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[Jazz music]
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[Clicks]
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[Whirring]
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[Recording plays]
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Woman: [INAUDIBLE]
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George Plimpton: Well it's so
nice to hear your voice.
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I'll tell you what I'm doing;
you know I'm doing this
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00:00:48,945 --> 00:00:51,913
huge history of good old
Truman Capote?
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00:00:51,948 --> 00:00:53,812
Woman: Yes?
10
00:00:53,846 --> 00:00:57,367
Man: And the people that he knew
and who talk about him
either pro or con
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00:00:57,402 --> 00:01:00,129
they all seem to have their
Truman stories.
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00:01:00,163 --> 00:01:01,889
Woman: Yes?
13
00:01:01,923 --> 00:01:03,235
Man: And I was wondering
if you could gather up
some of your memories?
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00:01:04,616 --> 00:01:07,377
Woman: And one of the most
seductive people I ever met.
15
00:01:07,412 --> 00:01:09,759
Man: I thought he was a freak,
absolute freak.
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Man: One of the most lionized
writers since Voltaire.
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Man: It's a sleazy bit of work.
18
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Woman: Oh he was wicked.
He was fun.
19
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Man: He was totally
made out of drugs.
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Man: It would feel like
a candied tarantula.
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Woman: It was still the naughty
little kid in Truman.
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Woman: I haven't had
a good laugh since he died.
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[Laughing]
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00:01:27,777 --> 00:01:29,468
George Plimpton: Do you think
he's the writer of the moment?
25
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Do you think Truman's going
to be read by generations?
26
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[Birds singing]
27
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Kate Harrington:
I'm Kate Harrington and I live
in Sheridan, Wyoming.
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[Car driving by]
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When I was 13 years old I was
basically adopted by Truman.
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I met Truman in my mother's
living room.
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And Truman was invited by
my father to come have dinner.
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00:02:04,883 --> 00:02:07,334
And he came in this big
limousine
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00:02:07,368 --> 00:02:11,234
out to our little neighbourhood,
about an hour outside
of Manhattan.
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00:02:11,269 --> 00:02:12,994
[Car engine]
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Kate Harrington: And of course
all the kids came to look
at the limousine.
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I'd never met anybody who spoke
like he did.
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Um, and at first I had
to run into the kitchen
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and take a tea towel, and cover
my face 'cause I laughed about
his - the sound of his voice.
39
00:02:27,216 --> 00:02:29,390
And then my mother reprimanded
me hardly.
40
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After that my father came home
one day and said
41
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I'm going to become his manager.
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So we said oh that's great.
43
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Wonderful, so we didn't think
anything of it,
44
00:02:42,334 --> 00:02:43,784
but he and my father
became lovers.
45
00:02:45,268 --> 00:02:48,547
They had an on and off
relationship, very tumultuous.
46
00:02:48,582 --> 00:02:51,861
My father had a lot of problems.
He was an alcoholic.
47
00:02:53,311 --> 00:02:56,176
When my dad left he left us
with no money.
48
00:02:57,832 --> 00:03:02,561
Truman's number was up
by the telephone, and
so I called him and said
49
00:03:02,596 --> 00:03:06,738
do any of your friends
need a helper this summer?
I need to get a job.
50
00:03:06,772 --> 00:03:08,947
Truman treated me like an adult
51
00:03:08,981 --> 00:03:13,054
and just said OK, well
why don't you come into New York
52
00:03:13,089 --> 00:03:15,367
and we'll have lunch
and discuss it?
53
00:03:15,402 --> 00:03:17,197
[Upbeat music]
54
00:03:18,888 --> 00:03:22,340
Kate Harrington: So I took
money out of the cookie jar,
played hooky,
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00:03:22,374 --> 00:03:25,929
got on the Long Island Railroad
and went into New York.
[Train whistle]
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00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:32,591
Truman told me how to do it
because I was so young.
57
00:03:33,765 --> 00:03:37,217
I gave the paper
with the address to the taxi
58
00:03:39,391 --> 00:03:41,945
and I went there to have lunch
with him.
59
00:03:45,742 --> 00:03:50,368
He said the only thing
you can do at your age to make
a good bit of money is model.
60
00:03:50,402 --> 00:03:54,268
I thought that was a crazy idea
because I had never thought
of myself in that way.
61
00:03:55,580 --> 00:03:59,377
He took me to Richard
Avedon Studio [camera flash]
62
00:04:01,724 --> 00:04:06,004
and just slowly, slowly, slowly
my whole world began to change.
63
00:04:07,523 --> 00:04:11,699
'Cause he opened up the doors
of literature, dance,
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00:04:11,734 --> 00:04:14,392
art, music, fashion.
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And meeting all kinds
of accomplished people.
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00:04:20,915 --> 00:04:22,814
[Camera flash]
67
00:04:22,848 --> 00:04:26,438
He always said he was writing
a wonderful book about them.
68
00:04:27,543 --> 00:04:30,649
Um, I used to get bored
at the lunches
69
00:04:30,684 --> 00:04:34,619
and so he told me once
on the way there that
what I should do
70
00:04:34,653 --> 00:04:39,382
is sit in the booth and listen
to the conversation
of the people next to us.
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00:04:41,039 --> 00:04:44,870
And on the way home
I could tell him everything
they talked about.
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00:04:44,905 --> 00:04:46,872
It was sort of fun for him.
73
00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:49,944
And ever since then
when I go to restaurants
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00:04:49,979 --> 00:04:52,050
I kind of do that out of habit.
75
00:04:52,982 --> 00:04:54,328
And I would write in my journal.
76
00:04:56,192 --> 00:05:00,610
Truman Capote: Tell me are you a
real writer? It depends on what
you mean by real.
77
00:05:00,645 --> 00:05:05,028
Well darling, does anyone buy
what you write? [Laughter]
78
00:05:05,650 --> 00:05:06,961
Not yet.
79
00:05:08,135 --> 00:05:11,690
I'm going to help you
she said. I can too.
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Think of all the people
I know who know people.
81
00:05:14,417 --> 00:05:16,143
[Upbeat jazz music]
82
00:05:16,177 --> 00:05:20,630
Fix me a drink darling, then you
can read me a story yourself.
83
00:05:24,910 --> 00:05:29,708
In America there is only one
social class
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00:05:30,847 --> 00:05:32,987
that really matters
in a cultural sense.
85
00:05:34,437 --> 00:05:37,682
And that is the quote
"high society of New York."
86
00:05:40,857 --> 00:05:42,583
I mean you can be the richest
87
00:05:42,618 --> 00:05:45,068
and most famous person in Boise,
Idaho and it doesn't matter.
88
00:05:46,518 --> 00:05:49,625
Unless you're famous in New York
you're not famous.
89
00:05:51,799 --> 00:05:53,836
These people took him up.
90
00:05:55,044 --> 00:05:57,115
Truman saw everything
and he remembered it.
91
00:05:58,668 --> 00:06:01,153
Sooner or later he was going
to put it down on paper.
92
00:06:03,846 --> 00:06:07,919
Female interviewer: An
assortment of celebrated people
pay $50 to sip the bubbly
93
00:06:07,953 --> 00:06:10,162
and exchanged small talk.
94
00:06:10,197 --> 00:06:14,512
Mr. Capote was on hand
for a benefit preview
of his newest offering.
95
00:06:14,546 --> 00:06:18,826
You're a part of the in-crowd.
You're also referred to
as the beautiful people,
96
00:06:18,861 --> 00:06:20,552
do you know what that
phrase means?
97
00:06:22,830 --> 00:06:25,143
I don't think that
any such thing really exists.
98
00:06:26,455 --> 00:06:28,146
It doesn't mean anything.
Does it to you?
99
00:06:29,596 --> 00:06:30,838
Female interviewer:
I don't know what it means.
100
00:06:30,873 --> 00:06:31,667
Well I don't know then.
101
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Maybe you could tell me.
102
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[Laughs]
103
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Thank you.
104
00:06:38,294 --> 00:06:41,504
Kate Harrington: Truman started
his day getting a cup of coffee
105
00:06:41,539 --> 00:06:44,024
and sitting, and talking
to gossip columnists.
106
00:06:45,819 --> 00:06:49,926
He'd trade all the gossip
and they would discuss
all the happenings,
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00:06:49,961 --> 00:06:53,585
secrets and you know I'd
hear him laughing hysterically
108
00:06:53,620 --> 00:06:56,208
that kind of hilarious,
guttural laugh.
109
00:06:56,243 --> 00:06:58,176
[Laughing]
110
00:07:00,799 --> 00:07:02,145
Oh well that wasn't
in the thing...
111
00:07:06,564 --> 00:07:07,703
[Laughter]
112
00:07:30,346 --> 00:07:35,489
Sally Quinn: He was a fantastic
gossip. He knew everything. So
you could sit next to
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00:07:35,524 --> 00:07:37,595
Truman it was just a dream come
true
114
00:07:37,629 --> 00:07:41,046
because he would just you
know? [Laughs]
115
00:07:41,081 --> 00:07:42,772
Just spill it all out.
