Todd Meets With Arthur Vandenburg, then Clashes With Kevin and Joey
Kevin and Joey enter the country club dining room, joking with each other about their recent game of tennis. But their joking abruptly stops when Kevin sees Todd having a drink at a nearby table with Arthur Vandenburg.
Joey: What? (he sees Todd, too) Oh. Todd.
Kevin: Yeah, our newest member. Check out the suit.
Joey: Probably wears a new one every day with the price tag showing so as to impress people.
Kevin: It's really kind of sad, you know? He thinks just because he inherited millions he can buy anything he wants, including respect.
Todd, of course, is unaware of Kevin and Joey's complaints, as he is too busy listening to Arthur Vandenburg, who is giving him information on Victor Lord's newspaper dealings.
Todd: So, let me get this straight -- Victor Lord would buy up competing newspapers just so he could shut 'em down?
Arthur: After he'd extracted the best features or columnists and use them to build up The Banner.
Todd: What a vampire.
Arthur: Well, let's say he made sure he got whatever he wanted.
Todd: Including you.
Arthur: Actually, yes. (chuckling) I was a young reporter working on The Daily Gazette when he bought it and dismantled it and he moved several of us over to The Banner. I continued working for him for many years -- enjoyable years, I might add.
Todd: Good. Because I want you to come work for me.
Arthur gives Todd a surprised look.
--end scene--
Arthur: Goodness me, Todd, you -- you want me to work for you?
Todd: You got it.
Arthur: Well, I'm -- I'm very touched, thank you, but there is something perhaps you don't realize. I -- I do have, um, a fine position with a firm in New York.
Todd: You're a publisher, right? Got people working for you?
Arthur: Yes.
Todd: Well, why don't you put one of them in charge, and you can still come here and work for me.
Arthur: Well, I -- I thank you for your vote of confidence, but I'm afraid I can't do that. I'd -- I'd be very happy to continue advising you about your literary holdings -- that is what I was doing for your --
Todd: I don't want that kind of advice. I know what I want to keep, and I know what I want to sell.
Todd, clearly a little irritated that Arthur has turned him down, sees an opportunity to shock him.
Todd: By the way, I'm selling Independent Woman.
Arthur: What?? No, that's -- that's an extremely lucrative magazine. Don't sell that.
Todd: I'm gonna sell it. I need the cash.
Arthur: But, you see, Independent Woman is a steady source of income -- it practically runs itself.
Todd: I don't want a business that runs itself. I'm gonna run The Intruder, and I need some cash to turn it around.
Arthur: (in disbelief) You're -- you're actually planning to run the paper yourself?
Todd: Yeah, why not? I'm gonna make it into something. I mean, there's no reason why The Banner should be the only newspaper anybody respects in this part of Pennsylvania, is there?
Arthur: No, I suppose not.
Todd: Oh, and don't worry -- I'm not going to keep with that same kind of trash that Dorian had. I'm talking about quality here. And I hope you'll work for me.
Arthur: You -- you hardly know me or -- or my work.
Todd: Yeah. I know that Victor thought you were good. I mean, that's why he hired you in the first place -- that's why he made you the executor of the trust, and...I think you still miss the newspaper business. I saw it in your eyes when you were just talking about it. So, what do you say? Wanna come turn a paper around?
Arthur: Well, I'm -- I'm very flattered, but, uh --
Arthur actually seems to be considering it for a moment, but it's a very, very brief moment.
Arthur: Oh, no, no, no, it's out of the question.
Todd: (darkly) You're saying no to me?
Arthur: I'm afraid so. Look, I'd strongly advise you not to sell Independent Woman --
Arthur rises to his feet in preparation to leave.
Arthur: And, um, I'd also advise you to rethink any idea of becoming a publisher. Without any experience, I'm afraid you'd fail, and rather quickly, too. Now, I'm sorry, I have to run -- I'm, uh, I'm late for another appointment. Good luck.
Todd makes no response as Arthur hastily leaves the dining room.
Meanwhile, over at the bar, Kevin is glaring in Todd's direction, much to Joey's annoyance.
Joey: Come on -- quit staring at Todd Manning. Don't let him get to you. He's a jerk.
Kevin: Yeah, except now he's rich. So he's a dangerous jerk.
Joey: Look, come on, let's go back to Llanfair, get those books, and go to the library. (to the bartender) Thank you very much.
Joey and Kevin are about to leave when Todd walks up to the bar to pay for his and Arthur's drinks.
Todd: Well, if it isn't the cub reporter, Kevin Buchanan.
Kevin: Todd.
Todd: Hey, I guess you've heard from your old man by now that I'm not selling your family The Intruder.
Kevin: Yeah, I heard. Why not?
Todd: Well, because I'm going to turn it around. So I guess you boys over at The Banner better look out.
Kevin and Joey laugh.
Kevin: For what? What, are you going to make The Intruder a competitor?
Todd: You got it.
Kevin: Todd, it's a supermarket rag.
Joey: Man, you have got a screw loose, Manning.
Todd: Sure, go ahead, laugh. I mean, you and your family may be on top of things now, but you're forgetting something.
Kevin: Oh yeah? What is that?
Todd: Victor Lord doesn't run The Banner anymore.
Kevin: So?
Todd: So when the going gets tough, you might just find out what Victor Lord's bastard son is capable of.
Kevin: What -- what is this? What are you -- Victor Lord returned to Earth or something?
