if the rebels want a fight boys, let's give it to 'em! the terms are underconditional surrender. up and at 'em! the union forever! you can't lick andy jackson! old hickory, that's me! h'ya, mom. see, mom? i took the pipe out of his mouth. if it keeps on snowin', maybe i'll make some teeth and - hello. hello, pop. you goin', mom? where'm i going? why aren't you comin' with us, mom? mom! mom! mom! mom! i don't know how to run a newspaper, mr. thatcher. i just try everything i can think of. can you prove it isn't? mr. bernstein, mr. thatcher - that's all right. we have no secrets from our readers. mr. thatcher is one of our most devoted readers, mr. bernstein. he knows what's wrong with every issue since i've taken charge. what's the cable? i think we'll have to send our friend wheeler a cable, mr. bernstein. of course, we'll have to make it shorter than his, because he's working on an expense account and we're not. let me see - mike! dear wheeler - you provide the prose poems - i'll provide the war. i rather like it myself. send it right away. won't you step into my office, mr. thatcher? mr. thatcher, isn't everything i've been saying in the enquirer about the traction trust absolutely true? the trouble is, mr. thatcher, you don't realize you're talking to two people. as charles foster kane, who has eighty-two thousand, six hundred and thirty-one shares of metropolitan transfer - you see, i do have a rough idea of my holdings - i sympathize with you. charles foster kane is a dangerous scoundrel, his paper should be run out of town and a committee should be formed to boycott him. you may, if you can form such a committee, put me down for a contribution of one thousand dollars. on the other hand - i am the publisher of the enquirer. as such, it is my duty - i'll let you in on a little secret, it is also my pleasure - to see to it that decent, hard-working people of this city are not robbed blind by a group of money - mad pirates because, god help them, they have no one to look after their interests! i'll let you in on another little secret, mr. thatcher. i think i'm the man to do it. you see, i have money and property - if i don't defend the interests of the underprivileged, somebody else will - maybe somebody without any money or any property and that would be too bad. do you know how to tap, mr. thatcher? you ought to learn - you're right. we did lose a million dollars last year. we expect to lost a million next year, too. you know, mr. thatcher - at the rate of a million a year - we'll have to close this place in sixty years. we've got a nice plant here. was the show covered by every department? and the notice? is it good? it isn't finished? that's leland, isn't it? has he said when he'll finish? he used to work fast - didn't he, mr. bernstein? where is he? that's all right, mr. bernstein. what does it say there? what's he written? thais. go on! of her acting, it is absolutely impossible to say anything except that it represents a new low. have you got that, mr. bernstein? in the opinion of this reviewer - it isn't here, mr. bernstein. i'm dictating it. get me a typewriter. i'll finish the notice. thank you, mr carter. this is mr. leland. are they standing for me? ask them to sit down. i don't my plans myself. as a matter of fact, i haven't got any. except to get out a newspaper. oh, mr. bernstein! if you would come here a moment, please, mr. bernstein? mr. carter, this is mr. bernstein. mr. bernstein is my general manager. you've got a private office here, haven't you? i'm going to live right here. as long as i have to. that's one of the things i think must be changed, mr. carter. the news goes on for twenty-four hours a day. i'm not criticizing, mr. carter, but here's what i mean. there's a front page story in the "chronicle," and a picture - of a woman in brooklyn who is missing. probably murdered. a mrs. harry silverstone. why didn't the "enquirer" have that this morning? i'm still hungry, brad. let's go to rector's and get something decent. the "chronicle" has a two-column headline, mr. carter. why haven't we? if the headline is big enough, it makes the new big enough. the murder of mrs. harry silverstone - the "chronicle" doesn't say she's murdered, mr. carter. it says the neighbors are getting suspicious. that's the kind of thing we are going to be interested in from now on, mr. carter. right now, i wish you'd send your best man up to see mr. silverstone. have him tell mr. silverstone if he doesn't produce his wife at once, the "enquirer" will have him arrested. have him tell mr. silverstone he's a detective from the central office. if mr. silverstone asks to see his badge, your man is to get indignant and call mr. silverstone an anarchist. oh, mr. bernstein! i've just made a shocking discovery. the "enquirer" is without a telephone. have two installed at once! that'll be all