116
00:07:45,603 --> 00:07:47,501
So you would just eat it up.
117
00:07:49,158 --> 00:07:52,161
And thank god he [laughs]
he never thought he wanted
to write about me
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00:07:53,265 --> 00:07:56,096
'cause God knows
what I told him. [Laughs]
119
00:07:57,373 --> 00:07:59,962
And he was bitchy,
but he was smart.
120
00:07:59,996 --> 00:08:00,928
I really mean this.
121
00:08:00,963 --> 00:08:02,723
Johnny Carson: Yeah?
122
00:08:02,758 --> 00:08:06,520
That the less intelligent the
performer is the better he is.
123
00:08:06,555 --> 00:08:13,527
For instance Marlon Brando is
an absolutely marvellous actor,
124
00:08:13,562 --> 00:08:15,805
but he's so dumb it makes
your skin crawl.
125
00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:19,119
[Audience laughter]
126
00:08:19,153 --> 00:08:21,880
John Richardson: He'd encourage
you to come up with stories
127
00:08:21,915 --> 00:08:26,298
which he would then make
much more Trumanesque
and-and bizarre,
128
00:08:27,852 --> 00:08:31,269
and conversations with him
were-were-were enormous fun
129
00:08:31,303 --> 00:08:34,997
and had very little to do
with the truth.
130
00:08:36,895 --> 00:08:41,210
I can't remember exactly
when I first met Truman
because he was everywhere.
131
00:08:41,244 --> 00:08:44,662
Any sort of big party
you went to in New York
I mean there was Truman.
132
00:08:45,904 --> 00:08:49,114
You think you could cut
that scene out? [Laughs]
133
00:08:50,909 --> 00:08:53,705
Jay McInerney:
New York for many of us
is the ultimate destination.
134
00:08:55,604 --> 00:08:59,331
The biggest stage that there is.
In New York nobody cares
where you came from.
135
00:09:00,954 --> 00:09:04,716
Nobody cares you know really
even where you went to school
136
00:09:04,751 --> 00:09:08,237
or who your parents are.
They just want to know you know
how entertaining you are.
137
00:09:08,271 --> 00:09:10,826
[Ominous jazz music]
138
00:09:10,860 --> 00:09:13,138
What are you doing tonight?
139
00:09:15,900 --> 00:09:20,318
Narrator: Call it New York
call it whatever you like.
The name hardly matters.
140
00:09:21,802 --> 00:09:24,080
Entering from the great reality
of elsewhere
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00:09:24,115 --> 00:09:26,117
one is only in search of a city.
142
00:09:26,151 --> 00:09:29,085
A place to lose or discover
one's self.
143
00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:33,262
To make a dream wherein
you prove you're not
an ugly duckling,
144
00:09:33,296 --> 00:09:35,885
but wonderful and worthy
of love.
145
00:09:37,680 --> 00:09:39,233
As you thought sitting
on a stoop,
146
00:09:39,268 --> 00:09:40,959
planning your search for a city.
147
00:10:05,018 --> 00:10:05,708
Woman: Why?
148
00:10:59,279 --> 00:11:01,005
His first book at the age of 23
he was -
149
00:11:01,039 --> 00:11:03,801
it was you know a beautiful
little coming of age novel
150
00:11:03,835 --> 00:11:06,389
set against a rural background.
151
00:11:07,183 --> 00:11:09,427
A small southern town.
152
00:11:11,153 --> 00:11:15,157
I think somebody - one reviewer
called it the Fairy Huck Finn.
153
00:11:15,191 --> 00:11:16,779
[Laughs]
154
00:11:18,539 --> 00:11:21,094
Just about as explicit as you
could be back then I guess
in a book review.
155
00:11:22,095 --> 00:11:23,303
[Upbeat jazz]
156
00:11:52,573 --> 00:11:56,198
Narrator: Radclif eyed the boy
over the rim of his beer glass.
157
00:11:56,232 --> 00:11:59,166
He had his notions of what
a real boy should look like.
158
00:11:59,201 --> 00:12:04,378
And this kid offended them.
He was too pretty, too delicate
and fair-skinned.
159
00:12:04,413 --> 00:12:08,003
Each of his features was shaped
with a sensitive accuracy.
160
00:12:10,488 --> 00:12:13,491
A girlish tenderness softened
his eyes which were brown
and very large.
161
00:12:15,079 --> 00:12:18,910
His hair cut short was streaked
with pure yellow strands.
162
00:12:36,617 --> 00:12:38,619
George Plimpton: Well he was
rather a spectacle wasn't he?
163
00:12:38,654 --> 00:12:41,761
Nothing ever like him on the
American scene really.
164
00:12:44,142 --> 00:12:49,147
I mean a very astonishing
figure. Did you invite him
to your house often?
165
00:12:49,182 --> 00:12:51,805
[Upbeat jazz]
166
00:12:54,877 --> 00:12:57,155
Jay McInerney: For many years
George's parties
167
00:12:57,190 --> 00:12:58,881
were the literary centre
of New York City.
168
00:13:01,021 --> 00:13:05,439
George had given me my break
and he was taking me around
and introducing me to everybody.
169
00:13:05,474 --> 00:13:10,790
And of course inevitably I got
to Truman who was very friendly
shall we say? [Laughs]
170
00:13:12,688 --> 00:13:16,968
There was a little bit of
groping involved, but he was
easily fended off you know,
171
00:13:17,003 --> 00:13:19,799
he was playing the aging queen.
172
00:13:21,455 --> 00:13:23,354
You know early success
is a bit of a curse.
173
00:13:24,562 --> 00:13:28,393
You can get locked into
an image, a persona
174
00:13:28,428 --> 00:13:34,537
which is based on the public's
first glimpse of you.
175
00:13:34,572 --> 00:13:39,819
In my case it was the
coke-snorting. Night clubbing
protagonist of my first novel.
176
00:13:41,096 --> 00:13:45,065
In his case this effete,
elfin little southern boy.
177
00:13:46,446 --> 00:13:48,344
Norman Mailer: We lived
a block away from one another.
178
00:15:12,773 --> 00:15:17,192
♪ Broadway, Broadway
everybody's happy. ♪
179
00:15:17,226 --> 00:15:20,574
♪ Hanging where the nights
are brighter than day ♪
180
00:15:20,609 --> 00:15:22,197
♪ All along Broadway.
181
00:15:45,358 --> 00:15:47,670
Colm Toibin: Every gay life in
those years took courage.
182
00:15:49,189 --> 00:15:52,675
So much self-invention,
so much care, so much work.
183
00:15:53,607 --> 00:15:56,334
So much looking in the mirror
184
00:15:56,369 --> 00:16:00,407
thinking who in the name of God
is this that I'm looking at?
185
00:16:00,442 --> 00:16:01,788
Or everyone did
186
00:16:01,822 --> 00:16:05,516
and I think that fed him,
and nourished him as a writer.
187
00:16:07,414 --> 00:16:10,521
It wasn't as though
he was seeing himself
in television, or in the movies,
188
00:16:10,555 --> 00:16:13,006
or represented in any other way.
189
00:16:13,041 --> 00:16:15,319
There was no one in the mirror
when he looked.
190
00:16:15,353 --> 00:16:18,736
So then he could represent
himself in an entirely new way
191
00:16:18,770 --> 00:16:21,532
with full honesty,
full disclosure.
192
00:16:21,566 --> 00:16:23,844
Well this is who I am.
I am your local gay.
193
00:16:23,879 --> 00:16:27,124
There has to be one,
and I am he.
194
00:16:28,504 --> 00:16:31,783
[Sad piano music]
195
00:16:36,857 --> 00:16:39,136
Narrator: He swished the
lavender curtains apart.
196
00:16:40,723 --> 00:16:43,485
Joel's image floated
on the looking glass.
197
00:16:44,865 --> 00:16:48,041
His formless reflected
face was wide lit
198
00:16:49,215 --> 00:16:53,012
as if it were a heat-softened
wax effigy.
199
00:18:04,290 --> 00:18:07,845
It was a strong feeling you know
with I don't know
200
00:18:07,879 --> 00:18:13,195
the sort of book crowd
that Truman wasn't entirely
serious perhaps.
201
00:18:13,954 --> 00:18:18,752
[Reporter speaking in French]
202
00:18:20,651 --> 00:18:24,724
Jay McInerney: There was a sharp
divide between high culture and
low culture.
203
00:18:24,758 --> 00:18:27,140
And yet Truman kind of straddled
that border.
204
00:18:31,834 --> 00:18:34,630
Truman Capote: Would you like me
to read a scene from Breakfast
at Tiffany's?
205
00:18:34,665 --> 00:18:36,770
[Audience applauds]
206
00:18:36,805 --> 00:18:39,808
Jay McInerney: Most people
say him as the author of
Breakfast at Tiffany's.
