shut." "You with me here?" "Good, good." "And relax, will you?" "You're part of the team now." "You're going to be taken care of." "Why didn't you bring up the Hamilton Place project?" "Not the right time." "Not yet." "Yeah, well, it better be soon." "I got people to put to work." "(laughs)" "MOLLY:" "You don't look too good, sport." "Maybe you should have thrown 'em some chicken fingers." "Chicken fingers get me a traffic light?" "(laughs)" "Don't write that down." "That was off the record." "Oh, you got to say that before you make a statement, kiddo." "That's the rule." "If you don't want to see it in print, it's off the record." "If it can be quoted, but not attributed, it's on background." "What?" "Oh, boy, you really did just fall off a turnip truck, didn't you?" "Okay, pay attention, sport." "You're not here to put up a traffic light." "You're here because you look good on television." "And after Callahan's ugly mug, that's enough for Maguire's outfit." "You're not supposed to do anything." "You're just supposed to look pretty and sit there and warm that chair for the next three months till the coming election." "Maguire decides what's supposed to get done around here, not you." "In this great big machine, my friend, you are but a cog." "A very little cog." "Chicago Politics 101." "(alarm beeping) (train rumbling in distance)" "(turns alarm off)" "(cat meows)" "(paper thuds against door)" "(cat purrs)" "(grumbles)" "(sighs)" "Hey, you got to see this!" "I love ya, man." "Look." "They approved my application for parking in the alley." "No more driving around 20 minutes looking for a spot." "No more banged-up fenders." "No more parking tickets." "And look, look." "GARY:" "It's a Dumpster." "An empty Dumpster." "They've doubled our trash pickup." "You are the man!" "I'm telling you, Gare, it keeps rolling in." "What does?" "Only a variance allowing us to run the new exhaust fan through the wall, instead of up through the roof." "You know how much money that saves us, Gare?" "I think I finally have the answer." "What was the question?" "As to why you get the newspaper every day." "Yeah, it suddenly became so clear to me." "You get it so that you could go into politics, so that you could help more people at once." "I haven't helped anybody yet." "Sure, you have." "You helped me." "You helped us." "And that's-that's only the beginning, Gare." "It's not out of the question that once Daley decides to hang it up, with my managerial skills, you could be the city's next mayor." "And then, you could even go someplace higher." "Look, according to this, I'm in over my head already." "Says who?" "Says who?" "I'll show you says who." "There." "Says Molly Greene." "CHUCK: "Gator boy lost in swamp."" "GARY:" "Yeah." "Well, at least she got your name right." "Thanks, Chuck." "Publicity, Gare-- that's the name of the game." "Yeah." "Look..." "Let me tell you something." "It doesn't matter what she says about you, as long as people know who you are." "(loud, overlapping chatter)" "(chatter and phones ringing)" "MOLLY:" "What's the alderman's position?" "Look, you tell him he's got 24 hours to call me, or I go to print with what I've got." "What can I do for you, Supervisor Hobson?" "It's Gary, and I want to talk to you about the article you're writing about me, off the record." "Who says I'm writing an article about you?" "Okay, let's say I am." "You know, you have a good time making fun of people, don't you?" "What makes you think I'd make fun of you?" "Oh, I have a feeling that's what you like to do." "Oh, look, you guys just run the circus, I review the acts." "Oh, yeah." "Well, maybe you've been reviewing it a little too long, lady." "Look, all I'm trying to do is help some people here, that's it." "How sweet." "Why have you got it in for me?" "Because you're in Maguire's pocket." "What are you talking about?" "I'm not in anybody's pocket." "Oh, no?" "How's that bar of yours doing lately?" "Got any problems with health inspectors?" "Any trouble getting your trash picked up?" "No?" "I didn't think so." "Now, wait a second." "I didn't ask for any of that..." "Look, all I want is a stoplight, that's it." "In-In three months, I resign." "Please, don't go getting self-righteous on me, sport." "It spoils your boyish charm." "Besides, Maguire won't let you