today, mr. carter. you've been most understanding. good day, mr. carter! what makes those fellows think that a newspaper is something rigid, something inflexible, that people are supposed to pay two cents for - two cents. re-figure it, mr. bernstein, at two cents. ready for dinner, brad? it's a saying, mr. bernstein. a new broom sweeps clean. these pages aren't made up as i want them, mr. smathers. we go to press in five minutes. it is accepted, mr. carter, with assurances of my deepest regard. let's remake these pages, mr. smathers. we'll have to publish a half hour late, that's all. you can remake them now, can't you, mr. smathers? after the types 've been reset and the pages have been remade according to the way i told you before, mr. smathers, kindly have proofs pulled and bring them to me. then, if i can't find any way to improve them again - - i suppose we'll have to go to press. tired? a wasted day. i've changed the front page a little, mr. bernstein. that's not enough - there's something i've got to get into this paper besides pictures and print - i've got to make the "new york enquirer" as important to new york as the gas in that light. my declaration of principles - don't smile, brad - take dictation, mr. bernstein - i'll write it myself. these'll be kept. i'll provide the people of this city with a daily paper that will tell all the news honestly. will also provide them - people are going to know who's responsible. and they're going to get the news - the true news - quickly and simply and entertainingly. and no special interests will be allowed to interfere with the truth of that news. let's hope they like it there. look at that. it's a good idea for a newspaper. four hundred sixy thousand. you're right, mr. bernstein. i know. make up an extra copy and mail it to the "chronicle." gentlemen of the "enquirer"! this has, i think, been a fitting welcome to those distinguished journalists - mr. reilly in particular - who are the latest additions to our ranks. it will make them happy to learn that the "enquirer's" circulation this morning passed the two hundred thousand mark. all of you - new and old - you're all getting the best salaries in town. not one of you has been hired because of his loyalty. it's your talent i'm interested in. that talent that's going to make the "enquirer" the kind of paper i want - the best newspaper in the world! however, i think you'll agree we've heard enough about newspapers and the newspaper business for one night. there are other subjects in the world. thank you. thanks. i promise not to bring any more venuses and not to worry - and not to try to get in touch with any of the papers - - and to forget about the new feature sections - and not to try to think up and ideas for comic sections. goodbye, gents! hey! you don't expect me to keep any of those promises, do you? ask them to sit down, mr. bernstein. we certainly do. vacation's over - starting right after dinner. but right now - that lady over there - - that's the new society editor, i take it? you think i could interrupt her a moment, mr. bernstein? miss townsend - i've been away for several months, and i don't know exactly how these things are handled now. but one thing i wanted to be sure of is that you won't treat this little announcement any differently than you would any other similar announcement. read it, miss townsend. and remember - just the regular treatment! see you at nine o'clock, mr. bernstein! there are other subjects in the world - well, gentlemen, are we going to war? it'll be our first foreign war in fifty years, brad. we'll cover it the way the "hickville gazette" covers the church social! the names of everybody there; what they wore; what they ate; who won the prizes; who gave the prizes - i tell you, brad, i envy you. by bradford leland, the "enquirer's" special correspondent at the front. i'm almost tempted - all right, brad, all right - you don't have to be a war correspondent unless you want to - i'd want to. hello, georgie. if everybody's having fun, that's the way i want it. how would the "enquirer" look with no news about this non-existent war - with benton, pulitzer and heart devoting twenty columns a day to it? and i do it because they do it, and they do it - it's a vicious circle, isn't it? i'm going over to georgie's, brad - you know, georgie, don't you? i told you about brad, georgie. he needs to relax. some ships with wonderful wines have managed to slip through the enemy fleet that's blockading new york harbor - georgie knows a young lady whom i'm sure you'd adore - wouldn't he, georgie? why only the other evening i said to myself, if brad were only here to adore this young lady - this - what's her name again? say, brad. i've got an idea. i mean i've got a job for you. you don't want to be a war correspondent - how about being a dramatic critic? you start tomorrow