207
00:18:39,842 --> 00:18:43,432
Truman Capote: "I've got the
most terrifying man downstairs"
208
00:18:43,467 --> 00:18:46,435
she said stepping off
the fire escape into the room.
209
00:18:46,470 --> 00:18:48,679
"I mean he's sweet, but he isn't
drunk, but let him start
210
00:18:48,713 --> 00:18:52,441
lapping up the vino and oh God
quel beast!
211
00:18:52,476 --> 00:18:55,893
If there's one thing I loathe
it's men who bite."
212
00:18:57,274 --> 00:18:59,897
She loosened a grey flannel robe
off her shoulder
213
00:18:59,931 --> 00:19:02,486
to show me evidence of
what happens if a man bites.
214
00:19:03,383 --> 00:19:07,146
[Moon River plays in background]
215
00:19:37,383 --> 00:19:39,212
Sadie Stein: We all think
of Audrey Hepburn now
216
00:19:39,247 --> 00:19:42,250
and of course you read the book
and it's completely different.
217
00:19:42,284 --> 00:19:46,702
She's a barely legal teenager
from Appalachia or something
218
00:19:48,048 --> 00:19:53,537
and quite openly a prostitute.
Makes no bones about it.
219
00:19:55,297 --> 00:20:02,235
And is a strange combination
of manipulative and used
by the world.
220
00:20:04,375 --> 00:20:08,586
The book is a lot grittier.
There's much less of a facade
of glamour.
221
00:20:09,863 --> 00:20:11,969
Of course it doesn't have
the love story.
222
00:20:14,558 --> 00:20:18,941
What do you think? This ought
to be the right kind of place
for a tough guy like you.
223
00:20:18,976 --> 00:20:20,805
Garbage cans, rats galore.
224
00:20:21,599 --> 00:20:23,981
Scram! I said take off!
225
00:20:26,708 --> 00:20:27,536
George Plimpton: Oh yeah?
226
00:20:41,101 --> 00:20:45,623
Announcer: Audrey Hepburn
as Holly Golightly searching
for love in the big town.
227
00:21:25,732 --> 00:21:29,322
Jay McInerney: I think there's
a lot of Truman's own mother
in Holly Golightly.
228
00:21:29,357 --> 00:21:32,360
Truman's mother was like Holly
from a small southern town.
229
00:21:33,395 --> 00:21:36,087
She was also a bit of
a courtesan.
230
00:22:13,573 --> 00:22:17,370
Kate Harrington: Truman's
childhood was in some ways
heart-breaking.
231
00:22:17,405 --> 00:22:20,477
His mother abandoned him
and left him in rural Alabama,
232
00:22:21,719 --> 00:22:24,757
and he got to stay with
these couple of aunts
233
00:22:24,791 --> 00:22:28,933
and he - his cousin was his
dear friend who he called Sook.
234
00:22:30,176 --> 00:22:33,110
She probably had some
developmental problems.
235
00:22:34,525 --> 00:22:36,976
So she saved him.
236
00:22:38,771 --> 00:22:41,912
Narrator: Spoons spin around
in bowls of butter and sugar.
237
00:22:43,465 --> 00:22:46,641
Melting, nose-tingling odours
saturate
the kitchen
238
00:22:46,675 --> 00:22:49,920
and drift out into the world
on puffs of chimney smoke.
239
00:22:54,614 --> 00:22:56,444
We are cousins,
240
00:22:56,478 --> 00:22:59,032
and have lived together as long
as I can remember.
241
00:22:59,826 --> 00:23:01,759
We are shy with everyone.
242
00:23:03,174 --> 00:23:06,419
Other people inhabit the house
and frequently make us cry.
243
00:23:07,731 --> 00:23:10,181
We are not too much aware
of them.
244
00:23:16,533 --> 00:23:19,121
Colm Toibin: All of those
relationships are distant.
245
00:23:19,156 --> 00:23:20,709
He's brought up in this
household
246
00:23:22,124 --> 00:23:24,575
where there's no possibility
of either mother or father.
247
00:23:25,749 --> 00:23:28,993
Orphanhood, in other words
he was brought up
248
00:23:29,028 --> 00:23:31,099
by the same people who'd brought
his mother up.
249
00:23:31,996 --> 00:23:34,516
And so I mean you just imagine
250
00:23:34,551 --> 00:23:40,626
that you know that it's
the second generation of people
who come from broken marriages.
251
00:23:40,660 --> 00:23:44,181
He said to me once how do you
think I felt living there?
252
00:23:45,009 --> 00:23:46,666
I'm little but I'm old.
253
00:23:46,701 --> 00:23:49,911
Kate Harrington: He said here's
this little gay, sawed off man.
254
00:23:49,945 --> 00:23:54,156
I guess 'cause he means
he was so short. He said
it was dreadful.
255
00:23:54,191 --> 00:23:57,159
Come on. [Mischievous music]
256
00:23:59,334 --> 00:24:02,786
Jay McInerney: Truman shared
a childhood with his aunts,
and with his buddy Harper Lee
257
00:24:04,719 --> 00:24:08,757
in the small southern town
which was later immortalised
not only by Truman,
258
00:24:08,792 --> 00:24:11,450
but also by Harper Lee
in To Kill a Mockingbird.
259
00:24:12,796 --> 00:24:14,487
Kate Harrington: Harper Lee
was someone who he loved.
260
00:24:16,282 --> 00:24:20,286
In To Kill a Mockingbird he's
that little, annoying boy
who lives next door.
261
00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:23,185
Good morning. My you're up
mighty bright and early.
262
00:24:24,117 --> 00:24:25,843
Well I've been up since 4:00.
263
00:24:25,878 --> 00:24:26,465
Calpurnia: 4:00?
264
00:24:27,742 --> 00:24:30,158
Oh yes, I always get up at 4:00.
It's in my blood.
265
00:24:31,608 --> 00:24:34,990
You see my daddy was
a railroad man till he got rich.
266
00:24:35,025 --> 00:24:37,268
Now he flies airplanes.
267
00:24:37,303 --> 00:24:40,340
One of these days he's just
going to swoop down here
at Maycomb,
268
00:24:40,375 --> 00:24:41,997
pick me up and take me
for a ride.
269
00:24:44,552 --> 00:24:46,243
Colm Toibin: I mean people kept
letters from him.
270
00:24:47,727 --> 00:24:49,798
There are two early letters
both of which I love.
271
00:24:49,833 --> 00:24:51,835
One to the novelist
Thomas Flannigan
272
00:24:51,869 --> 00:24:54,354
who is a schoolmate
and just a letter saying
273
00:24:54,389 --> 00:24:58,911
all the lies I have been
spreading about Thomas Flannigan
are untrue.
274
00:24:58,945 --> 00:25:01,292
I promise never to say anything
about him to anyone again.
275
00:25:01,327 --> 00:25:04,157
In other words that already aged
10, 11, 12
276
00:25:04,192 --> 00:25:07,540
he was known as someone who made
things up and caused trouble.
277
00:25:07,575 --> 00:25:09,749
And he also was known as someone
278
00:25:09,784 --> 00:25:12,234
who could switch identities
and wanted to do so.
279
00:25:12,269 --> 00:25:14,616
And the other is to his father.
280
00:25:14,651 --> 00:25:18,344
Narrator: As you know my name
was changed from Persons to
Capote, and I would appreciate
281
00:25:18,378 --> 00:25:21,554
that in the future you would
address me as Truman Capote.
282
00:25:21,589 --> 00:25:24,005
As everyone knows me
by that name.
283
00:25:24,039 --> 00:25:26,145
Announcer: Truman Capote's
Breakfast at Tiffany's.
284
00:25:26,179 --> 00:25:27,698
[Whistles]
285
00:25:27,733 --> 00:25:28,975
Kate Harrington: Truman's
mother went to New York.
286
00:25:29,010 --> 00:25:31,322
Won't you join me?
287
00:25:31,357 --> 00:25:35,326
Kate Harrington: She was very
pretty and she finally captured
a rich man, Joe Capote.
288
00:25:37,190 --> 00:25:38,813
I'd marry you for your money
in a minute.
289
00:25:39,814 --> 00:25:40,884
Would you marry me
for my money?
290
00:25:41,781 --> 00:25:42,817
In a minute.
291
00:25:44,439 --> 00:25:46,924
Kate Harrington: Truman's mother
asked Truman when he was
in his teens
292
00:25:46,959 --> 00:25:50,894
to come live with Joe Capote
and her. And Joe adopted him.
293
00:25:52,447 --> 00:25:55,139
Jay McInerney: Truman's mother
was someone who wanted to
294
00:25:55,174 --> 00:25:57,107
achieve success in the city,
and in fact did.
295
00:25:59,109 --> 00:26:03,631
She actually lived on
Park Avenue for a while and
made a splash as a hostess.
