what sell a candidate。〃
〃The eyes；〃 Connor said。
〃Oh； yeah。 People get elected on their eyes。〃 She shrugged； as if it was mon knowledge。 〃But if the senator puts himself in Edgar's hands 。 。 。 Edgar is a great artist。 He can make it happen。〃
Edgar Lynn walked past us； huddled with the cameraman。 〃Christ； clean up the luggage under his eyes；〃 Lynn said。 〃And get the chin。 Firm that chin with a hard inky low and up。〃
〃Okay；〃 the cameraman said。
The production assistant excused herself and we waited； watching。 Senator Morton was still some distance away； being worked over by the makeup and wardrobe people。
〃Mr。 Connor？ Mr。 Smith？〃 I turned。 A young man in a blue pinstripe suit was standing beside us。 He looked like a Senate staffer： well turned…out； attentive； polite。 〃I'm Bob Woodson。 With the senator's office。 Thank you for ing。〃
〃You're wele；〃 Connor said。
〃I know the senator is eager to talk to you；〃 Woodson said。 〃I'm sorry； this seems to be running a little late。 We were supposed to finish shooting by one。〃 He glanced at his watch。 〃Now； I guess it may be quite a while。 But I know the senator wants to talk to you。〃
Connor said； 〃Do you know what about？〃
Someone shouted； 〃Run…through！ Run…through for sound and camera； please！〃
The cluster around Senator Morton vanished； and Woodson turned his attention to the camera。
Edgar Lynn was back looking through the lens。 〃There still isn't enough gray。 Ellen？ You will have to add gray to his hair。 It isn't reading now。〃
Woodson said； 〃I hope he doesn't make him look too old。〃
Debbie； the production assistant； said； 〃It's just for the shot。 It isn't reading for the shot； so we add some gray。 See； Ellen is just putting it at the temples。 It'll make him distinguished。〃
〃I don't want him old。 Especially when he's tired； he sometimes looks old。〃
〃Don't worry；〃 the assistant said。
〃All right now；' Lynn said。 'That's enough for now。 Senator？ Shall we try a run…through？〃
Senator Morton said； 〃Where does this begin？〃
〃Line？〃
A script girl said； 〃 'Perhaps like me 。 。 。' 〃
Morton said； 〃Then we've already done the first part？〃
Edgar Lynn said； 〃That's right； love。 We start here with your turn to the camera； and you give us a very strong； very direct masculine look； and begin 'Perhaps like me。' Right？〃
〃Okay；〃 Morton said。
〃Remember。 Think masculine。 Think strong。 Think in control。〃
Morton said； 〃Can we shoot it？〃
Woodson said； 〃Lynn's going to piss him off。〃
Edgar Lynn said； 〃All right。 Shoot the rehearsal。 Here we go。〃
Senator Morton walked toward the camera。 〃Perhaps like me；〃 he said； 〃you're concerned about the erosion of our national position in recent years。 America is still the greatest military power； but our security depends on our ability to defend ourselves militarily and economically。 And it is economically that America has fallen behind。 How far behind？ Well； under the last two administrations； America has gone from the greatest creditor nation to the greatest debtor nation the world has ever seen。 Our industries have fallen behind the rest of the world。 Our workers are less educated than workers in other countries。 Our investors demand short…term gain and cripple our industries' ability to plan for the future。 And as a result； our standard of living is declining rapidly。 The outlook for our children is bleak。〃
Connor murmured； 〃Somebody is actually saying it。〃
〃And in this time of national crisis；〃 Morton continued； 〃many Americans have another concern； as well。 As our economic power fades； we are vulnerable to a new kind of invasion。 Many Americans fear that we may bee an economic colony of Japan； or Europe。 But especially Japan。 Many Americans feel that the Japanese are taking over our industries； our recreation lands； and even our cities。〃 He gestured to the golf course with skyscrapers in the background。
〃And in doing so； some fear that Japan now has the power to shape and determine the future of America。〃
Morton paused； beneath the tree。 He gave the appearance of thinking。
