:21:01
Well, the chairman
presides the meeting.
:21:03
That's what l thought.
:21:05
But, if you don't mind, I'm rather
interested in the treasurer's report.
:21:15
The treasurer reports a deficit
of $180,000 for the current year.
:21:19
A deficit?
You mean we lost that much?
:21:22
You see, Mr. Deeds, the opera
is not conducted for profit.
:21:26
It isn't?
What is it conducted for?
:21:28
It's an artistic institution.
:21:31
- We own an opera house, don't we?
- We do.
:21:33
- And we give shows?
- We provide opera.
:21:37
But you charge--
l mean, you sell tickets?
:21:39
- Of course.
- And it doesn't pay?
:21:41
Impossible.
The opera has never paid.
:21:43
Well, then, we must give
the wrong kind of shows.
:21:46
There isn't any wrong or right kind.
Opera is opera.
:21:50
l guess, but I wouldn't care to be head
of a business that kept losing money.
:21:55
That wouldn't be common sense.
:21:56
Incidentally, where is
the $180,000 coming from?
:22:00
Well, we were rather expecting it
to come from you.
:22:04
- Me?
- Naturally.
:22:07
Excuse me, gentlemen.
There's nothing natural about that.
:22:16
Fire engine!
:22:24
Gee, that was a pip!
:22:26
We're gonna have one like that in
Mandrake Falls soon, with a siren too.
:22:31
Uh, where were we?
:22:32
You see, the opera is not conducted
like any ordinary business.
:22:35
- Why not?
- Because it just isn't a business.
:22:38
Maybe it isn't to you,
but it certainly is to me...
:22:41
if l have to make up a loss
of $180,000.
:22:45
If it's losing that much money,
there must be something wrong.
:22:47
Maybe you charge too much.
Maybe you're selling bad merchandise.
:22:51
A lot of things.
l don't know.
:22:53
You see, I expect to do
a lot of good with that money...
:22:56
and I can't afford to put it into
anything that l don't look into.
:22:59
That's my decision
for the time being, gentlemen.