296
00:26:23,443 --> 00:26:25,929
Kate Harrington:
Later in his life in the 50s
297
00:26:25,963 --> 00:26:31,279
Nina had a very sad end
where she killed herself.
298
00:26:31,313 --> 00:26:35,801
So - and Truman always said
that, that was the thing
that he drank over.
299
00:26:37,354 --> 00:26:41,289
He would say to me I watched
my mother die in my arms.
300
00:26:42,773 --> 00:26:45,914
I don't know if that's true,
but I - that's what he said.
301
00:26:45,949 --> 00:26:48,365
I mean Truman used to always say
302
00:26:48,399 --> 00:26:50,885
don't let the truth get in
the way of a good story.
303
00:26:52,921 --> 00:26:55,406
Sadie Stein: His mother
did not accept him.
304
00:26:56,822 --> 00:26:59,687
Despite his celebrity,
despite his brilliance
305
00:27:02,517 --> 00:27:06,210
was never happy about
his sexuality.
306
00:27:10,490 --> 00:27:13,252
But to have a parent
commit suicide,
307
00:27:13,286 --> 00:27:17,014
especially one with whom you
haven't had a good relationship,
308
00:27:19,016 --> 00:27:22,986
that's one of the most traumatic
things that can happen
to someone at any age.
309
00:27:23,020 --> 00:27:24,884
And...
310
00:27:27,128 --> 00:27:29,751
you don't get resolution
for that.
311
00:27:31,753 --> 00:27:34,100
Dotson Rader: He was embittered
by his mother. She essentially
tossed him out.
312
00:27:35,861 --> 00:27:39,036
I don't know how old he was
four, five, six
something like that.
313
00:27:40,279 --> 00:27:42,246
And I don't think he ever
forgave her for that.
314
00:27:44,007 --> 00:27:50,047
And I think it's the reason
he had this terrible need
to be loved.
315
00:27:50,082 --> 00:27:52,325
And I don't think Truman
ever thought he was loved.
316
00:27:53,533 --> 00:27:55,881
I'm serious I don't
think he ever found it.
317
00:27:57,572 --> 00:28:01,887
Hello Carole how are you?
Nice to see you again.
Well here we are.
318
00:29:14,476 --> 00:29:18,515
♪ "The Girl From Ipanema"
319
00:30:08,082 --> 00:30:10,429
Kate Harrington: He loved Babe
more than the others.
320
00:30:10,463 --> 00:30:13,846
And I only say that because
he talked about her the most.
321
00:30:17,574 --> 00:30:20,577
Narrator: Isn't it true that an
impression of coldness
accompanies perfection?
322
00:30:21,992 --> 00:30:24,029
Might it be that what you feel
is actually fear?
323
00:30:26,031 --> 00:30:31,277
It is as much fright as
appreciation which causes
the stabbed-by-an-icicle chill
324
00:30:32,692 --> 00:30:37,456
that for a moment murders us
when a swan swims into view.
325
00:30:48,674 --> 00:30:51,090
Truman Capote: I come
from St. Teresa;
326
00:30:51,125 --> 00:30:53,990
more tears are shared
over answered prayers than
unanswered ones.
327
00:30:55,301 --> 00:30:59,650
And I thoroughly believe
that to be a great truth.
328
00:31:21,672 --> 00:31:25,124
♪ "The Girl From Ipanema"
329
00:31:25,159 --> 00:31:28,645
Dotson Rader: Women ruled
New York society.
330
00:31:30,681 --> 00:31:32,511
At the very top of high society
331
00:31:32,545 --> 00:31:35,410
were some extraordinary
looking women
332
00:31:35,445 --> 00:31:38,310
who had great grace,
intelligence,
333
00:31:38,344 --> 00:31:40,001
and most importantly
great taste.
334
00:31:42,038 --> 00:31:46,283
Sadie Stein: The effort
was visible, and the money
that went into it was visible.
335
00:31:48,044 --> 00:31:51,150
And I think some
of that artistry,
336
00:31:52,358 --> 00:31:54,567
the literal putting on of masks
and costumes
337
00:31:54,602 --> 00:31:57,225
must have very much appealed
338
00:31:57,260 --> 00:32:00,539
to someone as naturally
theatrical as Truman Capote.
339
00:32:02,161 --> 00:32:04,750
These women were brought up
in a world of polish and shine.
340
00:32:04,784 --> 00:32:06,717
Although we were probably doing
the polishing and shining.
341
00:32:09,203 --> 00:32:14,001
Someone I know in fashion
had her handbags polished
by her French maid Yvonne.
342
00:32:14,725 --> 00:32:17,590
Yvonne ironed how $5 bills.
343
00:32:19,558 --> 00:32:22,492
So if she needed to catch a taxi
after dinner she'd have a crisp
$5 bill.
344
00:32:24,080 --> 00:32:27,531
This is the kind of thing that
creates the legacy of style.
345
00:32:27,566 --> 00:32:30,431
And it is permanent.
It is a style that goes forever.
346
00:32:33,158 --> 00:32:36,402
And it's aspirational.
It is totally aspirational.
347
00:32:39,440 --> 00:32:46,240
Truman opened up these gates
to this sort of paradise
he prepared for himself.
348
00:33:18,824 --> 00:33:22,448
Colm Toibin: His letters are
amazing. If he goes on a boat
with five people
349
00:33:22,483 --> 00:33:25,762
he has a vicious thing to say
about each of them. Oh her last
doctor said no more face lifts.
350
00:33:27,660 --> 00:33:31,871
Or the man who had his face
lathered by 10 year old boys
every morning.
351
00:33:31,906 --> 00:33:36,704
It's just disgusting and you
know, everyone's disgusting.
Everyone's boring him.
352
00:33:38,775 --> 00:33:42,089
He's in Greece and he says
the only words of Greek
he's learned
353
00:33:42,123 --> 00:33:45,678
is "go away fat girl.
Go away fat boy."
354
00:33:47,818 --> 00:33:51,132
Dotson Rader: You don't break
into that world; you're taken up
by that world.
355
00:33:51,788 --> 00:33:54,377
Because the chief problem
356
00:33:55,550 --> 00:33:59,658
that rich people face is
the endemic boredom
357
00:34:00,555 --> 00:34:03,593
of living in a social ghetto.
358
00:34:03,627 --> 00:34:07,286
Because one class of people
all think the same way.
359
00:34:07,321 --> 00:34:10,841
All who have the same desires,
all who have roughly the same
amount of wealth
360
00:34:11,808 --> 00:34:14,155
and they bore each other silly.
361
00:34:31,345 --> 00:34:33,795
[Upbeat jazz music]
362
00:34:38,938 --> 00:34:41,769
Dotson Rader:
Can you imagine the dinner
parties he was invited to,
363
00:34:41,803 --> 00:34:44,082
if he didn't go how boring
they would be?
364
00:34:45,393 --> 00:34:51,399
He was expected to perform
and perform he did.
365
00:34:51,434 --> 00:34:55,127
Oh God, didn't you
ever hear this story?
366
00:34:55,162 --> 00:34:57,716
They had him as the
entertainment.
367
00:34:57,750 --> 00:35:01,202
Which must've been exhausting
for Truman on some level
368
00:35:01,237 --> 00:35:03,894
to always feel like you had
to be on,
369
00:35:03,929 --> 00:35:08,658
but I think he thought it was
a small price to pay
to get to live that life.
370
00:35:09,417 --> 00:35:12,386
So watch out. [Laughs]
371
00:35:12,420 --> 00:35:15,734
[Water splashing]
372
00:35:37,583 --> 00:35:43,141
Well in those days homosexuality
was not acceptable.
373
00:35:44,349 --> 00:35:47,214
There were very, very few people
who were out.
374
00:35:48,836 --> 00:35:53,012
But there were you know
people used to call them walkers
you know?
375
00:35:53,047 --> 00:35:57,810
That - a lot of women would have
gay men take them to parties
and that sort of thing.
376
00:36:00,019 --> 00:36:04,921
And everybody sort of knew
who was and who wasn't,
but no one ever discussed it.
377
00:36:07,648 --> 00:36:12,825
I'm sure their husbands did.
The word pansy was flying
around Park Avenue.
378
00:36:14,033 --> 00:36:16,829
Straight people or as we call
them breeders
379
00:36:18,383 --> 00:36:22,041
looked at Truman like they
looked as effeminate gay men.
380
00:36:22,076 --> 00:36:24,768
Objects of contempt
and ridicule.
381
00:36:26,598 --> 00:36:29,877
Loel Guiness: Gloria loved him.
She stayed with him a lot.
382
00:36:29,911 --> 00:36:33,881
I used to say it's bedtime,
off you go because he'd talk
all night.
383
00:36:33,915 --> 00:36:36,918
Yes pa, off he'd go.
384
00:36:38,265 --> 00:36:42,545
Truman had thought of himself
as a master.
