It's amazing how many friends you can buy with a rich stepfather.
Is it possible that we're just a teeny bit jealous?
Maybe.
Talk, talk, talk. Let's dance.
You sure don't do anything halfway, big Jim.
Heh. There's no reason the Tate family shouldn't have the best,
and as long as I'm around,
that's what it's gonna have.
Laid off?
Paxton powers wants to move the light weapons division into new areas.
You mean he wants to dump me and hire someone else at a lower salary?
I won't dignify that with an answer.
Due to recent market reversals,
your severance package, alas, will be modest.
I built that division up from nothing.
I was in special forces. I've got degrees in electronic and engineering!
They'll have to hire 2 people to replace me.
Take it easy, Jim.
Look, Karen, I just got married.
I'm remodeling the house. I've got alimony.
Things are tight.
I mean, you started out as my assistant.
Put in a word for me. Let me outsource as a consultant
until I can find something else.
There's nothing I can do.
But the electrical contractor comes tomorrow,
and I've got to get a check to Mr. sweem for the new drapes.
What can I do to help, dad?
Hey, everyone stop right now.
You're looking at the best weapons designer around.
Other companies are already bidding for me.
This layoff is a huge blessing.
Now, let's stop all this panic
and go out to dinner.
Jared's buying.
Sorry, Jim, but the military's cutting back.
Hey, I'm lucky to have a job.
We've got a project coming up you'd be perfect for.
Can you hang on for 18 months?
What can I say, Jim?
These cutbacks affect everyone.
Force tech can't afford to bring you on board.
Force tech has a short memory, istvan.
I've helped you guys out before, under the table.
And we paid you generously.
Of course, there are certain
unofficial job opportunities.
Like what?
You once mentioned a sonic wave device
that could shatter steel,
the perfect anti-tank weapon.
I designed it, but Wayne-powers passed on a prototype.
Force tech has contacts with a certain foreign government
that is, oh...
Temporarily in disfavor with the world community.
If you were to build them a prototype,
they would be embarrassingly grateful.
It's not that easy.
I'd have to steal the specifications
and build the thing from scratch.
I understand, Jim. If it's too much,
you can always go live on your modest severance package,
but our client won't wait
and neither will I.
I need an answer now.
Yeah!
Unh!
Ah!
You're going to jail.
Easy or hard, it's up to you.
Hard isn't fun.
Unh!
Aah!
Unh! Oh...
Oh.
Unh!
Untraceable, tax-free.
A small down payment.
Not bad.
I still need to swipe a high capacity circuit board.
You made quite an impression on the web.
They're already calling you "the human armory."
You build this stuff, you test it,
but you always wonder how it'll work when the pressure's on.
Are you satisfied?
It was like war.
It is a war, Jim.
Every great conflict is centered around economic struggle.
Your personal battle for financial security
is no different.
Tell that to Batman. He almost got me.
You may have to take him out.
After all, wars have their casualties.
Still no official comment from Wayne-powers regarding last week's break-in.
However, sources state that armory
may have accessed top-secret research files.
I told those dummies to beef-up security.
Jim, honey,
Mr. sweem wants to knock out that old rock fireplace
and put in Italian marble.
I wasn't sure I'd like it, but he faxed over these designs...
I don't care.
It's just that, even discounted,
the marble is going to be 20% above the bid, not including...
I don't care!
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap.
Whatever you want, hon, I'm sure it'll look great.
I think I'll get some work done out back.
See you later.
How about this?
"Men with little heads"? Too retro.
I guess we don't say "hi" anymore.
Oh, Terry, sorry.
I was thinkin' about stuff.
I bet.
Where does the man who has everything put it all?
What is your problem?
Take it easy. I was just kidding.
Sorry. Sometimes she really ticks me off.
You ok?
Yeah, fine.
What's the matter?
It's my stepdad.
He's acting very un-shway.
Layoffs hit people hard.
Tell me. He's got a workshop. It's become his new home.
Mom and I aren't allowed in.
He's pushing us out of his life. It's not like him.
He's just depressed. Give him some time.
He'll snap out of it.
I guess so.
What's with Jared, the bond market crash?
His dad's a light weapons expert.
He gets laid off. Suddenly Wayne-powers is burglarized
by a guy with enough equipment to stand off a marine battalion.
Armory?
I gotta make sure.
Huh? What? Hey!
What hit us... electromagnets?
I don't know, but it took out our power.
Uhh!
Get outta here! Move! Move!
What are you doing in dad's drawer?
Just borrowing some socks.
Did he say when he was getting back?
No. He thought the meeting could run pretty late.
The client is very excited about this,
the possibilities of this new weapon of yours...
Must've left the lights on.
The war room.
Very shway.
You shouldn't be here, hegedes.
Plans change.
My principals have pushed the deadline forward.
I just have to install this circuit board,
then pay up, and we're finished,
and I mean it, hegedes.
Whatever you like, Jim,
but I thought you enjoyed being armory.
Let's just say it got a little too thrilling tonight.
There.
Ah!
Let go!
Unh!
Jared? Take your hands off him.
Don't do me any favors, armory.
Jared...
mom and I were worried sick about you,
but I guess blowing up the town comes first, you dreg.
This is very bad.
You'd better do something.
Back off.
Son, listen to me.
Listen!
I heard shouting. What's going on?
Armory?
Please, Lorraine, I had to.
No!
Don't you see? I did this for you!
For both of you.
I had to!
There was no other way. I was going to lose everything.
You wouldn't have lost us.
You did this for yourself, Jim.
All your high talk and big money.
You lied to us, and now...
listen, baby, it's over.
This was just a stopgap. That's all.
A way to get over the hump. It's gonna be ok.
How? 'Cause no one knows?
I know. Jared knows.
How in the name of heaven
is this ever gonna be ok?
What's that?
Look at your security camera.
Batman?
There's no way he followed me.
Let's see if he wants to drop in.
Istvan, no!
Unh!
I'm sorry, Jim, but either he goes or we go.
Dad, no!
I'm doing this for all of us.
Ah! Ah...
You're through, Batman.
Ah!
The war's over, istvan.
We lost.
Aah!
Ooh!
Ah!
Dad!
Hunh!
Aah!
Ooh!
So the judge was lenient. I'm glad.
My dad cooperated in every way.
Of course, he won't be home for a while.
And there's that fine.
Yeah. I heard you lost the car.
You meet more interesting people on public transportation.
Hey, I got my sister's car while she's away.
Any time you need a ride, I'm there, Jared.
You never made that offer to me.
Maybe you're spoiled.