resign." "You're too media-friendly." "GARY:" "Now, last week a girl stumbled upon an escaped alligator here, and she was almost killed." "But the fact is, she was probably safer here than she would have been crossing a street in the city, especially when the street has no stoplight, and especially when there's a 40-ton truck flying at her." "What is with this guy and his traffic light?" "(Gary speaking on TV) Doesn't he get it?" "Maybe he's just dense." "We're taking care of his bar, right?" "The whole nine yards." "Why did that happen?" "Dutch, you see this kid?" "What am..." "What am I gonna do with this kid?" "The dog is hungry." "Throw him a bone." "Throw him a bone?" "What do you mean, give him the light?" "Sure." "(chuckling)" "Why not?" "Just make sure it's attached to something." "Like Coveleski's project?" "You're the supervisor." "I'm just here for the entertainment." "GARY:" "I think everyone would agree that you can't put a price on life, but I'd say it's at least worth the price of a stoplight." "GARY:" "You see, it's just that I feel a little uncomfortable with these favors." "I-I..." "It's expected, Gary." "You want to use power?" "You got to show people you have power." "Well, yeah." "I've been giving it a lot of thought, and I'm gonna put your traffic light on the agenda for the next meeting." "Top priority." "You are?" "All it needs is a simple majority to pass." "Just like that?" "Just like that." "Well... good." "Good." "Thank you, Mr. Maguire." "I appreciate that." "I think..." "Now, the first item on the agenda will be the new city office building contract." "We're gonna award that to Stan Coveleski." "So you go ahead and vote for that, and then we'll get you your light." "The, uh... the new city office building?" "Which would be Hamilton Place." "(laughs) I know what you've heard." "It's gonna tear the heart out of the old Greek neighborhood down there." "(scoffs) Baloney." "Yeah, well..." "Hamilton Place only takes up a half a block of Greek Town." "Look, they're gonna get a nice buyout." "The rest of the neighborhood gets the benefit of a major new revenue producer." "Well..." "I know better than to push you for a commitment right now." "Think about it." "Take your time." "But I tell you, when you look at it, it's a win-win." "Yeah." "MAN:" "Did you get it?" "(Gary sighs)" "MAN #2:" "Not yet." "Would you quit pacing?" "It'll all work out." "Look, these impact statements-- they build this city office building at Hamilton Place, they're gonna destroy one of the oldest neighborhoods in Chicago." "And it'll bring more commuters from the suburbs, and then you get your traffic light." "Quid pro quo." "One hand washes the other." "You scratch my back..." "Yeah, yeah, I got it." "I got it." "So vote for it." "You're so negative lately." "Why can't you see the glass is half full, like me, huh?" "(indistinct shouting)" "(vehicle approaches)" "* *" "MAGUIRE:" "Yes?" "Mr. Maguire, it's Gary Hobson." "What's up?" "I, uh..." "I've thought about it." "You got a deal." "That's great." "Get some sleep, kid." "(sighs)" "(cat meowing)" "(cat purring)" ""Hobson makes his choice." ""Supervisor Gary Hobson, who fell off a turnip truck" ""into the local political machine," ""was the deciding vote last night" ""in the acquisition of a choice slab of political pork." "(cat purring)" ""...new city office complex, which would displace one of the city's great neighborhoods..."" "(indistinct chatter)" ""Residents will be reimbursed, but this isn't about money," ""it's about a way of life." ""It's about community." ""When Hamilton Place is gone," ""or any of the neighborhoods like it are bought out, redevelop or simply disappear..."" ""...then part of this city's soul disappears as well."" "(cat meows)" "(indistinct chatter)" "(entrance bell chimes)" "I got it." "What are you doing?" "Oh, excuse me." "Sorry." "Excuse me." "Thank you." "Nice to meet you." "MAGUIRE:" "Call the question." "The vote is on the Hamilton Place buyout package and redevelopment by Coveleski Construction." "All in favor?" "Motion pa... (Maguire clears throat)" "Let the record show five votes for the motion." "All opposed?" "Five votes opposed." "There is no majority vote." "Motion is defeated." "Well, I see nothing else on the agenda." "Move to adjourn." "Now, wait a minute." "What