385
00:36:44,857 --> 00:36:50,794
And then it becomes clear to him
that they think of him
as a servant.
386
00:36:51,864 --> 00:36:54,315
And that was a blow.
387
00:36:56,041 --> 00:36:57,767
[Wind blowing]
388
00:37:19,996 --> 00:37:20,997
[Laughs]
389
00:37:21,998 --> 00:37:23,689
[Upbeat jazz music]
390
00:37:28,970 --> 00:37:32,457
Colm Toibin:
He didn't get a story.
He was out of his own world.
391
00:37:32,491 --> 00:37:35,045
He would lose himself
in his own world.
392
00:37:36,150 --> 00:37:38,773
And that story
seemed to him Kansas.
393
00:37:42,121 --> 00:37:46,298
It was so far away from what
he was doing that it sort of
woke him up.
394
00:37:54,686 --> 00:37:58,137
Truman Capote: In Cold Blood
is the story of these six people
395
00:37:58,172 --> 00:38:02,625
who died together November
15th, 1959
396
00:38:02,659 --> 00:38:04,420
and my book is the story
of their lives and their deaths.
397
00:38:06,560 --> 00:38:11,081
Jay McInerney: He steps entirely
outside his world, his comfort
zone, and even his genre.
398
00:38:12,117 --> 00:38:12,807
He called it a non-fiction
novel.
399
00:38:14,533 --> 00:38:18,054
But until that moment
novels had been [laughs]
precisely fiction.
400
00:38:20,056 --> 00:38:23,956
Once you blend fiction
and non-fiction things get
a little slippery you know?
401
00:38:24,578 --> 00:38:26,442
It is dangerous.
402
00:38:28,547 --> 00:38:34,035
This is the new adventure
of mine; this experiment is what
I call the non-fiction novel.
403
00:38:38,488 --> 00:38:43,355
Colm Toibin: He did a thing
that journalists do which is
to engrace yourself with people
404
00:38:43,390 --> 00:38:45,564
whom you don't know,
who you hope never to see again
405
00:38:45,599 --> 00:38:47,739
but you want to be
their best friend
406
00:38:47,773 --> 00:38:52,053
just now because you need
to get something from them:
a quote, a story.
407
00:38:52,088 --> 00:38:56,195
The difference with Truman
Capote was that he did it
over a six year period
408
00:38:56,230 --> 00:38:59,371
and that he did it to most
of Kansas.
409
00:38:59,406 --> 00:39:03,720
[Birds singing]
410
00:39:46,867 --> 00:39:50,249
Sadie Stein: There's so much
speculation about the degree
411
00:39:50,284 --> 00:39:54,737
to which Capote manipulated
his subjects especially in
In Cold Blood.
412
00:39:57,291 --> 00:40:00,467
That he became very close
to Perry Smith
413
00:40:02,089 --> 00:40:06,507
to exhort personal confessions
from him to enliven
the narrative.
414
00:40:07,991 --> 00:40:10,753
Truman Capote: This is a picture
of Perry and these were taken
415
00:40:10,787 --> 00:40:12,099
the very day he was captured
and went to prison.
416
00:40:14,066 --> 00:40:18,726
See there they were taken
during the course of my very
first interview with him.
417
00:40:18,761 --> 00:40:21,419
Colm Toibin: Harper Lee
who was there says
418
00:40:22,661 --> 00:40:24,698
the minute he appeared
and Truman Capote saw him
419
00:40:26,631 --> 00:40:33,534
he had something that matched,
something that worked.
It was a sexual thing.
420
00:40:36,054 --> 00:40:38,090
Of course it upped
the whole business of his book
421
00:40:38,125 --> 00:40:41,197
because he was writing a book
about a sort of figure
422
00:40:42,025 --> 00:40:44,683
that he had come to want.
423
00:40:46,685 --> 00:40:50,655
Which do you think?
That's the picture of Perry
I think is the best.
424
00:40:50,689 --> 00:40:53,934
Colm Toibin: It's possible to
say that he went into the story
425
00:40:53,968 --> 00:40:55,832
with his own Cold Blood.
426
00:40:55,867 --> 00:40:59,111
He was using his charm to get
close to all these people.
427
00:41:00,181 --> 00:41:01,493
But he was also emotionally
involved.
428
00:41:03,322 --> 00:41:07,085
Be very, very careful
how you read this story.
He was needy too.
429
00:41:09,052 --> 00:41:11,710
Perry was a strange and
difficult boy,
430
00:41:11,745 --> 00:41:15,127
but we became very um, very,
431
00:41:16,543 --> 00:41:19,097
very close too and very intimate
sort of
432
00:41:19,994 --> 00:41:22,825
an intense sort of friendship.
433
00:41:22,859 --> 00:41:27,692
Don't know if friendship's
exactly the word, but some kind
of very intense relationship
434
00:41:27,726 --> 00:41:33,870
having to do with his total
loneliness.
435
00:41:35,285 --> 00:41:38,530
And of course because of
my work.
436
00:41:42,016 --> 00:41:46,538
His own face enthralled him.
Each angle of it induced
a different impression.
437
00:41:47,884 --> 00:41:51,267
It was a changing face
and mirror guided experiments
438
00:41:51,301 --> 00:41:53,649
had taught him how to bring
the changes,
439
00:41:53,683 --> 00:41:57,238
how to look now ominous,
now impish, now soulful.
440
00:41:57,273 --> 00:41:59,551
A tilt of the head,
a twist of the lips
441
00:41:59,586 --> 00:42:02,209
and the corrupt gypsy became
the gentle romantic.
442
00:42:06,247 --> 00:42:09,009
Man: I really think you've
written a masterpiece here.
443
00:42:09,043 --> 00:42:13,013
Well, thank you. You'll get
a much better dedication
444
00:42:13,047 --> 00:42:16,016
[laughs]
because of that sweet thing.
445
00:42:17,362 --> 00:42:19,675
Announcer: A book about
this crime by Truman Capote
446
00:42:19,709 --> 00:42:21,193
became a worldwide bestseller.
447
00:42:22,643 --> 00:42:25,646
Now a motion picture brings
this book to the screen.
448
00:42:29,305 --> 00:42:31,031
[Gunshot]
449
00:42:32,446 --> 00:42:35,207
Colm Toibin: He wrote too many
letters to too many people
450
00:42:35,242 --> 00:42:37,382
in the months beforehand saying
451
00:42:37,416 --> 00:42:39,833
he needed a goddamn execution
to end this book.
452
00:42:41,041 --> 00:42:44,009
Saying the stays of execution
have to stop.
453
00:42:45,045 --> 00:42:47,772
Meaning these
people have to die.
454
00:43:07,446 --> 00:43:09,932
Colm Toibin: This was one side
of him you know
455
00:43:09,966 --> 00:43:11,934
he really just needed his book
and he didn't care
about anything else.
456
00:43:13,487 --> 00:43:17,595
But I think we have to allow
for something else to be
there too.
457
00:43:19,458 --> 00:43:25,154
It's absolutely clear
to me that it wasn't as simple
as Cold Blood on his part.
458
00:43:27,087 --> 00:43:30,918
That there was fright of
where he had got himself.
459
00:43:34,784 --> 00:43:38,719
Perry was going to die
in this horrible way,
460
00:43:39,789 --> 00:43:41,929
in this public way.
461
00:43:44,725 --> 00:43:50,317
You can say to this day
that nobody has done a real
live murder story as well,
462
00:43:50,351 --> 00:43:55,425
with such an amount
of immediacy and clarity,
and attention to detail,
463
00:43:55,460 --> 00:43:57,255
and sort of coldness.
464
00:44:00,051 --> 00:44:02,329
This may have been the real
Truman Capote.
465
00:44:05,297 --> 00:44:11,234
The rest of the time is
just fun, lunch, dinner.
Self-invention.
466
00:44:12,995 --> 00:44:15,653
Only person who knows me
will be the reader of this book.
467
00:44:16,170 --> 00:44:18,000
[Slow jazz music]
468
00:44:53,242 --> 00:44:58,005
André Leon Talley: In Cold Blood
propels him into a world
of achievements,
469
00:44:58,040 --> 00:44:59,386
and a world of wealth.
470
00:45:03,908 --> 00:45:07,118
So Truman Capote gave arguable
471
00:45:07,152 --> 00:45:11,812
the only important ball
in the 20th Century.
472
00:45:12,917 --> 00:45:14,366
And it is still legendary.
473
00:45:16,092 --> 00:45:19,475
They all met here
at the great ball room
that we're - the Plaza.
474
00:45:23,099 --> 00:45:28,104
So this was a moment in time.
It was a bigger than life event.
475
00:45:30,244 --> 00:45:33,765
As a young black man sitting
in North Carolina about to
graduate from high school
476
00:45:35,974 --> 00:45:41,117
I immediately ripped the pages
of Vogue Magazine out and put
the whole thing up on my wall.
