The Proposition

Coming Sister.

Sister?

I'm looking for Father McKinnon.

- Father. - I'm Father McKinnon.

Good morning. What can I do for you?

My name is Thurman.

Hannibal Thurman. Do you remember me?

Well it's...

some years ago as I recall but...

you are the business associate of Arthur Barret.

Arthur Barret is dead.

He died of a stroke 2 days ago.

In a list of instructions before his death.

He...

said you would explain...

everything to me, whatever that means.

This is a codicil to his last will and testament.

I didn't know it existed until yesterday.

- I'm a priest, not a lawyer. - Father...

It states that I'm obliged to answer to you although I am not a catholic...

and that I need your blessing before I can assume...

Legal custody of his two sons.

And the boys, they must be what...

- 16 now? - Yes.

And are they like him?

Yes. One is.

The other, he's a rebel.

Very much like his mother, Eleanor, was.

But they are both Barret's, if that's what you're asking.

Stubborn and proud.

You have my blessing Mr. Thurman.

Father...

- is that it? - That's it.

Father...

I repeat...

Arthur insisted that you explain everything to me...

and I would assume, that as a man of the cloth...

you will honor his wish.

Very well.

Sit down Mr. Thurman.

I assume as a lawyer you can...

recognize a logical motive when you see one.

Then perhaps secrets aren't logical.

I don't know why it had to happen in this way.

It just did.

St. Jude's parish was my first assignment.

But it was my last choice.

I didn't want to go there.

It was a rich parish...

with good living quarters and a wealth of opportunity.

All my friends in seminary envied me...

but big religion and big money was the last thing I wanted.

But my father's influence in the Church quickly squelched all that...

and landed me in Boston.

This was my father's way, of keeping tabs on me...

keeping his hand in the game of controlling my life.

They say all is fair in love and war.

I suppose this was his way of getting even with me...

for becoming a priest.

A rich parish obligated me to remain close enough to the upper crust...

so that I would never loose my way back home when the time came.

But despite my father's scheme...

I was determined to make the best of my new home.

I would work hard, help the needy...

and serve God.

And with any luck...

I'd be able to avoid the one person in Boston I had no desire to meet...

Arthur Barret.

Your attention, please. Attention everyone.

Eleanor, I believe you have an announcement to make.

Thank you, Hannibal.

I think all of you know my husband well enough...

to know that...

if humility were a cup of tea, his cup would runneth over.

So, I would like to take this opportunity to do brag for him...

and to tell you about...

his appointment to President Roosevelt's foreign finance committee.

They couldn't have picked a better man for the job.

Congratulations!

Thank you my dear. What can I say to that...

except to add that what gives a man the right to brag...

are not so much his accomplishments but...

the friends that he has to share them with.

Madame? You have a telephone call.

- Is this it? - It might be.

- Hello Mark. - Eleanor, hello.

- Do you have news about the book? - Wonderful news...

- Scribner's are picking it up. - Not really.

No. That's wonderful.

Yes.

- What did he say? - Scribner's is mad for it.

Yes, they want to publish it this fall.

Can we expect this on to be banned in Boston too?

I certainly hope so. I've got my reputation to uphold.

- Eleanor? - Come in.

- Are you ill? - No. I'm just counting.

Syril...

- I think this is it. - It's a beautiful day.

But is it "the day"?

Well, well. Let's see.

- One, two... - Good morning.

- Syril. - Arthur.

I love you.

Did you sleep well?

Me too.

Though I had a marginal night's sleep...

I had a wonderful dream this morning.

Tell me.

I dreamed that I was holding our baby.

I was feeding it from a bottle.

- Was it a boy or a girl? - I don't know.

I gave it to you when it came time to change it.

That's terrible.

Not at all. It was a beautiful dream.

What is it?

It's the 12th day.

Our odds are best if we try today or tomorrow.

Well then.

It would appear that everything is in place.

Tonight we'll make the dream a reality.

Do you have to go to the office this morning?

Mr. Thurman will be right with you Mr. Martin.

Greetings, Mr. Martin.

How good of you to come back on such short notice.

- Of course. - I've been reviewing your file.

- Very impressive young man. - Thank you, sir.

I imagine the top student at Harvard...

- has had an offer or two. - Three, actually.

- Have you been tempted yet? - Not really.

I've been holding back...

I was genuinely hoping for an invitation to come on here.

- Really? - Yes, sir.

I am not embarrassed to admit that Arthur Barret has been...

an idol of mine. His reputation at Harvard is legendary.

How flattering for him, and for us. I'm glad to hear you say that.

I've always said that desire and motivation...

are two thirds of any successful employment equation.

- And the other one third? - Resolve.

The ability to do what it takes...

to achieve one's goal no matter what the cost.

- Are you such a man, Mr. Martin? - I assume so, yes.

Assume?

I can't be absolutely certain. I've never been tested.

An open mind. Good. I like that.

I believe Mr. Martin, what I am about to propose...

is just such a test.

However...

before I begin I must tell you that what I'm about to divulge...

must never leave this room.

- Do you understand? - Yes. Of course.

I must have your word, sir.

Complete discretion and confidentiality.

Very well, you have my word then.

- Thank you. - You're welcome.

Good afternoon, James.

- Good afternoon, ma'am. - Do you know what time it is, dear?

I know, but Virginia Wade kept going on and on.

I know it takes a good deal of planning to feed over 500 people...

but, bless her heart, she even had Father Dryer napping.

Where are you going, now? You've got to get ready.

I've got to get something to eat. I have butterflies.

That makes two of us.

What you have to understand about Eleanor...

is that she cherished above all else...

a room to call her own.

A place to explore...

to nurture and develop free thought...

uncharacterized by a man's influences and convention.

It was a temple for no religion. And no expectation save one...

to be at peace with herself.

Eleanor's God was as much female as male.

Thank you.

Is she nervous?

Of course.

What is she doing now?

Getting ready I presume.

Anything I can do?

Yes.

Be husband enough to stand beside her and hold her hand while it happens...

that or call it off.

Don't condescend to me, Syril.

- I won't stand for it. - Then don't allow this to happen.

It's an abomination.

This child will ruin your marriage.

How can you say such a thing?

I love Eleanor more than my own life.

Is this supposed to prove it?

Yes. This is the one thing I cannot give her.

It's the only answer.

- I badly need an heir. - I know, but believe me...

you are making a grave mistake if you allow her to conceive this baby.

God forgive me for saying this, but...

- that was spoken like a man. - Good.

It will open your ears and command your respect.

I'm sure it serves your male vanity...

to assume you can control any situation that you put your mind to.

- But you're mistaken. - How?

You are about to give an educated woman complete control of her life.

For a man in your position, that's a dangerous thing.

Eleanor has always had complete freedom to do as she wishes.