about the stoplight?" "MAGUIRE:" "Call the question." "In favor?" "Aye." "Aye." "Aye." "Aye." "MAGUIRE:" "We are adjourned." "(gavel bangs)" "Hey!" "That's a hell of a way to start your political career-- cut off the hand that feeds you." "I don't want a political career." "All I want is a stoplight." "Yeah, well, now you got neither, right?" "Hey, listen, you've got to start listening to what I'm telling you." "Give us a minute, will you?" "Sure." "What the hell was that, Hobson?" "We had a deal." "Well, I, I changed my mind." "I don't know what your game is." "Either you're very clever or just plain stupid." "I don't care." "You've got one more chance." "Either you vote for that new office building, or you're going to find the world of politics can be a very lonely place." "GARY:" "I'm not quite sure I understand." "It says right here you could have gotten the light if you'd voted for the Hamilton Place project." "Well, probably, but you see..." "But what?" "How many more kids have to die before we get our light?" "Now, wait, I'm going to get the stoplight." "It's just..." "What are you doing?" "Holding out for a better deal?" "No, I'm not holding out." "COVELESKI:" "Hobson?" "I thought you were different, but you're not." "You got any idea how many people and plans you screwed up yesterday?" "Huh?" "What's the problem?" "You were going to get your stoplight." "Not enough in it for you?" "Wait a second" " I'm not going to vote for anything unless I have a reason to vote for it." "Right." "Reasons." "(envelope thuds)" "With more to follow after the next vote." "Nice talking to you, kid." "(indistinct chatter)" "What's that?" "That's a returned favor." "You know, I'll tell you something." "I took this job to get some people a stoplight." "And any way I got to do it," "I'm going to get that stoplight." "Mr. Hobson just became a liability." "You with me here?" "(elevator bell dings)" "Miss Greene, I need to talk to you." "I'm in a hurry." "Yeah, listen, I've talked to Maguire." "I've burned all the bridges with him and..." "Good for you." "I'm late for an interview." "Look, I want you to know I'm going to get that stoplight, regardless of what the papers say." "Yeah, maybe you shouldn't believe everything you read." "Listen, I need to talk to the supervisors that aren't part of Maguire's machine, but I don't know what their agendas are, and I..." "Look, I don't know how to get in touch with them." "You asking me for help?" "You know a lot more on this than I do, I..." "No, I'm a journalist, Hobson." "I call you people on your crap, I don't step in it." "No, you don't, do you?" "You just sit up in your big newspaper office and pretend you're better than everyone and everything." "You make a big joke out of all of it." "Look, all I'm trying to do is help some people, that's it." "All I want to do is to..." "Oh, what am I talking to you for?" "You don't give a damn." "Hey, Hobson?" "You want to start with Mary Richardson." "You want to get with her, you want to talk about school improvements, particularly..." "You got a pencil?" "No." "How did your mother ever let you out of the house?" "Write this down." "Talk to Richardson about reading, okay?" "That's the Head Start Program." "That's her baby, all right?" "And then, you want to talk to Woo..." "Now, wait, wait a second-- let me get that reading program." "MOLLY:" "Yeah, with a focus on preschool." "She'll be looking for help in allotting money for facilities and material..." "GARY:" "And I vote on that." "Right." "Just remember, she's on the school board, too." "It's all about education with Richardson." "GARY:" "What about Woo?" "MOLLY:" "Community policing." "That's the ticket with Woo." "He was robbed three times last year, and he wants an allocation to put more beat cops down in the neighborhoods." "GARY:" "That sounds fair." "Word to the wise:" "he's got no sense of humor, so don't make any jokes." "You'll really connect with him if you remind him you're a small businessman yourself." "GARY:" "Okay, good." "Woo is close friends with Gonzalez." "So if Woo likes you, Gonzalez is along for the ride." "Can I help you?" "Health inspector." "Health inspector?" "We just had a health inspection two weeks ago." "Oh." "Well, there have been complaints." "Complaints?" "From who?" "Uh-oh, vermin