night. richard carl in "the spring chicken." i'll get us some girls. you get tickets. a drama critic gets them free, you know. rector's at seven? yes? you're wrong. it does make a difference to you - rector's, brad? come to think of it, i don't blame you for not wanting to be a war correspondent. you won't miss anything. it isn't much of a war. besides, they tell me there isn't a decent restaurant on the whole island. you don't expect me to keep any of those promises, do you? i'm not suggesting anything, mr. president! i've come here to tell you that, unless some action is taken promptly - and you are the only one who can take it - the oil that is the property of the people of this country will be turned over for a song to a gang of high- pressure crooks! it's the only vein i know. i tell the facts the way i see them. and any man that knows that facts - thanks. i'm much obliged, mr. president, for your concern about me. however, i happen to be concerned at this moment with the matter of extensive oil lands belonging to the people of the united states, and i say that if this lease goes through, the property of the people of the united states goes into the hands of - mr. president. all right. let her slide! it's a news story! get it on the street! take dictation - front page editorial - "this afternoon a great man was assassinated. he was the president of the united states -" yes? why not? what do you mean by that? what do you mean by that? because the crackpot who did it had a copy of the "enquirer" in his pocket? i said treason was a capital offense punishable by death - they're true! everything i said! witholding that veto was treason! oil belonging to the people of the united states was leased out for a song to a gang of high-pressure crooks - nobody can blame me because - what lesson? not to expose fraud when i see it? not to fight for the right of the people to own their own property? run it the way i said, reilly - "this afternoon a great man was assassinated -" i don't have to. i run a newspaper with half a million readers and they're getting a martyred president this morning with their breakfast. i can't help that. besides, they all know i'm married to his niece. i've got to think of her. i've got to think of emily - go ahead. what's wrong, brad? i'll get you some coffee. that's just a little promotion scheme. nobody expects you - mike, will you try and get mr. leland some coffee? why, brad? i'll tell you what i'll do, brad - i'll get drunk, too - maybe that'll help. all right. i don't think so, brad. we've just had word that the president is out of danger. it seems i didn't kill him after all. brad, you are drunk. why is she leaving me? do you think the "enquirer" shouldn't have campaigned against the oil leases? the personal note is all there is to it. it's all there ever is to it. it's all there every is to anything! stupidity in our government, complacency and self- satisfaction and unwillingness to believe that anything done by a certain class of people can be wrong - you can't fight those things impersonally. they're not impersonal crimes against people. they're being done by actual persons - with actual names and positions and - the right of the american people to own their own country is not an academic issue, brad, that you debate - and then the judges retire to return a verdict and the winners give a dinner for the losers. are you finished? you're not going to like it in chicago. they wind comes howling in from the lake. and there's practically no opera season at all - and the lord only knows whether they've ever heard of lobster newburg - nothing - if she dosen't love me - it's simpler than that, brad. a society girl can't stand the gaff, that's all. other things are important to her - social position, what they're saying on the front porches at southampton, is it going to be embarrassing to meet somebody or the other at dinner - she can leave me. as a matter of fact, i've already left her. don't worry, brad - i'll live. hey, brad! i've been analyzed an awful lot tonight - let's have another brandy. to love on my terms. those are the only terms anybody knows . his own. are you hurt? you still want to be transferred to the other paper? well, you've been getting a pretty low salary here in new york. it seems to me that the new dramatic critic of our chicago paper should get what he's worth. excuse us a moment, please. i said, excuse us a moment. i've been talking to leland. emily - you can't leave me now - not now - it isn't what it would do to my changes in politics, emily - that isn't it - they were talking of running me for governor, but now, of course, we'll have to wait - it isn't that, emily - it's just - the president is your uncle and they're saying i killed him. that story about the murderer having a copy of the "enquirer" in his pocket - the "chronicle" made