baxter?
i was sort of wondering what you looked like. sit down.
been hearing some very nice things about you -- here's a report from mr. dobisch -- loyal, cooperative, resourceful --
and mr. kirkeby tells me that several nights a week you work late at the office -- without overtime.
mr. vanderhof, in public relations, and mr. eichelberger, in mortgage and loan -- they'd both like to have you transferred to their departments.
tell me, baxter -- just what is it that makes you so popular?
think.
look, baxter, i'm not stupid. i know everything that goes on in this building -- in every department -- on every floor -- every day of the year.
in 1957, we had an employee here, name of fowler. he was very popular, too. turned out he was running a bookie joint right in the actuarial department tying up the switchboard, figuring the odds on our i.b.m. machines -- so the day before the kentucky derby, i called in the vice squad and we raided the thirteenth floor.
that's right, baxter.
what kind of joint are you running?
there's a certain key floating around the office -- from kirkeby to vanderhof to eichelberger to dobisch -- it's the key to a certain apartment -- and you know who that apartment belongs to?
loyal, cooperative, resourceful c. c. baxter.
are you going to deny it?
you better.
baxter, an insurance company is founded on public trust. any employee who conducts himself in a manner unbecoming -- how many charter members are there in this little club of yours?
that's not the point. four rotten apples in a barrel -- no matter how large the barrel -- you realize that if this ever leaked out --
where is your apartment?
how do you work it with the key?
yes, miss olsen.
yes, dear -- i called you earlier -- where were you? oh, you took tommy to the dentist --
where are you going, baxter?
i'm not through with you yet.
the reason i called is -- i won't be home for dinner tonight. the branch manager from kansas city is in town -- i'm taking him to the theatre music man, what else? no, don't wait up for me -- 'bye, darling. tell me something, baxter -- have you seen music man?
how would you like to go tonight?
i made other plans. you can have both tickets.
baxter, you're not reading me. i told you i have plans.
i'm not just giving those tickets, baxter -- i want to swap them.
it also says here -- that you are alert, astute, and quite imaginative --
that's good thinking, baxter. next month there's going to be a shift in personnel around here -- and as far as i'm concerned, you're executive material.
now put down the key -- -- and put down the address.
relax, baxter.
now remember, baxter -- this is going to be our little secret.
you know how people talk.
not that i have anything to hide.
here you are, baxter. have a nice time.
please, fran -- not so loud.
let me take that.
it's on the way. i see you went ahead and cut your hair.
you know i liked it better long.
how long has it been -- a month?
i missed you, fran.
it's been hell.
you don't know what it's like -- standing next to you in that elevator, day after day -- good morning, miss kubelik -- good night, mr. sheldrake -- i'm still crazy about you, fran.
i don't believe you.
i never said goodbye, fran.
how do you think i felt -- riding home on that seven-fourteen train?
i want you back, fran.
you're not giving me a chance, fran. i asked you to meet me because -- i have something to tell you.
not here, fran. can't we go some place else?
important?
bring us two more drinks.
fran -- remember that last weekend we had?
remember what we talked about?
i mean -- about my getting a divorce.
you didn't really believe me, did you?
that's enough, fran.
you're not being funny.
if you'll just listen to me for a minute --
i saw my lawyer this morning -- i wanted his advice -- about the best way to handle it --
what do you think?
of course not. you had nothing to do with it.
i'm sure. if you'll just tell me that you still love me --
fran --
it is crowding up. let's get out of here.
taxi!
i love you -- remember?
i promise.
51 west sixty-seventh.
morning, gentlemen. everything satisfactory? you like your office?
don't thank me -- thank your friends here -- they're the ones who recommended you.
i like the way you handled that. well, how does it feel to be an executive?
sure you will. say, baxter, about the apartment - now that you got a raise, don't you think we can afford a second key?
you know my secretary -- miss olsen --
no, you don't understand. she's a busybody -- always poking her nose into things -- and with that key passing back and forth -- why take chances?
to me?
oh, yes. thanks.
so it was. she threw it at me.
you know how it is -- sooner or later they all give you a bad time.
you see a girl a couple of times a week -- just for laughs -- and right away she thinks you're going to divorce your wife. i ask you -- is that fair?
yeah. you know, baxter, i envy you. bachelor -- all the dames you want -- no headaches, no complications --
put me down for thursday again.
come on, fran -- don't be like that. you just going to sit there and keep bawling? you won't talk to me, you won't tell me what's wrong -- look, i know you think i'm stalling you. but when you've been married to a woman for twelve years, you don't just sit down at the breakfast table and say "pass the sugar -- and i want a divorce." it's not that easy. anyway, this is the wrong time. the kids are home from school -- my in- laws are visiting for the holidays -- i can't bring it up now. this isn't like you, fran -- you were always such a good sport -- such fun to be with --
well, that's more like it. at least you're speaking to me.
is that what's been bothering you -- miss olsen? that's ancient history.