〃How justified are these fears for the American future？ How much should we be concerned？ There are some who will tell you foreign investment is a blessing； that it helps our nation。 Others take the opposite view； and feel we are selling our precious birthright。 Which view is correct？ Which should … which is … which … oh； fuck！ What's the line again？〃
〃Cut； cut；〃 Edgar Lynn called。 〃Take five； everybody。 I need to clean up a few things； and then we can do it for real。 Very good； Senator。 I liked it。〃
The script girl said； 〃 'Which should we believe for the future of America；' Senator。〃
He repeated； 〃Which should we believe for the future of 。 。 。〃 He shook his head。 〃No wonder I can't remember it。 Let's change that line。 Margie？ Let's change that line； please。 Never mind； bring me a script； I'll change it myself。〃
And the crowd of makeup and wardrobe people descended on him again； touching him up and fluffing him down。
Woodson said； 〃Wait here； I'll try and get you a few minutes with him。〃
We stood beside a humming trailer； with power cables ing out of it。 As soon as Morton approached us； two aides came running up； brandishing thick books of puter printout。 〃John； you better look at this。〃
〃John； you better consider this。〃
Morton said； 〃What is it？〃
〃John； this is the latest Gallup and Fielding。〃
〃John； this is the cross…referenced analysis by voter age…brackets。〃
〃And？〃
〃Bottom line； John； the president is right。〃
〃Don't tell me that。 I'm running against the president。〃
〃But John； he's right about the C…word。 You can't say the C…word in your television ad。〃
〃I can't say 'conservation' ？〃
〃You can't say it； John。〃
〃It's death； John。〃
〃The figures show it。〃
〃You want us to run over the figures； John？〃
〃No；〃 Morton said。 He glanced at Connor and me。 〃I'll be right with you；〃 he said； with a smile。
〃But look here； John。〃
〃It's very clear； John。 Conservation means diminution of life…style。 People are already experiencing diminution of life…style。 They don't want any more of it。〃
〃But that's wrong；〃 Morton said。 〃That's not how it works。〃
〃John； it's what the voters think。〃
〃But they're wrong about this。〃
〃John； you want to educate the voters； well and good。〃
〃Yes； I do want to educate the voters。 Conservation is not synonymous with diminution of life…style。 It is synonymous with more wealth； power； and freedom。 The idea is not to make do with less。 The idea is to do all the things you are doing now … heat your house； drive your car … using less gas and oil。 Let's have more efficient heaters in our houses； more efficient cars on our streets。 Let's have cleaner air； better health。 It can be done。 Other countries have done it。 Japan has done it。〃
〃John； please。〃
〃Not Japan。〃
〃In the last twenty years；〃 Morton said。 〃Japan cut the energy cost of finished goods by sixty percent。 America has done nothing。 Japan can now make goods cheaper than we can； because Japan has pushed investment in energy…efficient technology。 Conservation is petitive。 And we aren't being petitive… 〃
〃Fine； John。 Conservation and statistics。 Really boring。〃
〃Nobody cares； John。〃
〃The American people care；〃 Morton said。
〃John： they absolutely don't。〃
〃And they aren't going to listen。 Look； John。 We have age…regressions here； particularly among the over fifty…fives； which is the most solid voting block； and they are straight ahead on this issue。 They want no decreases。 No conservation。 The old people of America don't want it。〃
〃But older people have children； and grandchildren。 They must care about the future。〃
〃Older people don't give a flying fuck； John。 It's right here in black and white。 They think their kids don't care about them； and they're right。 So they don't care about their kids。 It's that simple。〃
〃But certainly the children… 〃
〃Children don't vote； John。〃
〃Please； John。 Listen to us。〃
〃No conservation； John。 petitiveness； yes。 Look to the future； yes。 Face our problems； yes。 A new spirit； yes。 But no conservation。 Just look at the numbers。 Don't do it。〃
〃Please。〃
Morton said； 〃I'll think about it； fellas。〃