We Trust You
from the TV series created by Aaron Sorkin
(This actually comes directly after another monologue on my website, where Jeremy (Joshua Malina) describes what happened on a hunting trip. This is Isaac's (Robert Guillaume) rebuttal.)
Isaac: (long pause) Jeremy... why didn't you tell us how you felt about hunting when we gave you this?
Jeremy: Because you told me you spoke to Mark Sabath at USA Today.
Isaac: Yeah, but what --
Jeremy: In fact I know you must have spoken to him before you ever hired me.
Isaac: Well, of course I did. I also spoke to Dave Heller at the Free Press and Tom Monahan at the Sacramento Bee.
Jeremy: And they all said pretty much the same thing.
Isaac: Yes, they all said that Jeremy Goodwin was a bright guy with a world-class understanding of popular sports but that he didn't quite fit in and there was little chance that he'd advance in their organization.
Jeremy: Due respect, Mr. Jaffee, but I have $80,000 in college loans to pay back. My instincts told me to shut the hell up and do what I was told.
Isaac: Your instincts were wrong.
Jeremy: Not fitting in is how qualified people lose jobs.
Isaac: Yeah, but a lot of the time it's how they end up working here. Now, you had an obligation to tell us how you felt. Partly because I don't like getting a phone call saying I put one of my people in the hospital. But mostly because when you feel that strongly about something you have a responsibility to try and change my mind. Did you think I would fire you simply because you made a convincing argument? It's taken me a lot of years but I've come around to this: If you're dumb, surround yourself with smart people. And if you're smart, surround yourself with smart people who disagree with you. I'm an awfully smart man and Mark Sabath is an idiot. He had you and he blew it. You're gonna do great here, but you gotta trust us. You fit in on your own time. When you come to work for me you show up to play. (pause) I'm going home. (gets his coat) You don't know us very well. So if it's hard trusting us at the beginning, maybe it'll help to know that... we trust you. Good night.!
Kudos and much thanks go to Cheese for this monologue, it is very much appreciated.