infestation." "What?" "!" "Ah, got rat droppings everywhere." "Where?" "All storage, prep and cooking areas." "You're not even looking." "You're closed, pending further inspection." "Anybody eats or drinks anything in here until I say so, you're looking at serious jail time." "Wait a minute, you just can't come in..." "Have a nice day." "Huh..." "Gary, that guy, he..." "Hey, what's with y-your parking spot?" "They're towing away your car out there." "My car?" "Yeah." "They're towing my car?" "!" "Hey!" "Give me my car back!" "Oh, man, this just gets better and better." "Here." "Health inspection?" "They're closing us down." "Shutting us down for what?" "For voting the wrong way." "You happy now?" "What do you mean, am I happy?" "Look, what do you want me to do?" "You want me to take a bribe, is that it?" "It's called compromise, Gare." "That is what this country was founded on." "What is it that Patrick Henry said?" ""You got to give a little to get a little."" "I know how I'll get us out of this." "How?" "I'll resign." "After I get the stoplight, I'll resign." "Gary, they shut us down." "You can't win." "Forget about it." "Don't ever tell me what I can't do." "He's one vote short." "Hmm..." "All he's got to do is turn one of Maguire's crew around, and he gets his traffic light." "Oh." "(laughing)" "He really got to you, didn't he?" "Who?" "Hobson?" "No, I just..." "I think he's got a good issue, that's all." "Oh, there are lots of good issues, Molly." "I've never seen you campaigning behind the scenes for them." "I'm not ca..." "Well, maybe I am." "It's, it's just I think he really is who he says he is, Dutch." "So is the Pope, Molly." "Doesn't mean he should be mayor of Chicago." "No." "But I know somebody who could have been once." "Oh, yeah?" "Yeah." "Hard-nosed idealist." "Had the respect of the, uh, old liners, the reformers..." "What's your point, Molly?" "My point is, see, this guy was on his way, but, uh, then he tripped." "Rumor was..." "took a penny ante bribe." "Never came out in public, but it was just enough, you know, for the power brokers to drive him into the back room, where he stayed, 40 years." "(chuckles)" "Let me tell you a little story, Molly." "Abraham Lincoln, when he was in Illinois politics, he was approached by a man to buy his influence." "Well, Lincoln started to throw the man down the stairs." "The man panicked, and he said," ""What's the matter with you, huh?" "I didn't offer you enough?"" "Well, Lincoln said, "That's the problem." "You were getting too close to my price."" "Now, the difference between Abe and me, Molly I didn't get my man to the staircase in time." "Now, I might know which of the boys could be persuaded to vote for Hobson's traffic light." "Yeah?" "Remember that airport scandal last year?" "There was another supervisor involved." "And I got the goods." "Well, that's a hot story." "And it'd make one hell of a story if I gave it to you." "But on the other hand, if I kept it to myself, and I called this fella and I said, "Now you vote for her boy, if you know what's good for you..."" "what then?" "And to make this an object lesson in practical politics I'm going to leave the choice to you." "(chuckles)" "We're in a lot of trouble." "We don't get more cash flow going, we're going to have to start laying people off." "We're not laying anybody off." "How are we going to pay them, Gary?" "We are broke!" "Another five days, that's it." "All right, so we take out a loan." "You know, you could help a little bit." "(pounding on door)" "We're closed!" "JOHANNSEN:" "Open up!" "I know you're in there!" "Who is that?" "I don't know." "(pounding continues)" "Uh, Gary..." "I don't know how you found out, Hobson, but I want to tell you flat out, it wasn't me." "It was my moron brother-in-law." "What?" "Drop the act." "You've got my vote." "I got your vote?" "What?" "You think I'd rather go toe-to-toe with my wife?" "Well, no, no." "I..." "I got to hand it to you." "You're better at this than I thought." "Whoa..." "What was that all about?" "I don't know, but it looks like I got a, a vote, so I got the stoplight." "Which that's good, but I-I don't know." "(faucet running) CHUCK:" "Gare?" "(door closes)" "(mumbling)" "Huh?" "(faucet running)" "Hey, cat." ""Hobson's Unlikely Coalition Wins Traffic Light