Dec 022008
Just one of those nice little dialogue echoes we like so much.
The Jet Set
Duck is meeting with Saint John Powell of Putnam, Powell, and Lowe, setting up the purchase.
Duck Philips: “51% will cost you a lot less than you think. Plus a finder’s fee.”
Saint John Powell: “Two percent?”
Duck Philips: “I want to be in charge of all international business and I have to be President. Creative reports to me or the whole thing falls apart.”
Later in the episode, Joan brings Duck a case of Tanqueray that has been delivered anonymously from PPL. He hands her a bottle and says:
“Well, thank you Miss Holloway. Why don’t you just take this, as a finder’s fee.”
What’s on his mind, do you suppose. Heheh.
9 Responses to “Finder's Fee”
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I just realized that Duck was set up. Too busy watching Draper in action. I spent the whole episode waiting to hear "I don't have a contract"
I don't think Duck was set up. By whom, Powell? I think he dug a hole and jumped in.
I agree about the hole and also, I think Powell was fully aware he was digging it and they sat back and let him do so. I don't think PPL cared either way whether they Duck came with the deal and now I'm wondering. What if Duck had gotten what he wanted and was running things, would PPL, knowing his history, set him up to be ousted after the fact since it didn't appear as if they were missing him too much in London?
Knowing "he never could hold his liquor" they sent him a case of Tanqueray.
They wanted the deal, not necessarily Duck. I think he would have been out of the picture soon anyway, so they weren't too bothered about losing him at the meeting. Duck got the deal for them, which was what they wanted. I think they always saw him as a liability.
I doubt it was a conspiracy; the PPL guys are just the same kinds jerks as the SC, loving their liquor and upset with anyone loves it less. And probably unable to have a good time sober.
Portia, I also doubt that it was a conspiracy. I think they just didn't care. If Duck worked out as president, they were willing to let him have it. If he didn't, oh well… I do think that they see Don as a much more valuable resource than Duck.
There's another dialog echo in this scene. One of them (Duck, IIRC) says of the Tanqueray, "That's the good stuff" — which is also the description Roger had for the bottle of scotch he gave Don in "Red in the Face."
Duck says "That's the good stuff" as he hands the bottle to Joan, and she says "I know" in a wonderfully knowing way. Her "I know" in that scene is more acting than most people do with whole monologues.
Yes, CH (and EM) "throw away" more stuff than many actors ever do with material.