now, fran --
okay, okay, fran. i deserve that. but just ask yourself -- why does a man run around with a lot of girls? because he's unhappy at home -- because he's lonely, that's why -- all that was before you, fran -- i've stopped running.
it's christmas eve, fran -- let's not fight.
what is it?
oh. our friend from the chinese restaurant. thanks, fran. we better keep it here.
i have a present for you. i didn't quite know what to get you -- anyway it's a little awkward for me, shopping -- -- so here's a hundred dollars -- go out and buy yourself something.
they have some nice alligator bags at bergdorf's --
fran, it's a quarter to seven -- and i mustn't miss the train -- if we hadn't wasted all that time -- i have to get home and trim the tree --
don't ever talk like that, fran! don't make yourself out to be cheap.
stop that, fran.
coming?
don't forget to kill the lights. see you monday.
it won't always be like this. i love you, fran.
7-6-5-4-3-2-1 -- let her rip!
it's a thought.
see if they'll what?
oh -- oh!
baxter?
hello? -- yes -- what's on your mind, baxter?
you're not making sense, baxter. what's this all about?
what?
one of our employees had an accident -- i don't know why they bother me with these things on christmas day. yes, baxter -- just how serious is it?
that's impossible. you'll have to handle this situation yourself -- as a matter of fact, i'm counting on you --
miss olsen, will you come into my office, please?
lovely. you were a big help.
thank you for giving that little pep talk to miss kubelik at the office party.
but i thought you could hold your tongue.
you bet it won't. i'll arrange for you to get a month's severance pay -- that's right, miss olsen. i'm letting you go.
i'd appreciate it if you'd be out of here as soon as you can.
this is mr. sheldrake. i'd like mr. baxter's home telephone number -- that's c.c. baxter, in ordinary premium accounting --
hello, baxter? jeff sheldrake. can you talk?
good. is there anything you need -- money -- ?
oh. well, if there's anything i can do for you --
like what? put yourself in my place, baxter -- how can i help her -- my hands are tied --
fran, why did you do it? it's so childish -- and it never solves anything -- i ought to be very angry with you, scaring me like that -- but let's forget the whole thing -- pretend it never happened -- what do you say, fran? fran --
are you there, fran?
there you go again -- you know i didn't mean it that way, fran. just get well -- do what the nurse tells you -- i mean baxter -- and i'll see you as soon as i can. bye, fran.
send him in.
and i've got good news for you, baxter. all your troubles are over.
i know how worried you were about miss kubelik -- well, stop worrying -- i'm going to take her off your hands.
that's right. i've moved out of my house -- i'm going to be staying in town, at the athletic club.
well, if you must know -- i fired my secretary, my secretary got to my wife, and my wife fired me. ain't that a kick in the head?
now what was your news, baxter?
swell. and don't think i've forgotten what you did for me. this way, baxter.
sit down. try it on for size.
you like? it's all yours.
my assistant, roy thompson, has been shifted to the denver office, and you're taking his place. what's the matter, baxter? you don't seem very excited.
oh, sure, sure. but first the property settlement has to be worked out -- then it takes six weeks in reno -- meanwhile, i'm going to enjoy being a bachelor for a while. oh, by the way, you can now have lunch in the executive dining room --
that's just one of the privileges that goes with this job. you also get a nice little expense account, the use of the executive washroom -- say, what happened to you, baxter?
oh?
baxter -- would you mind stepping in her for a minute?
you're working too hard, baxter. it's new year's eve -- relax.
i suppose you'll be on the town tonight -- celebrating?
me, too. i'm taking miss kubelik out -- i finally talked her into it --
the only thing is i'm staying at the athletic club -- and it's strictly stag so if you don't mind --
you know that other key to your apartment -- well, when we had that little scare about miss kubelik, i thought i'd better get rid of it quick -- so i threw it out the window of the commuter train.
now i'll have to borrow your key.
what do you mean, sorry?
i'm not just bringing anybody -- i'm bringing miss kubelik.
how's that again?
baxter, i picked you for my team because i thought you were a bright young man. you realize what you're doing? not to me -- but to yourself. normally it takes years to work your way up to the twenty-seventh floor -- but it takes only thirty seconds to be out on the street again. you dig?
so what's it going to be?
now you're being bright?
say, baxter -- you gave me the wrong key.
but this is the key to the executive washroom.
what's gotten into you, baxter?
now hold on, baxter --
sorry it took me so long on the phone. but we're all set.
i rented a car -- it's going to be here at one o'clock -- we're driving to atlantic city.
i know it's a drag -- but you can't find a hotel room in town -- not on new year's eve.
i didn't plan it this way, fran -- actually, it's all baxter's fault.
he wouldn't give me the key to the apartment.
just walked out on me -- quit -- threw that big fat job right in my face.
that little punk -- after all i did for him! he said i couldn't bring anybody to his apartment -- especially not miss kubelik. what's he got against you, anyway?
what are you talking about?
happy new year, fran.
fran -- -- where are you, fran?