that up out of whole cloth - emily, please - he's going to be all right, you know, he's going to recover - if it will make you any happier, we had nine pages of advertising cancelled in the first mail this morning. bernstein is afraid to open any more letters. he - what do you expect me to do? what in the world - they won't do anything to junior, darling. anonymous letter writers - i've got guards in front of the house, and i'm going to arrange - i've tried to tell you, emily. the president's going to be all right. he had a comfortable night. there's no danger of any kind. emily - you musn't leave me now - you can't do that to me. we'll withdraw support completely. anything else? what check? oh, yes, the bonus. it is no secret that i entered upon this campaign with no thought that i could be elected governor of this state! it is now no secret that every straw vote, every independent pole, shows that i will be elected. and i repeat to you - my first official act as governor will be to appoint a special district attorney to arrange for the indictment, prosecution and conviction of boss edward g. rogers! thank you, gentlemen. thank you. it does seem too good to be true, doesn't it, mr. bernstein? i think it's beginning to dawn on mr. rogers that i mean what i say. with mr. rogers out of the way, reilly, i think we may really begin to hope for a good government in this state. well, mr. bernstein? you don't really think so? please, mr. bernstein. hello, butch! did you like your old man's speech? i saw you! good night, gentlemen. but i'd arranged to go home with you myself. it can wait. what's this all about, emily? i've had a very tiring day and - i insist on being told exactly what you have in mind. i'll go with you. i had no idea you had this flair for melodrama, emiliy. rogers, i don't think i will postpone doing something about you until i'm elected. to start with, i'll break your neck. in case you don't know, emily, this - this gentleman - is - you're a cheap, crooked grafter - and your concern for your children and your mother - i'm going to be elected governor. and the first thing i'm going to do - you can't blackmail me, rogers, you can't - you do anything you want to do. the people of this state can decide which one of us to trust. if you want to know, they've already decided. the election tuesday'll be only - have you gone completely mad, emily? you don't think i'm going to let this blackmailer intimidate me, do you? oh, they'll publish it all right. but that's not going to stop me - i suppose so, but - i'm not afraid of the story. you can't tell me that the voters of this state - oh yes, there is. no. there's only one person in the world to decide what i'm going to do - and that's me. and if you think - if any of you think - go on! get out! i can fight this thing all alone! get out! i've got nothing to talk to you about. if you want to see me, have the warden write me a letter. i know exactly what i'm doing. get out! too late for what? too late for you and this - this public thief to take the love of the people of this state away from me? well, you won't do it, i tell you. you won't do it! get out, both of you! what are you waiting here for? why don't you go? don't you worry about me. i'm charles foster kane. i'm no cheap, crooked politician, trying to save himself from the consequences of his crimes - i'm going to send you to sing sing, rogers. sing sing! hello, brad. sure, we're speaking, brad - you're fired. ow! it's not funny. what's the matter with you? hmm! if these sidewalks were kept in condition - instead of the money going to some cheap grafter - what's funny now? you're no venus de milo. thanks. i'm sorry. they live here, too? where's the soap? you're very easily amused. i can't stay here all night chasing your pain away. where's the towel? thanks. i'll get these streets fixed, if it's the last thing i do. you are in pain, aren't you, you poor kid? wish there was something i could - i've got an idea, young lady. turn around and look at me. i said, turn around and look at me, young lady. did you ever see anybody wiggle both his ears at the same time? watch closely! it took me two solid years at the finest boys' school in the world to learn that trick. the fellow who taught me is president of venezuela now. that's it! smile! no. but you're close. you're getting farther away all the time. it's a duck. you really don't know who i am? but you like me, don't you? even though you don't know who i am? and i know too many people. obviously, we're both lonely. would you like to know where i was going tonight - when you ran into me and ruined my sunday clothes? i was only joking! this evening i was on my way to the western manhattan warehouses - in search of my youth. you see, my mother died, too - a long time ago. her things were put into storage out west because i had no