Mercury Pictures Presents

Following Eddie’s walkout, Mercury shelves Guns of Midway. Leonard Boyd tells Artie that Ned convinced the board to sell his stake in the company to Eastern National. When Artie informs Maria, she points out that his stake is now worth $3 million, so it will be impossible for the board to force him to sell.

When he goes to Ned’s office, it turns out that the board has already calculated the value of Artie’s stake and is prepared to pay. Artie reminds Ned that he sent their sister $100 every month for years, while Ned spent similar sums buying the favor of corrupt politicians. As he leaves the studios, he walks through the sets depicting scenes from different national locations and then out onto the Los Angeles street: “No need for visas or passports or affidavits or permits” (357).

Ned calls Maria into his office. He offers her a significant pay raise, from $200 to $500 per week. Ned reveals that Artie’s job will go to Ned’s son, Adam. When Maria asks why he did not consider her for the role, he replies that he would be “laughed out of town” if he appointed a female executive.

When Maria is noncommittal, Ned attempts to blackmail her with Vincent’s photo album.