[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n Glengarry Glen Ross (1983), a scathing David Mamet play about two days in the lives of four desperate Chicago real estate agents prepared to engage in any number of unethical, illegal acts—from lies and flattery to bribery, threats, intimidation and burglary—to sell undesirable real estate to unwitting prospective buyers, Mamet summed up the degrading Darwinian ethos and moral void at the core of capitalism.
None of the salesmen are likable, and that includes the "motivational hot shot sales ace" sent up by the "downtown office" to read this bunch of losers the riot act (Alec Baldwin, in the film version), and the office manager (Williamson, portrayed by Kevin Spacey).
In one of the (many) memorable scenes, the office's current sales lion, Ricky Roma (Al Pacino) loses a juicy commission when the office manager, Spacey, inadvertently —"not knowing what the shot is"—confirms to a Roma customer stricken with buyers' remorse that the sales contract has been sent to the bank, precisely right after Ricky Roma —with typical mendacity—has reassured the man the contract has not been processed. Williamson's faux pas detonates a torrent of invective by Roma. The river of insults is so rich and so unrelenting that I thought it could be used as model for the things that the US citizen should be ready to use when dealing with American politicians and media figures shaping their pitiful reality, with extremely rare exceptions all whores and phonies working for the sociopathic plutocracy, and never representing their interest (as they are supposed to do). So, flex your oratorical muscles boys and girls, learn from Pacino, the natural master, no doubt, and add, if you can, your own twist. Action!
Al Pacino: Who ever told you that you could work with men!?
Glengarry Glen Ross (9/10) Movie CLIP - Where Did You Learn Your Trade? (1992) HD)
ADDENDUM
Read the transcript
Lingkt (Jonathan Price): The snookered client, gripped by buyer's remorse. Wants to cancel the deal with Roma.
Roma (Al Pacino): Ace salesman, just about the only "winner" in an office of losers.
Williamson (Kevin Spacey): Ofice manager.
Levene (Jack lemmon): Desperate, down on his luck pathetic salesman, but also ruthlessly tricky character, and the actual burglar.
Baylen (Jude Ciccolella): Detective questioning the salesmen because someone burgled the office and stole the pricey Glengarry leads the night before..
LINGK
What are the police doing?
ROMA
It's nothing.
LINGK
What are the police doing here...?
WILLIAMSON
We had a slight burglary last night.
ROMA
It was nothing...I was assuring Mr.
Lingk...
WILLIAMSON
Mr. Lingk. James Lingk. Your
contract went out. Nothing to...
ROMA
John...
WILLIAMSON
Your contract went out to the bank.
LINGK
You cashed the check?
WILLIAMSON
We...
ROMA
...Mr. Williamson...
WILLIAMSON
Your check as cashed yesterday
afternoon. And we're completely
insured, as you know, in any case.
Pause.
LINGK
(to Roma)
You cashed the check?
ROMA
Not to my knowledge, no...
WILLIAMSON
I'm sure we can...
81.
LINGK
Oh, Christ...
(starts out the door)
Don't follow me...Oh, Christ.
(pause, to Roma)
I know I've let you down. I'm
sorry. For...Forgive...for...I
don't know anymore.
(pause)
Forgive me.
Lingk exits. Pause.
ROMA
(to Williamson)
You stupid fucking cunt. You,
Williamson...I'm talking to you,
shithead...You just cost me six
thousand dollars.
(pause)
Six thousand dollars. And one
Cadillac. That's right. What are
you going to do about it? What are
you goin to do about it, asshole.
You fucking shit. Where did you
learn your trade. You stupid
fucking cunt. You idiot. Whoever
told you you could work with men?
BAYLEN
Could I...
ROMA
I'm going to have your job, shithead.
I'm going downtown and talk to
Mitch and Murrray, and I'm going to
Lemkin. I don't care whose nephew
you are, who you know, whose dick
you're sucking on. You're going
out, I swear to you, you're going...
BAYLEN
Hey, fella, let's get this done...
ROMA
Anyone in this office lives on
their wits...
(to Baylen)
I'm going to be with you in a
second.
(to Williamson)
What you're hired for is to help
us--does that seem clear to you?
(MORE)
82.
ROMA (CONT'D)
To help us. Not to fuck us up...to
help men who are going out there to
try to earn a living. You fairy.
You company man...I'll tell you
something else. I hope you knocked
the joint off, I can tell our
friend here something might help
him catch you.
(starts into the room)
You want to learn the first rule
you'd know if you ever spent a day
in your life...you never open your
mouth till you know what the shot
is.
(pause)
You fucking child...
Roma goes to the inner room.
LEVENE
You are a shithead, Williamson...
Pause.
WILLIAMSON
Mmm.
LEVENE
You can't think on your feet you
should keep your mouth closed.
(pause)
You hear me? I'm talking to you.
Do you hear me...?
WILLIAMSON
Yes.
(pause)
I hear you.
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