477
00:45:41,152 --> 00:45:43,775
[Upbeat jazz music]
478
00:45:47,952 --> 00:45:50,748
My entire room
was wallpapered in Vogue pages.
479
00:45:53,129 --> 00:45:57,099
The New York Times did
the most unprecedented thing.
They published the entire list.
480
00:45:57,133 --> 00:46:00,447
So if you said oh, I was invited
to the ball but I decided
to go on a vacation
481
00:46:00,481 --> 00:46:04,037
you'd be caught out.
You'd be busted and
that's what I loved the most.
482
00:46:04,071 --> 00:46:10,388
♪ I'm in with the in-crowd and
I go where the in crowd goes. ♪
483
00:46:10,422 --> 00:46:15,496
♪ I'm in with the in-crowd,
and I know what the in-crowd
knows. ♪
484
00:46:16,877 --> 00:46:19,328
♪ Anytime of the year,
don't you hear? ♪
485
00:46:19,362 --> 00:46:22,538
Reporter: All the ladies
are wearing masks
on Truman Capote's order's
486
00:46:22,572 --> 00:46:25,886
and the inky wretches of
the press on his orders also
487
00:46:25,921 --> 00:46:28,993
are being kept at a discrete
distance from the guests
outside this door.
488
00:46:32,651 --> 00:46:35,620
The people arriving here have
come from Rome, from Hollywood,
489
00:46:35,654 --> 00:46:39,210
Venice, Paris, Washington,
San Francisco, London
490
00:46:39,244 --> 00:46:41,074
just to go to a party.
491
00:46:41,108 --> 00:46:44,146
540 or so have dressed,
492
00:46:44,180 --> 00:46:47,356
and coiffed, and masked
themselves, and presented
themselves at the Plaza
493
00:46:47,390 --> 00:46:53,189
for the honour of serving
themselves at Truman Capote's
bar and saying they were here.
494
00:46:54,673 --> 00:46:57,538
♪ Anytime of the year
don't you hear... ♪
495
00:46:57,573 --> 00:47:02,026
Sadie Stein: Maybe that
had always been the pathos
of his childhood dreams.
496
00:47:03,993 --> 00:47:08,515
Being somewhere grand,
having all the most beautiful,
important people in the world
497
00:47:09,447 --> 00:47:12,691
in costumes and Venetian masks.
498
00:47:12,726 --> 00:47:13,589
[Flash bulb]
499
00:47:13,623 --> 00:47:16,903
As people made their appearances
500
00:47:16,937 --> 00:47:22,253
Truman like a 12 year old
clapped his hands,
501
00:47:22,287 --> 00:47:27,292
jumped up and down saying
oh you're my favourite.
502
00:47:27,327 --> 00:47:31,365
Oh, you're the most beautiful.
Oh you are the best.
503
00:47:31,400 --> 00:47:32,953
Oh yours is the most
successful
504
00:47:34,161 --> 00:47:38,441
to every person that walked
into that ball.
505
00:48:18,516 --> 00:48:22,485
My first impressions were coming
into the Plaza Hotel.
506
00:48:22,520 --> 00:48:28,146
The New York gossip press
was behind barricades.
507
00:48:28,181 --> 00:48:32,944
[Camera shutters]
It's the beginning of
the celebrity culture
in America.
508
00:48:34,394 --> 00:48:39,571
My most memorable moment was
dancing with Luciana Pignatelli,
509
00:48:41,780 --> 00:48:46,302
the Princess. She was wearing
in the middle of her forehead
510
00:48:46,337 --> 00:48:50,444
a large jewel rented for an
unconscionable amount of money.
511
00:48:53,758 --> 00:49:00,799
Waltzing her around
the dancefloor I could see
these two heavyset gentlemen
512
00:49:00,834 --> 00:49:03,733
moving in time with the music.
513
00:49:05,390 --> 00:49:10,326
They were sent by the jeweller,
heavily armed Pinkerton men
514
00:49:10,361 --> 00:49:13,985
to keep their eye at all times
on the jewel.
515
00:49:14,020 --> 00:49:17,955
Not on Luciana, on the jewel.
516
00:49:22,718 --> 00:49:24,754
There are many enchanted
kingdoms.
517
00:49:26,066 --> 00:49:31,106
Mark Twain wrote
"a society that is the sum
518
00:49:31,140 --> 00:49:35,558
of its vanity and greed
is not a society at all.
519
00:49:35,593 --> 00:49:37,629
It is a state of war."
520
00:49:39,838 --> 00:49:43,566
And that is the society
of Truman Capote
521
00:49:43,601 --> 00:49:48,986
is putting on stage
in the enchanted kingdom
at the Plaza Hotel.
522
00:49:50,608 --> 00:49:55,993
And the state of war that exists
outside of the magic kingdom
523
00:49:56,890 --> 00:50:00,100
is for the moment
a temporary truce.
524
00:50:00,618 --> 00:50:03,000
[Whimsical music]
525
00:50:12,526 --> 00:50:13,631
George Plimpton: That's right.
526
00:50:35,101 --> 00:50:36,033
[Flash bulb]
527
00:50:36,619 --> 00:50:37,517
[Upbeat jazz music]
528
00:50:39,105 --> 00:50:42,142
Truman Capote: For the first
hours of it before the unmasking
529
00:50:42,177 --> 00:50:44,696
anybody can dance with anybody
they want to,
530
00:50:44,731 --> 00:50:48,838
or talk to anybody they want to.
It's a completely free thing.
531
00:50:48,873 --> 00:50:52,187
And by the time the unmasking
come you've made a lot of
new friends.
532
00:50:52,221 --> 00:50:54,637
[Laughs] And that was the point.
533
00:50:54,672 --> 00:50:57,433
Lewis Lapham:
It worked wonderfully.
It's the same kind of feeling
534
00:50:57,468 --> 00:51:00,298
you get if you're asked to go
on a talk show
535
00:51:00,333 --> 00:51:03,715
and there you are
in the green room
with the famous actress,
536
00:51:03,750 --> 00:51:05,890
and the dog trainer.
537
00:51:05,924 --> 00:51:09,480
And we are a band of brothers.
Temporary, temporary.
538
00:51:10,722 --> 00:51:12,276
Of course when we got away
from the green room
539
00:51:13,656 --> 00:51:15,762
then we're very happy to knife
each other in the back.
540
00:51:34,953 --> 00:51:38,233
Dick Cavett:
I didn't get invited to his
famous masked ball.
541
00:51:38,267 --> 00:51:39,958
[Laughs]
542
00:51:39,993 --> 00:51:42,789
I first met him on my show.
543
00:51:44,411 --> 00:51:46,862
He has managed to become
a darling of the Beautiful
People,
544
00:51:46,896 --> 00:51:50,176
so he conducts that life
and also manages to get
his work done.
545
00:51:50,210 --> 00:51:52,695
Would you welcome please
Truman Capote right here?
546
00:51:54,180 --> 00:51:56,975
He would kind of swing out
onto the stage
547
00:51:57,010 --> 00:51:58,770
and go like that [claps]
548
00:51:58,805 --> 00:52:01,704
and I thought well this is going
to be interesting.
549
00:52:01,739 --> 00:52:06,399
[Excited brass music]
550
00:52:12,025 --> 00:52:14,407
You want to try the hat?
551
00:52:14,441 --> 00:52:16,581
No I can't - I don't need a hat
with three balls.
552
00:52:16,616 --> 00:52:20,206
I'm just an average person.
[Audience laughter]
553
00:52:20,240 --> 00:52:23,692
I remember watching Truman on
stage at Madison Square Garden
554
00:52:25,038 --> 00:52:28,145
with Mick Jagger centre stage
555
00:52:28,904 --> 00:52:30,768
doing his version of grooving.
556
00:52:31,941 --> 00:52:33,874
[Rolling Stones playing
in the background]
557
00:52:36,877 --> 00:52:38,741
I remember thinking is this
what a writer should be doing?
558
00:52:40,605 --> 00:52:45,817
A whole evening standing
on stage while Mick
is enthralling the audience.
559
00:52:53,963 --> 00:52:58,554
The people would say it's Truman
Capote, it's Truman Capote.
Capote, you could hear it.
560
00:53:17,539 --> 00:53:19,955
Truman Capote: A typical
one of my notebooks.
561
00:53:37,006 --> 00:53:38,525
Kate Harrington: He had
a really hard time.
562
00:53:39,837 --> 00:53:44,082
He would get up rather early
and go into his room.
563
00:53:44,117 --> 00:53:47,016
And he would write for
about three hours.
564
00:53:48,777 --> 00:53:53,368
But the day to day life with him
was incredibly calm and
pleasant.
565
00:53:53,402 --> 00:53:56,716
He was delightful.
He was very nurturing.
566
00:53:57,751 --> 00:53:59,926
We didn't have too many
groceries.
567
00:54:00,685 --> 00:54:02,756
We ate out all the time.
