The Hudsucker Proxy

Moses, the Hudsucker Industries clock man, narrates, referring to the president of Hudsucker Industries as he appears ready to jump from a high ledge, "Is Norville really gonna jelly up the sidewalk?" (0:02)

Waring Hudsucker jumps through a high window to his death. (0:09)

Board member Sidney J. Mussburger, addresses the board: "What am I, a headshrinker?"
”What we need now is a new president who will inspire panic in the stockholder.” (0:10)

Employees react to the announcement of Hudsucker’s death. (0:15)

By telephone, Mussburger tells someone, "... I want an imbecile, not a cypher... Maybe you’re the company’s biggest moron..."
Mussberger asks mailroom worker Norville Barnes, ”What are you, a mute?... I’m in a bad mood.”
Trying to catch pages of a contract, Mussberger accidentally falls out the window. (0:20)

Mr. Bumstead tells Mussburger’s secretary, “I want to see Mussberger, or did he jump out a window too?” (0:26)

Norville: "Don’t worry, Mr. Mussburger..." (0:26)

Newspaper reporter Amy Archer tells editor Al, referring to Norville, "... the idiotic grin..." (0:31)

Amy tells Norville, "... I suppose it was the shock of eating after so long without the enzymes kicking in..."
”... I arrived in town... full of dreams... unsullied optimism...” (0:35)

By telephone, Amy tells Al, referring to Norville, "The guy’s a real moron, as in a five-letter word for imbecile." (0:39)

Newspaper headline: "Imbecile Heads Hudsucker" (0:41)

Norville dictates a letter to Amy, "How on earth would you know whether I’m an imbecile...? These wild speculations about my intelligence... rantings of a disordered mind..."
”Do you think I’m an imbecile?”
”Would an imbecile come up with this?”
”She’s probably just a little confused.”
Amy: ”Confused?”
Norville: ”Probably suffers from one of these complexes...”
Norville: ”I was thinking maybe The King and I.”
Amy slaps Norville’s face.
”How about Oklahoma!?” (0:41)

Moses tells Amy, referring to the board and Norville, "... they figured young Norville for an imbecile..."
”They’re trying to inspire panic...” (0:48)

Reporter Smitty tells Al, "Archer’s not gonna go gooey for a corn-fed idiot."
Al tells Amy, ”Get me some more of that moron from Sheboygan stuff.”
Amy smacks Smitty. (0:50)

Mussburger’s wife tells Norvill and another woman, "My watercooler romance became a mad passion." (0:51)

Stockholder Zebulon Cardoza: "What’s this I hear about you being an imbecile?"
Another stockholder punches Norville in the face. (0:52)

Norville tells Amy, "I guess people are pretty hot over this imbecile story." (0:54)

A board member asks Norville, referring to Norville’s invention, "Is there a larger model for the obese?" (1:00)

Reporter: "Barnes is the brainy inventor of America’s craziest craze: The hula hoop." (1:08)

Mussburger tells a board member, "... Stillson thought that dumping our position would panic the market..." (1:12)

Amy tells Norville, "... I thought you were an imbecile... it looks like you’re an imbecile after all..." (1:15)

Norville tells elevator operator Clarence “Buzz” Gunderson, referring to Buzz’s invention, "This is the most idiotic thing I’ve ever seen in my life."
”... pestering me with their idiotic brain waves...” (1:19)

Amy tells Al, referring to Buzz, "He’s an imbecile."
Amy smacks Smitty. (1:24)

Norville on psychoanalyst Dr. Bromfenbrenner’s couch
Psychoanalyst: ”Patient displayed listlessness, apathy... When asked what the Rorschach stains represented, patient replied... Patient shows no ambition... delusional gaiety...”
Chart: ”Psycho-mentality of patient... Euphoria...”
Mussburger: ”Diagnosis, Dr. Bromfenbrenner?”
Bromfenbrenner: ”Patient is eine manic-depressive paranoid, type B, with acute schizoid tendencies.”
Mussburger: ”So, patient is...”
Bromfenbrenner: ”Nuts.”
Mussburger: ”Prescription?”
Bromfenbrenner: ”Commitment, electroconvulsive therapy...” (1:25)

Newspaper headline: "MUNCIE MENTAL CASE...Headshrinker Calls Him Walking Time Bomb"
Newspaper boy: ”Man from Muncie’s a moron after all.” (1:30)

Mussburger tells the board, "... the president of Hudsucker Industries is headed for the booby hatch..." (1:31)

Buzz punches Norville.
Bystander, referring to Norville: ”Nuttier than a fruitcake.”
Men in white suits chase Norville with a straight jacket. (1:32)

Norville steps onto the ledge, apparently intent upon killing himself. (1:35)

Waring, now an angel, tells Norville, referring to the blue envelope, "It’s in your apron pocket... imbecile."
”Might keep you from jumping out any more windows.”
Norville reads the letter: ”You will no doubt be wondering why I’ve decided to end my tenure both at Hudsucker and here on earth... I have let my success become my identity...”
”Our next president must... without fears of the whims of... an impatient board...” (1:39)

Moses punches the sign painter in the face, then strikes him with his broomstick. (1:42)

Moses: "... Doc Bromfenbrenner... was able to keep Sidney from harming his old self. He prescribed a long rest in the... the booby hatch..."
Men in white coats approach Mussburger on a ledge with a straight jacket. Later they escort him down a hall, in the straight jacket. (1:44)