This particular morning he was making mincemeat out of a presentation by a big time production company. We took a break and made the usual lineup at the urinals. One of the production company's people, stung by the executive's jabs, started laying into him looking for sympathy from me. I cagily replied, "He's tough, but fair. All he wants is a good show. What's wrong with that?" On the way out I noticed a pair of Italian shoes with feet attached in one of the stalls. The executive in question was the last person back in the conference room. Yep, the same shoes. From that day forward tough as nails was one of my staunchest champions -- and we never used that production company again. It could have so easily gone the other way if I had made the mistake of replying to the producer in kind.
Production Rule Number Twenty-Three: Never ever talk trash in a bathroom. If you feel you must, check every stall before saying a word.