place to put them then. i still haven't. but now i've sent for them just the same. and tonight i'd planned to make a sort of sentimental journey - - to the scenes of my youth - my childhood, i suppose - to look again at - and now - who am i? well, let's see. charles foster kane was born in new salem, colorado in eighteen six - i run a couple of newspapers. how about you? how old did you say you were? i didn't think you did. if you had, i wouldn't have asked you again, because i'd have remembered. how old? that's a ripe old age - what do you do? is that what you want to do? what happened to the singing? you're not in a show, are you? yes - would you sing for me? yes, i would. that's why i asked. don't tell me your toothache is bothering you again? then you have no alibi at all. please sing. your job isn't to give mrs. kane your opinion of her talents. you're supposed to train her voice. nothing more. if you're interested in what people say, signor matisti, i may be able to enlighten you a bit. the newspapers, for instance. i'm an authority on what the papers will say, signor matisti, because i own eight of them between here and san francisco. it's all right, dear. signor matisti is going to listen to reason. aren't you, maestro? you can't. i knew you'd see it my way. my reasons satisfy me, susan. you seem unable to understand them. i will not tell them to you again. you will continue with your singing. get dr. corey. thank you. i can't imagine how mrs. kane came to make such a silly mistake. the sedative dr. wagner gave her is in a somewhat larger bottle - i suppose the strain of preparing for her trip has excited and confused her. there are no objections to my staying here with her, are there? of course. that's when you've got to fight them. that's when you've got to make them. that's - i'm sorry. you won't have to fight them anymore. it's their loss. half past eleven. half past eleven. yes. the bulldog's just gone to press. you always said you wanted to live in a palace. one thing i've never been able to understand, susan. how do you know you haven't done them before? you may be right - i sometimes wonder - but you get into the habit - i was referring to myself. i thought we might have a picnic tomorrow - it might be a nice change after the wild west party tonight. invite everybody to go to the everglades - i thought we might invite everybody to go on a picnic tomorrow. stay at everglades overnight. please see that the arrangements are made, susan. you remember my son, mr. bernstein. you're in a tent, darling. you're not at home. and i can hear you very well if you just talk in a normal tone of voice. i've got more than a right as far as you're concerned, susan. you're my wife, susan, and - we can discuss all this some other time, susan. right now - as far as you're concerned, susan, i've never wanted anything - i don't want anything now - except what you want. susan, i really think - susan, i want you to stop this. and right now! susan! you're talking an incredible amount of nonsense, susan. whatever i do - i do - because i love you. susan, it seems to me - i'm not sorry. no, you're not. all right. is mrs. kane - have you gone completely crazy? don't you realize that everybody here is going to know about this? that you've packed your bags and ordered the car and - i won't let you go. don't go, susan. susan, don't go! susan, please! you mustn't go, susan. everything'll be exactly the way you want it. not the way i think you want it - by your way. please, susan - susan! don't go, susan! you mustn't go! you - you can't do this to me, susan - close the door, raymond. lock it - and keep it locked. raymond - keep it locked. do you like poetry, raymond? mrs. kane liked poetry - not my wife - not either of them. do you know what that is? persia. it belonged to a king. he was dead. that's a poem. do you know what it means? i didn't used to be afraid of it. the drunkeness of youth has passed like a fever, and yet i saw many things, seeing my glory in the days of my glory, i thought my power eternal and the days of my life fixed surely in the years but a whisper came to me from him who dies not. i called my tributary kings together and those who were proud rulers under me, i opened the boxes of my treasure to them, saying: "take hills of gold, moutains of silver, and give me only one more day upon the earth." but they stood silent, looking upon the ground; so that i died and death came to sit upon my throne. o sons of men you see a stranger upon the road, you call to him and he does not step. he is your life walking towards time, hurrying to meet the kings of india and china. o sons of men you are caught in the web of the world and the spider nothing waits behind it. where are the men with towering hopes? they have changed places with owls, owls who have lived in tombs and now inhabit a palace.