568
00:54:03,964 --> 00:54:08,728
He had canned soup,
raw shrimp, and tab soda.
569
00:54:08,762 --> 00:54:10,833
And a lot of vodka
in the freezer.
570
00:54:11,558 --> 00:54:13,319
[Upbeat disco music]
571
00:54:17,357 --> 00:54:21,050
Dotson Rader: Near the end
of the 60s things began
to lighten up for gay people.
572
00:54:21,085 --> 00:54:22,914
A lot of it had to do with
protests over the war.
573
00:54:24,122 --> 00:54:26,780
The police had other things
to worry about.
574
00:54:26,815 --> 00:54:30,301
You could go to a gay bathhouse
and not be afraid the police
were going to come in.
575
00:54:31,406 --> 00:54:32,890
Truman and I used to go
bar cruising.
576
00:54:34,926 --> 00:54:39,931
Bars became very specific
in the appetites they were
seeking to welcome.
577
00:54:44,142 --> 00:54:47,698
Prison theme or registry of
lollipop with the other sailors.
578
00:54:49,976 --> 00:54:52,392
And this was true of bath
houses. They became like
little theatres
579
00:54:52,427 --> 00:54:53,876
only they were sexual theatres.
580
00:54:59,779 --> 00:55:05,819
I thought it was fun and then
you combined that with this
incredible flood of drugs.
581
00:55:09,858 --> 00:55:13,310
I mean eye popping it was
unbelievable you couldn't - it
was hard to accept.
582
00:55:15,381 --> 00:55:17,590
And Truman found it fascinating.
583
00:55:17,624 --> 00:55:22,457
I found it fascinating because
Truman and I shared one thing
that we were both voyeurs.
584
00:55:23,078 --> 00:55:25,011
All writers are voyeurs.
585
00:55:25,045 --> 00:55:26,392
[Motorcycle revving]
586
00:55:28,048 --> 00:55:30,810
John Richardson: Truman
didn't want to go to respectable
nightclubs.
587
00:55:30,844 --> 00:55:34,434
He wanted to go to all kinds
of bad places.
588
00:55:34,469 --> 00:55:36,609
[Motorcycle revving]
589
00:55:36,643 --> 00:55:40,440
I mean one which Truman
absolutely loved was
a lesbian bar
590
00:55:40,475 --> 00:55:42,511
where the lesbians were
all in leather.
591
00:55:42,546 --> 00:55:45,687
They all had motorcycles.
And the girls were very lively,
and they liked Truman.
592
00:55:47,689 --> 00:55:52,970
He got some kind of response
from them, and everybody was
roaring with laughter,
593
00:55:53,004 --> 00:55:59,010
and he knew just how to sort of
get them to as it were perform
for him.
594
00:56:00,460 --> 00:56:02,497
And they went along with it.
595
00:56:04,222 --> 00:56:07,605
I think his writing was affected
slowly, slowly
596
00:56:07,640 --> 00:56:13,059
because he began to care more
about meeting all kinds
of people than writing.
597
00:56:14,440 --> 00:56:17,028
And that's why Jack Dunphy
his long-time lover
598
00:56:17,063 --> 00:56:18,823
shifted away from Truman.
599
00:56:36,634 --> 00:56:40,086
Truman was drawn to all manner
of people.
600
00:56:40,120 --> 00:56:42,571
I mean just the fact that
he fell in love with my father
601
00:56:42,606 --> 00:56:46,230
you know who's like this guy
from the Bronx, this Irish guy
from the Bronx
602
00:56:46,264 --> 00:56:48,646
even though he lived
in Long Island.
603
00:56:49,233 --> 00:56:51,546
O'Shay was a banker.
604
00:56:52,892 --> 00:56:56,240
He was vice president of some
bank out in Long Island.
605
00:56:56,274 --> 00:56:59,554
And Truman said he met him when
he went to open an account.
606
00:57:00,865 --> 00:57:03,765
He was asked that you need
a place to deposit money,
607
00:57:05,491 --> 00:57:09,633
and Truman said well
I don't know about money
but I take deposits.
608
00:57:11,220 --> 00:57:16,916
And Truman said
at that point he - he went down
on Jack O'Shay
609
00:57:16,950 --> 00:57:20,506
and [clears throat]
and as they say [laughs]
610
00:57:20,540 --> 00:57:23,785
he was over the rainbow. So...
[Laughs]
611
00:57:26,926 --> 00:57:30,447
Point of fact he'd met him
at the East Side Sauna,
it's a bath house.
612
00:57:32,276 --> 00:57:36,798
Kate Harrington: I was so happy
for my father with regard to his
meeting Truman.
613
00:57:36,832 --> 00:57:39,801
Because he seemed happy
for the first time in his life.
614
00:57:39,835 --> 00:57:43,977
And I was so, so crushed when
the same problems he had -
615
00:57:44,012 --> 00:57:46,773
his violence, and his
alcoholism, and his cruelty
616
00:57:46,808 --> 00:57:48,982
he was - he had a cruel side
my father -
617
00:57:50,777 --> 00:57:55,057
began to manifest in Truman's
life. I was crushed because
I had -
618
00:57:55,092 --> 00:58:01,926
my fanciful idea that it was
only because he was gay and he
was unhappy um, in our home
619
00:58:01,961 --> 00:58:02,996
wasn't the truth.
620
00:58:03,583 --> 00:58:05,516
[Car engine]
621
00:58:07,242 --> 00:58:10,487
They were driving
along highways at night-time
and they got into a fight.
622
00:58:12,247 --> 00:58:15,940
He slugged Truman and then
opened the door and
shoved him out of the car.
623
00:58:18,011 --> 00:58:23,845
Truman didn't know where he was
and he said I saw this
little light in the distance
624
00:58:23,879 --> 00:58:28,712
and I walked, and I walked
and I went off into this,
and I knocked on the door.
625
00:58:28,746 --> 00:58:30,783
And I said please help me,
help me.
626
00:58:33,026 --> 00:58:37,928
And this man opened the door
and he looked at me and he said
oh my God you're Truman Capote!
627
00:58:39,067 --> 00:58:42,588
He slammed the door
in my face. [Laughs]
628
00:59:13,688 --> 00:59:18,175
Hey, don't you think that's
a good likeness? In his younger
days, his younger days.
629
00:59:18,209 --> 00:59:21,592
Well it's taken from a gentleman
old Avedon photograph. [Laughs]
630
00:59:23,456 --> 00:59:25,976
Reporter: How long ago Truman?
631
00:59:26,010 --> 00:59:29,704
Truman Capote: That photograph?
[Laughs] It was seven,
eight years ago.
632
00:59:29,738 --> 00:59:32,189
He's more handsome now
than then. [Laughs]
633
00:59:34,398 --> 00:59:39,161
Truman Capote: I can see
something extremely clearly
in another person.
634
00:59:39,196 --> 00:59:43,580
All their motivations, and
what's making the whole thing
turn around.
635
00:59:44,442 --> 00:59:46,652
And do it with great
objectivity.
636
00:59:47,273 --> 00:59:51,035
And I hope compassion.
637
00:59:51,070 --> 00:59:52,899
Sometimes not so
compassionate.
638
00:59:54,694 --> 00:59:58,664
But if I were to reverse
the whole thing around on myself
I can't do it.
639
01:00:00,458 --> 01:00:03,427
Jay McInerney: He just
embarrassed his role as
the celebrity and he became
640
01:00:03,461 --> 01:00:07,707
more of a talk show guest
than he did a working writer.
641
01:00:07,742 --> 01:00:09,157
[Big band music]
642
01:00:10,192 --> 01:00:11,918
Well there was a moment
on my show
643
01:00:13,679 --> 01:00:17,993
I asked him in effect
why do you hang out
with all these fancy folks?
644
01:00:21,997 --> 01:00:30,074
And he actually said way back
in the events of his life
I'm writing about them.
645
01:00:30,109 --> 01:00:33,181
I was going [INAUDIBLE] that
these people are my material.
646
01:00:33,215 --> 01:00:35,217
Ah you're there...
647
01:00:35,252 --> 01:00:37,772
And when I now make
my forays occasionally
it's just to check up.
648
01:00:39,325 --> 01:00:42,984
Is admitting this now on
television likely to reduce
the number
649
01:00:43,018 --> 01:00:45,503
of invitations you'll get
because people will be
a little afraid?
650
01:00:45,538 --> 01:00:48,092
Oh everybody knows what the book
is about.
651
01:00:48,127 --> 01:00:51,475
No one's going to be
the least bit annoyed with me
unless they've been left out.
652
01:00:51,509 --> 01:00:53,063
That's probably it.
653
01:00:53,097 --> 01:00:56,929
He must have known that there
was danger in all of that.
654
01:01:00,864 --> 01:01:07,422
He talked about his great book
you know which of course I'd
been hearing about for years.
655
01:01:07,456 --> 01:01:12,151
We had - we all had you know?
