GLENN
Why do you put up with his incompetence?
CONRAD
I don’t need to answer that. You already know why.
GLENN
I thought it’d be a good idea to get a direct quote from you
on the matter. It would look better to the paper.
CONRAD
You’re reporting me to the Times? That’s rich. I’m sure my
friends over there will love it.
GLENN
This isn’t the first time that your son has screwed it up
for this company. You’re going to have to explain his mistake to the board of
directors in three days. I’m not about to cover up for this. Not this time.
CONRAD
Mr. Johnston, you have to understand that I love the boy. I
really do. Through all that I have been through, he is still family. I don’t
even care if he tried to take over the company, which I’m sure he’s probably
thought about. Bill is my son. You are not. The only reason you’re still here,
now, is because I have gained a sort of trust in your business ethics. What my
son has done here is none of your business, even if it affects the entire
company.
GLENN
What Bill did today was totally my business. It is going to
sink this company into bankruptcy. Your taste for hiring within is killing us.
CONRAD
There’s no need for you to act in front of me. Besides, it’s
just me and you. Nobody else is going to hear about it.
GLENN
What about going to the paper? Did you forget about that?
CONRAD
Of course not. But I have friends
there, a few good ones, too. Perhaps you have heard of the editor-in-chief? Her
name is Patricia Ayer.
GLENN
Who the hell is that, your sister?
CONRAD
I never have to spell out anything, but yes Glenn, she is. I
control things around here, and there’s not much else you can do about it.
Sorry, kid. Maybe in a few years, you’ll come to understand how business gets
done around here. I don’t want to sound preachy, but hiring family members to
run a business is a very successful practice. Bill might’ve sold us short on
the stock market today. He could well have easily put us in financial strains.
But the bottom line is that he can’t run away from his own father. He’s too
loyal, like a damn dog. You, on the other hand, are just a hired gun looking
for his supposed fair share. Deal with the consequences.
GLENN
You’re nuts. I’m quitting.
CONRAD
Go ahead. Quit. Do whatever makes you feel more
self-righteous. Every morning you wake up, don’t you just wish that you were
running things here? I’m sure you do. Almost every one of my employees has this
idea at least once in their life. Do you know how I know? Because
I can see it in their face. They’re always scared that the boss’s son is
going to take over, instead. Heaven forbid something so catastrophic happens.
So when they know that the old man of the company, the lesser of two evils, is
still around, they don’t feel as angry. Sure, it’s a little egotistical on my
part, but in the end they’re all paid handsomely for their efforts.
GLENN
Goodbye, Conrad. Good luck with the company.
CONRAD
I’ll be seeing you at the meeting. Be sure to wear one of
those blue ties instead of the usual red ones you wear.