Todd: Well, we'll see, won't we?
Todd saunters off, leaving Kevin and Joey looking befuddled.
--end transcript--
Joey: What? (he sees Todd, too) Oh. Todd.
Kevin: Yeah, our newest member. Check out the suit.
Joey: Probably wears a new one every day with the price tag showing so as to impress people.
Kevin: It's really kind of sad, you know? He thinks just because he inherited millions he can buy anything he wants, including respect.
Todd, of course, is unaware of Kevin and Joey's complaints, as he is too busy listening to Arthur Vandenburg, who is giving him information on Victor Lord's newspaper dealings.
Todd: So, let me get this straight -- Victor Lord would buy up competing newspapers just so he could shut 'em down?
Arthur: After he'd extracted the best features or columnists and use them to build up The Banner.
Todd: What a vampire.
Arthur: Well, let's say he made sure he got whatever he wanted.
Todd: Including you.
Arthur: Actually, yes. (chuckling) I was a young reporter working on The Daily Gazette when he bought it and dismantled it and he moved several of us over to The Banner. I continued working for him for many years -- enjoyable years, I might add.
Todd: Good. Because I want you to come work for me.
Arthur gives Todd a surprised look.
--end scene--
Arthur: Goodness me, Todd, you -- you want me to work for you?
Todd: You got it.
Arthur: Well, I'm -- I'm very touched, thank you, but there is something perhaps you don't realize. I -- I do have, um, a fine position with a firm in New York.
Todd: You're a publisher, right? Got people working for you?
Arthur: Yes.
Todd: Well, why don't you put one of them in charge, and you can still come here and work for me.
Arthur: Well, I -- I thank you for your vote of confidence, but I'm afraid I can't do that. I'd -- I'd be very happy to continue advising you about your literary holdings -- that is what I was doing for your --
Todd: I don't want that kind of advice. I know what I want to keep, and I know what I want to sell.
Todd, clearly a little irritated that Arthur has turned him down, sees an opportunity to shock him.
Todd: By the way, I'm selling Independent Woman.
Arthur: What?? No, that's -- that's an extremely lucrative magazine. Don't sell that.
Todd: I'm gonna sell it. I need the cash.
Arthur: But, you see, Independent Woman is a steady source of income -- it practically runs itself.
Todd: I don't want a business that runs itself. I'm gonna run The Intruder, and I need some cash to turn it around.
Arthur: (in disbelief) You're -- you're actually planning to run the paper yourself?
Todd: Yeah, why not? I'm gonna make it into something. I mean, there's no reason why The Banner should be the only newspaper anybody respects in this part of Pennsylvania, is there?
Arthur: No, I suppose not.
Todd: Oh, and don't worry -- I'm not going to keep with that same kind of trash that Dorian had. I'm talking about quality here. And I hope you'll work for me.
Arthur: You -- you hardly know me or -- or my work.
Todd: Yeah. I know that Victor thought you were good. I mean, that's why he hired you in the first place -- that's why he made you the executor of the trust, and...I think you still miss the newspaper business. I saw it in your eyes when you were just talking about it. So, what do you say? Wanna come turn a paper around?
Arthur: Well, I'm -- I'm very flattered, but, uh --
Arthur actually seems to be considering it for a moment, but it's a very, very brief moment.
Arthur: Oh, no, no, no, it's out of the question.
Todd: (darkly) You're saying no to me?
Arthur: I'm afraid so. Look, I'd strongly advise you not to sell Independent Woman --
Arthur rises to his feet in preparation to leave.
Arthur: And, um, I'd also advise you to rethink any idea of becoming a publisher. Without any experience, I'm afraid you'd fail, and rather quickly, too. Now, I'm sorry, I have to run -- I'm, uh, I'm late for another appointment. Good luck.
Todd makes no response as Arthur hastily leaves the dining room.
Meanwhile, over at the bar, Kevin is glaring in Todd's direction, much to Joey's annoyance.
Joey: Come on -- quit staring at Todd Manning. Don't let him get to you. He's a jerk.
Kevin: Yeah, except now he's rich. So he's a dangerous jerk.
Joey: Look, come on, let's go back to Llanfair, get those books, and go to the library. (to the bartender) Thank you very much.
Joey and Kevin are about to leave when Todd walks up to the bar to pay for his and Arthur's drinks.
Todd: Well, if it isn't the cub reporter, Kevin Buchanan.
Kevin: Todd.
Todd: Hey, I guess you've heard from your old man by now that I'm not selling your family The Intruder.
Kevin: Yeah, I heard. Why not?
Todd: Well, because I'm going to turn it around. So I guess you boys over at The Banner better look out.
Kevin and Joey laugh.
Kevin: For what? What, are you going to make The Intruder a competitor?
Todd: You got it.
Kevin: Todd, it's a supermarket rag.
Joey: Man, you have got a screw loose, Manning.
Todd: Sure, go ahead, laugh. I mean, you and your family may be on top of things now, but you're forgetting something.
Kevin: Oh yeah? What is that?
Todd: Victor Lord doesn't run The Banner anymore.
Kevin: So?
Todd: So when the going gets tough, you might just find out what Victor Lord's bastard son is capable of.
Kevin: What -- what is this? What are you -- Victor Lord returned to Earth or something?
Todd: Well, we'll see, won't we?
Todd saunters off, leaving Kevin and Joey looking befuddled.
--end transcript--