The Whistle at Eaton Falls (1951)

Lloyd Bridges: Brad Adams

Quotes 

• Daniel Doubleday : Won't you try to convince the men that we 've got to do this?

  Brad Adams : I can't very well convince them if I'm not convinced myself. Local 145 is opposed to the layoff of any of us workers.

  Dwight Hawkins : The union can't oppose new equipment. Read your contract.

  Brad Adams : I don't have to read it. I know it by heart.

  Dwight Hawkins : We don't have to argue with you. We can go right ahead...

  Daniel Doubleday : Now hold on, Hawkins.

  Brad Adams : Only a scab will run two machines for ya.

  Daniel Doubleday : Easy, Brad. Do you think for one minute that I would hire scabs?

  Brad Adams : You wouldn't want to, Mr. Doubleday, but you might have to. Think what would happen to us. Why, this layoff would split the union wide open. It could break us.

  Daniel Doubleday : Which is better. Half of them working or the whole company bankrupt and everybody out of a job?

  Brad Adams : Ah, you'll have to figure other ways to cut your prices. Pull out your profits for awhile. You can stand the loss better than the men can.

  Daniel Doubleday : Our profits have gone right back into the business and we have borrowed money besides. Look here, Brad. If the union will go along, you'll see more money and more jobs for everybody in town.

  Brad Adams : That's a theory, Mr. Doubleday. And I won't let my men lose their jobs to prove a theory.

• Ruth Adams : Oh, darling. I feel wonderful!

  Brad Adams : Well, I am scared stiff.

  Ruth Adams : That doesn't sound like you.

  Brad Adams : Holy smokes, sweetheart. The head of Local 145 stepping into the boss's shoes. If I have to do something that's good for the company, the union will say I've sold out. If I make a decision the boys would cheer about, Hawkins, Russell and Dunbar will say the union's got me in its hip pocket.

  Ruth Adams : Look, I'm not worried about this one bit. Not one single bit.

• Brad Adams : Joe, our ideas. They're not enough.

  Joe London : I know. You're up against it. Things look different, I guess, when you are on the other side of the fence.

  Brad Adams : A lot of people are going to get hurt. I've been thinking about you and Mary.

  Joe London : It's not your fault. Last hired, first fired. That's labor's rules.

  Ruth Adams : Oh, no, Joe. Brad, there must be some other way.

  Joe London : No. Well, Dan was right. Brad's got to lay off half the workers. Don't cha?

  Brad Adams : Worse than that, Joe. The warehouse is jammed with stuff we can't sell. We're losing money in everything we make. I've got to close down the plant and lay off everybody.

  Joe London : Everybody?

  Joe London : Everybody.

• Brad Adams : Hey, Al... I, uh...

  Al Webster : After the whistle blows, mister. I got no time to talk to the boss outside of hours.

  Brad Adams : Oh, Al, let's forget about what happened...

  Al Webster : I ain't forgettin' nothin'. In this game, you pick sides early and play on your own team. Anybody who changes is a traitor.

• Dwight Hawkins : Have you forgotten? You're not in Local 145 anymore.

  Brad Adams : Meaning what?

  Dwight Hawkins : That being a patsy to a bunch of union men is no way to run a business.

  [pause] 

  Dwight Hawkins : Before you fire me, buster, I quit. I got myself a good job with a real company yesterday.

  Brad Adams : That suits me fine. Your check will be mailed to you.

  Dwight Hawkins : Have your fling, union boy. It won't last long.

• Helen Doubleday : Brad, I want you to be the new president of Doubleday Plastics.

  Brad Adams : President? Mrs. Doubleday, do you really think I'm qualified to run your business?

  Helen Doubleday : You can learn it. And you are the one man the union trusts.

  Brad Adams : You put me on the spot. How can I switch sides when I'm just getting ready to negotiate on new equipment?

  Helen Doubleday : It's either you or Dwight Hawkins.

  Brad Adams : Hawkins?

  Helen Doubleday : I want you because we need someone who understands our labor problems.

  Brad Adams : But it makes it like I sold out. And without the respect of the workers, I wouldn't be of any use to the company.

  [pause] 

  Brad Adams : Well, will you give me 24 hours, Mrs. Doubleday? I would like to talk it over with the union.

  Helen Doubleday : Certainly, Brad.

• Brad Adams : You can't buck the future. You've got to become a part of it.