Battle."" "Ah." "Hey, look, Gare." "You kind of stumbled out of the blocks with this political gig, but with my expertise, I think you're going to be okay." "You do, huh?" "Yeah." "Look, you just got to listen to me more, okay?" "Yeah, well, you know what I-- what?" "(meows)" ""Two die in gas explosion."" ""An explosion killed two construction workers" ""yesterday at a downtown condominium conversion." ""Authorities believe the accident started" ""when a welder cut through an abandoned gas main that appears to have been reconnected by transients."" "I gotta go." "Wait a minute." "You" "After all this work, you're not gonna miss your own vote, are you?" "What can I do?" "Call the construction site." "I gotta go." "Wait." "Gare, what about the stoplight?" "What about your political future?" "What about me?" "Stall 'em." "Stall 'em how?" "You're the political genius." "You figure it out." "(door shuts)" "(indistinct chattering)" "MAGUIRE:" "Next item is the Wingate-Emerson traffic light, although its sponsor," "Supervisor Hobson, is not present..." "Uh, Supervisor Hobson's been delayed." "He's on his way." "He just couldn't be here right now." "Oh." "That's too bad." "I move we vote now on the proposed traffic light." "Oh, wait a minute." "You can't." "Motion's been made." "Well, then, can I vote for him?" "He told me that I could." "Sit down and be quiet, or I will have you ejected from this chamber." "This is for approval of a traffic light..." "Where is he?" "He's, uh, putting out a fire." "MAGUIRE:" "...Wingate Avenue and Emerson Street." "Hey!" "Hey, wait!" "What are you doing here?" "You're not happy you screwed up one project?" "Listen..." "You're going for more?" "Listen, there's gonna be a..." "Get the hell out of here!" "There's gonna be an explo...!" "(groans)" "Hawkins!" "Stay back!" "Those tanks could blow!" "All right." "I gotcha." "Come on." "Get out!" "Come on!" "All right, I got your legs." "You'll be all right." "All right, grab his feet." "Go on." "(groaning)" "No, my leg's caught." "My leg's caught!" "The motion's been made and seconded." "I'm gonna have to do something." "Vote on the approval of a traffic light at the intersection of Wingate Avenue and Emerson Street." "That's not fair!" "(pounding gavel)" "I will clear this hall if there are any further interruptions." "I'm madder than hell, and I'm not gonna take it anymore!" "I've warned you." "Four score and..." "seven years ago, our forefathers founded upon this continent a new nation!" "Conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal!" "(onlookers murmuring assent) Including Chicagoans!" "(cheering and applause)" "(pounding gavel)" "MAGUIRE:" "Order!" "Order!" "Get him out of here!" "Go on!" "Go on!" "(groaning)" "The tank's gonna blow." "Go on!" "Come on, Take it easy." "Go on, get him out of here!" "Get out!" "Come on." "Come on." "(groaning)" "I'm out of order?" "!" "You're out of order!" "And you're out of order!" "You're all out of order!" "Out of order!" "Out of order!" "(chanting):" "Attica!" "Attica!" "Hey!" "(pounding gavel)" "This is an obstruction of the First Amendment!" "There is a motion on the floor." "Without further delay, call the question." "Not yet." "What?" "Table the motion for further discussion." "Once the question's been called, it's against procedure for further discussion." "Don't tell me about procedures." "I helped write the damn procedures." "As a representative of Supervisor Hobson," "I may make a final address after the question has been called." "I wrote it, in case I had to use it myself one day." "And I guess that day is finally here." "There is no such rule." "Well, prove me wrong." "And until you do, I will not give up the floor." "Get the rules of procedure." "(whispering):" "What is he doing?" "I think he just made it back to the top of the stairs." "What?" "DUTCH:" "In the meantime..." "I'd like to thank everyone for coming here today." "I see we have some families from Wingate-Emerson, where they need this light." "Maybe you could all stand up." "Hmm?" "Come on, stand up, all of you." "Introduce yourselves." "One at a time." "Don't be nervous." "And you take as long as you need." "What's your name, darling?" "Graciela." "Graciela." "How old are you, Graciela?" "GRACIELA:" "Seven." "Come on!" "(screams)" "Don't come any closer!" "The whole