INTERIOR BEDROOM - NIGHT

Granddaughter is tucked in, Grandfather sitting on edge of bed as he reads from a book the story of John Henry.

GRANDFATHER (CONTINUING)

...and the steam drill could do the work of ten men. And all the men lost their jobs and went home, but big John Henry didn't stay home. He came into town the very next day.

GRANDDAUGHTER

Did Big John fight the steam drill?

GRANDFATHER

No he didn't. He marched right up to the government and asked for unemployment. And you know what? He got it too! Because big John Henry was the best there ever was at getting things.

Granddaughter a little confused but still listening hopefully.

GRANDFATHER (CONT'D)

So big John Henry didn't work for 26 weeks, and then got a 13 week extension from congress and then another 13 weeks for living in a high unemployment area. But one day he went to the office and the clerk said, "No more, big John Henry!"

GRANDDAUGHTER

Did Big John fight the clerk?

GRANDFATHER

No he didn't. He marched right up to the state capitol, and asked the governor for a training program for all the steel drivers so that THEY could be the ones to run the steam drill. And you know what? He got it too! Because big John Henry was the best there ever was at getting things.

Granddaughter yawns a bit.

GRANDFATHER (CONT'D)

So for six months big John Henry and his crew trained and when it was over they each took turns running the steam drill while the others watched, but the railroads, they weren't doing so well. And pretty soon the railroad was going to go broke and the CEO of a big corporation talked about buying the railroad for its assets and firing all the workers.

GRANDDAUGHTER

Did Big John fight the CEO?

GRANDFATHER

No he didn't. He marched all the way to Washington D.C. to see the president. And he asked for safeguards, and he asked for stabilization, and asked for modernization and innovation, and to stimulate demand, and to recapitalize and to pre-privatize, and when he had unloaded and reloaded three times all the asking for things he knew how, the president said you're right, John Henry, the railroads are too big to fail, so you work for me now. And big John henry and his friends got everything they wanted, and they all lived happily ever after because he was the best there ever was at getting things.

The end.

Granddaughter yawns, settles down in bed, very sleepy.

GRANDFATHER (CONT'D)

Now you sleep well little one.

GRANDDAUGHTER

(Confused)

I don't understand. Was big John Henry a hero Grandpa?

GRANDFATHER

Now baby you missed the whole point. You don't need to be a hero. You just need to know how to ask for things.

The End