"Going a long distance out of the way, to come back a short distance correctly"
Atlas Shrugged – Day 091 – pp. 972-981
“You can accept our repentance,” said Lillian in a voice glassy with caution. “I only want you to know that whatever I’ve done, I’ve done it because I loved you.”
Hank ain’t listening to that.
Mother Rearden is approaching panic mode.
“What’s happened to you? What’s changed you like that? You don’t seem to be human anymore!”
Atlas Shrugged – Day 083 – pp. 892-901
Now we shift back in time. (Just an hour or so) Jim Taggart is sitting in his study and sees Cherryl leave the apartment.
He slams the door and we get into a little “crazy scene.” (The kind of stuff that wins actors Oscars. — I have never made a prediction this early, but…
Atlas Shrugged – Day 078 – pp. 842-851
“How many trains have been discontinued in the country in the past three weeks?”
“It has eliminated thirty per cent of the trains run in the country,” said Eddie. “The only competition left is in the applications to the Board for permission to cancel trains. The railroad to survive will be the one that manages to run no trains at all.”
That’s quite an explanation.
What’s going on in Dagny’s head?
Atlas Shrugged – Day 054 – pp. 529-538
“You know, of course, I won’t allow this to continue. . . I won’t permit you to have her. Not her. Anyone but her. . . . I won’t permit it! You’ll give it up!. . . You’ll give it up, you’ll leave her, you’ll never see her again!”
Hank has a calm reply.
Atlas Shrugged – Day 053 – pp. 519-528
My God! How long have I been gone! Well the move is about done. Pictures to hang and a few more things to organize, but for the most part, I’m all in. I think I set a world record for how much crap one guy can have. Seriously. The whole damn thing took 4 weeks. I know a guy down here who claims he can throw all his stuff in a duffel bag. I’m jealous.
So where were we? Oh yeah! “another death was all but assured…”
Atlas Shrugged – Day 047 – pp. 459-468
Hank and Francisco finish sealing the breach in the furnace.
They said nothing to each other when they walked together through the darkness, on their way back to the office.
Kind of like that awkward silence after . . .never mind. . .
Atlas Shrugged – Day 044 – pp. 429-438
Busted.
“He stood like a man in military uniform at some official proceedings where emotions could not be permitted to exist.”
“Aren’t you going to try to justify yourself?”
“No.”
“Aren’t you going to start begging my forgiveness?”
Atlas Shrugged – Day 041 – pp. 399-408
No it’s not a cuisinart.
It’s her husband at the reception. In the presence of so many of whom it will impress.
“Your guests are quite impressed. I can practically hear them thinking all over the room. Most of them are thinking: ‘If he has to seek terms with Jim Taggart, we’d better toe the line.”
So it’s not really a gift. More of an exchange? What’s she want?
Atlas Shrugged – Day 040 – pp. 389-398
And on and on he’d ramble. About how good Dagny, his “ruthless, conceited bitch” of a sister and Hank Rearden and all the rest of them are at making money. Why wouldn’t they acknowledge his spiritual superiority.
Don’t know Jim. Maybe if you were living in a monastery. . . but you’re president of a railroad.
Cherryl on the other hand, really had no idea what he is talking about. She does see that he’s in pain, however, and her youthful sympathy, like finding a rabbit or something equally cuddly caught in a trap makes you cry, draws her to him.
Actually did more than that.
Atlas Shrugged – Day 039 – pp. 379-388
Chapter II — The Aristocracy of Pull
Finally a title that makes sense! This is the world we’re living in right now. Where if you are positioned correctly in the right office and know the right people, you can get – do – say – screw just about anyone or anything. H-E-L-L-O Washington.
The calendar in the sky beyond Dagny’s window said September 2. OK. We’re one year into the book — it read exactly the same when Eddie looked up at it on page 2 or 3.
Incidentally, I recently found out that Sept 2 is “Atlas Shrugged Day.” Happy Belated Atlas Shrugged day to all!
The calendar that timed her race to get the JG line built was now “clocking her race against an unknown destroyer.”
Atlas Shrugged – Day 031 – pp. 304-313
But Hank has other struggles besides business and politics.
His personal dalliances have left him in a swamp of moral turpitude. (Turpitude, I like that word. Sounds messy.)
Back in Rome WI, Mayor Bascom had remarked about the woman “who was not Hank’s wife.”
Atlas Shrugged – Day 016 – pp. 154-163
Dagny questions the story… Can’t imagine why. However Francisco walks up and says he believes the story. The storyteller walks away in a huff — Nobody likes Francisco anymore…
He chuckled at her bursque departure. Dagny asked coldly, “What’s the joke?” Continue reading “Three strikes for Dagny”
Atlas Shrugged – Day 014 – pp. 134-143
The exposition of modern thought continues for a couple pages. They seem to be able to apply their planned economic ideas to almost anything…
“There should be a law limiting the sale of any book to ten thousand copies. This woudl throw the literary market open to new talent, fresh ideas and non-comercial writing. If people were forgidden to buy a millioin copies of the same piece of trash, they would be forced to bu better books.”
There’s a brief introduction of Bertram Scudder, editor of a magazine called The Future. He had penned an article once on Hank Rearden titled “the Octopus.” Continue reading “An explanation of the Mexican fiasco…”
Atlas Shrugged – Day 004 – pp. 33-43
We’ve got company.
His wife Lillian, his mother, his brother Phillip and an acquaintance Paul Larkin.
Henry’s late for (missed actually) dinner which apparently he promised he’d be home for. Time to dive into his head as we contrast him with the other (undoubted) losers in the room.
He has a great desire to tell the story behind his being late; that they’ve just poured the first heat of Rearden Metal but finds himself unable to do it, feeling as if he’d be making an excuse. Instead he acquiesces and apologizes.
Requisite ball busting ensues.
Continue reading “Hank Rearden (and his whole screwed up family) – pt 2”