floor could go!" "Come on." "Grab my arm." "Come on." "Come on." "(Coveleski screams)" "Come on." "Come on." "Here we go." "(hissing)" "(screaming)" "(car alarm blaring)" "You okay?" "GARY:" "Yeah." "Hey, h-how's your leg?" "Still attached." "Aren't you supposed to be at a supervisor's council meeting?" "Yeah." "So what are you doing here?" "Huh?" "Uh..." "When I was a young man," "I went down to my precinct office, and I told them I wanted to be involved." "Well, Easy Ed Murphy, the old precinct boss, he asked me, he says, "What do you really want?"" "And I told him." "I said I wanted to make a difference." "He told me to get lost." "He said, "We don't want nobody around here who don't want nothing."" "But I'm still here." "And you know," "I think I still want the same thing." "Okay, Dutch, you've said your piece." "Hobson hasn't shown." "I think it's time for you to sit down." "Not yet." "Been too long since I stood up." "It's kind of nice." "I like it." "(chuckles)" "Maybe more of us should stand up (door opens) when we feel the need, if you get my meaning." "But on the other hand I am an old man, and I'm getting tired." "I yield the floor for the vote." "Move to postpone the vote." "Oh, you do?" "Yes." "I believe it's in the best interest of many of us present if there's no vote today." "Vote on the traffic light." "Not a good idea." "I personally would like to see the vote." "Certain parties better stop interrupting." "Now, who would that be?" "I could have you removed." "(hushed):" "You try to throw me out," "I might hold a press conference in the hall to talk about how contracts are awarded for city office buildings." "You know... things like that." "Really?" "Really." "You want to cut your own throat?" "GARY:" "Excuse me, Mr. Chairman?" "I have something to say." "Okay, I-I want to say something." "Then you can go back and do whatever you want to do." "First of all, no one here has to vote any other way than what their conscience tells them to." "Now, second of all..." "Look, I just became a politician a few days ago." "But, uh..." "Well, I've got a confession to make." "And that is, I work for a boss." "But, eh... well, it's not you." "And it's not you." "And it's not you or you or you-- it's not any of you." "This... this is my boss." "And I've got to do right by her." "We all do." "Because if we don't, we're not doing our job." "And we should recognize that." "Are you with me here?" "Approve that light," "I'll put it up free of charge." "Throw in new curbs, a new traffic island..." "Ah, hell, I'll build them a new park, so they got something to do once they cross the street." "Put that in your pipe and smoke it." "All in favor?" "Motion passed." "(cheering and applause)" "Come to or..." "Come to order!" "This meeting has not been adjourned." "(applause and whistles) Order!" "Order!" "Mr. Hobson, I believe you wanted the floor." "I do?" "Oh, yeah, I do." "I, I, I do." "I-I have some, uh..." "Well, I have some new business to present." "It's about my resignation." "And, uh..." "Well, I'm, uh..." "I'm going to resign under one condition, you see." "And that is that I get to name my replacement." "You don't get to name anything!" "Oh, why don't you just shut up?" "(applause and murmurs)" "Thank you." "Thank you." "I... well, I'd like to name someone who I think, uh... well, I think who, in different times, would have been, uh..." "Well, I nominate Dutch Van Drie." "Oh, take it, Dutch." "It's only about 40 years overdue." "What the hell." "(applause)" "Just don't let them down, huh?" "Don't you worry." "This old lion's still got a few roars left in him." "And I plan to rattle a few bones before I'm through." "MOLLY:" ""In the end, this isn't a story about a traffic light," ""or how cynicism can blind you, or how politics can make you cynical."" ""Or how somebody with nothing but good intent" ""can triumph over insurmountable odds." "Or how you're never too old for redemption."" "(indistinct chatter)" ""No, what this story is about" ""is how a city can have a soul," ""like any other living thing." ""And how that soul is kept alive" ""by the people in the neighborhoods," ""in the stores, the churches, the bars," ""the back rooms, meeting halls, and anywhere we gather together to get something done."" "And that, as they say, is all she wrote."