The book was called Answered
Prayers, a great society novel.
656
01:01:14,256 --> 01:01:19,261
And he'd been allegedly working
on it since before the
publication of In Cold Blood.
657
01:01:21,367 --> 01:01:24,715
Answered Prayers was supposed
to be Truman's masterpiece.
658
01:01:26,199 --> 01:01:30,479
He compared himself to Proust,
to Remembrance of Things Past
659
01:01:30,514 --> 01:01:34,794
the great masterwork of
modernist literature.
[Page flipping]
660
01:01:36,831 --> 01:01:42,181
Proust wrote about Parisian
high society and the aristocracy
of France in his time.
661
01:01:42,215 --> 01:01:45,909
And this was the terrain
that Truman was exploring.
662
01:01:48,014 --> 01:01:51,500
He was on the yachts,
he was on the private planes,
he was on the private islands.
663
01:01:52,881 --> 01:01:55,746
He was privy to the secrets,
and the gossip.
664
01:01:57,610 --> 01:02:02,235
I think there was a lot of hope
that Truman would pull off
something Proustian.
665
01:02:02,270 --> 01:02:05,342
[Paper tearing and
then being crumpled]
666
01:02:21,082 --> 01:02:22,739
[Upbeat jazz music]
667
01:02:49,627 --> 01:02:50,490
George Plimpton: Shallow?
668
01:03:00,362 --> 01:03:02,606
André Leon Talley: It was
a society he knew.
669
01:03:02,640 --> 01:03:05,367
He was in the inner sanctum
of the Agnellis.
670
01:03:05,402 --> 01:03:06,506
He was on the boats.
671
01:03:08,232 --> 01:03:12,133
He was with Babe Paley.
He thought he could just
change the names
672
01:03:12,167 --> 01:03:14,860
and people won't recognize her.
673
01:03:14,894 --> 01:03:16,344
Bad judgment.
674
01:03:20,866 --> 01:03:27,942
Narrator: Babe Paley had only
one fault. She was perfect.
Other than that she was perfect.
675
01:03:41,438 --> 01:03:42,163
George Plimpton: Why?
676
01:04:10,743 --> 01:04:11,502
George Plimpton: Oh my, nan.
677
01:04:11,537 --> 01:04:13,504
Piedy Lumet: Oh my dear.
678
01:04:13,539 --> 01:04:15,161
Dotson Rader:
When I first met her there
wasn't any warmth at all.
679
01:04:15,196 --> 01:04:17,646
Your feeling was who the hell
does she think she is?
680
01:04:19,165 --> 01:04:23,204
But with Truman she was
very different. She relaxed.
681
01:04:24,722 --> 01:04:28,243
She laughed.
They had fun together.
It was fun. They were -
682
01:04:30,521 --> 01:04:34,146
you're sitting having lunch
with them and somebody says
something and they just look
at each other.
683
01:04:34,180 --> 01:04:37,011
They don't say anything.
They just look at each other
and then they start laughing.
684
01:04:37,045 --> 01:04:39,289
Like kids sitting in
the children's table
685
01:04:39,323 --> 01:04:42,568
giggling about what's going on
at the adult table.
686
01:04:44,018 --> 01:04:46,675
And I thought it was very sweet.
687
01:04:46,710 --> 01:04:53,890
I don't know anyone Truman
was with who had that kind
of unlimited acceptance with.
688
01:04:56,030 --> 01:05:00,689
And I think that's why he was
happy with her. Because she
loved him, and he loved her.
689
01:05:31,168 --> 01:05:36,691
What Truman thought
he was doing and I think
felt justified in doing
690
01:05:37,830 --> 01:05:41,178
was taking the lid
off a bowl of shit.
691
01:05:42,524 --> 01:05:44,526
Dick Cavett: Don't you have
a book about to appear?
692
01:05:44,561 --> 01:05:47,184
Now for a couple of years
we've been waiting for
Answered Prayers
693
01:05:47,219 --> 01:05:50,049
and have you turned it over
to the publisher yet?
694
01:05:50,084 --> 01:05:54,433
No. I refer to it now as my
posthumous novel.
695
01:05:54,467 --> 01:05:58,471
Because either I'm going
to kill it, or it's going
to kill me.
696
01:05:59,196 --> 01:06:01,129
[Upbeat jazz music]
697
01:06:13,107 --> 01:06:17,525
No matter what happens
I'm going to publish a big part
of it this coming fall.
698
01:06:19,078 --> 01:06:20,735
Okay, we'll take a short break
and we'll be right back...
699
01:06:31,297 --> 01:06:36,371
He finally wrote something
that cost him mortally.
700
01:06:39,305 --> 01:06:42,826
This book exposed unspeakably
701
01:06:42,860 --> 01:06:47,175
private things about very,
very famous people.
702
01:07:01,465 --> 01:07:05,124
♪ Broadway, Broadway everybody's
happy... ♪
703
01:07:05,159 --> 01:07:07,471
[Music cuts off]
[Glass shatters]
704
01:07:11,648 --> 01:07:13,029
George Plimpton: That's right,
that's right.
705
01:07:26,904 --> 01:07:32,082
It was these thinly veiled
identities of people he knew.
Stories about their lives.
706
01:07:33,428 --> 01:07:36,500
And outrageous things that
people told him in secret,
707
01:07:38,192 --> 01:07:41,367
and it was about these
cafe society people
that he had known,
708
01:07:41,402 --> 01:07:44,232
these jet set people
and he basically told
all their secrets.
709
01:07:45,889 --> 01:07:49,755
Dotson Rader: I didn't know
that anyone was upset by this
magazine.
710
01:07:51,791 --> 01:07:54,898
Two days later I go to this
party at Josh Logan's.
711
01:07:54,932 --> 01:07:59,109
Josh Logan's this big director -
movie and theatre director
in New York.
712
01:08:00,179 --> 01:08:01,353
And his wife's name
is Netta Logan.
713
01:08:02,664 --> 01:08:05,357
And who was this sort of
a barrel of an Irish cow.
714
01:08:05,391 --> 01:08:10,879
And I - and I go in and
barrelling at me across the room
715
01:08:11,915 --> 01:08:14,159
yelling how dare he?
How dare he?
716
01:08:14,193 --> 01:08:16,092
Is Netta yelling and literally
she's going like this
how dare he? How dare he?
717
01:08:18,370 --> 01:08:22,512
And I said what are you -
ah, you know what I'm talking
about! And she was going
on about Truman.
718
01:08:22,546 --> 01:08:26,481
How could he do that? How could
he do that? How could he do that
to Ann? How could he do that
to Ann?
719
01:08:27,517 --> 01:08:29,829
And that's how I found out
about it.
720
01:08:32,867 --> 01:08:38,390
Ann Woodward is a blond showgirl
and she married old,
old New York money.
721
01:08:38,424 --> 01:08:39,874
One day her husband was shot
to death.
722
01:08:41,013 --> 01:08:44,672
In Truman's account of it
Anne set him up.
723
01:08:44,706 --> 01:08:48,434
Narrator: She grabbed
the shotgun and shot what
she thought was a prowler.
724
01:08:48,469 --> 01:08:51,955
Only it was her husband
with a hole through his head.
725
01:08:51,989 --> 01:08:53,991
You don't think it was
an accident?
726
01:08:54,026 --> 01:08:56,649
Come out of the trenches boy,
the war's over.
727
01:08:56,684 --> 01:08:58,410
Of course it wasn't an accident.
728
01:08:59,307 --> 01:09:01,482
She killed David with malice.
729
01:09:01,516 --> 01:09:04,830
She's a murderess.
The police know that.
730
01:09:18,878 --> 01:09:19,845
Leonora Hornblow: So they say.
731
01:09:35,792 --> 01:09:38,933
[Pills clattering]
732
01:09:44,525 --> 01:09:47,390
Dotson Rader: As a writer
I should probably be proud
because it shows that
733
01:09:47,424 --> 01:09:49,530
what you write
actually can have an effect.
734
01:09:50,634 --> 01:09:54,500
[Sad piano music]
735
01:09:59,436 --> 01:10:03,992
Dotson Rader: She had a terrible
marriage. Bill Paley, Mr. CBS
736
01:10:05,684 --> 01:10:10,792
he was famously a womanizer.
737
01:10:12,484 --> 01:10:13,933
Announcer: They undressed
in the dark.
738
01:10:15,003 --> 01:10:17,040
None of his tricks caught
her fancy.
739
01:10:17,074 --> 01:10:21,527
She lay there like a missionary
outraged by sweating Swahilis.
740
01:10:22,390 --> 01:10:24,737
Dill couldn't come.
741
01:10:24,772 --> 01:10:27,292
He felt as though he were
sloshing around in some
strange puddle.
742
01:10:28,672 --> 01:10:31,675
He felt sticky and strange
as though covered in blood.
743
01:10:32,504 --> 01:10:34,644
As he was. So was the bed.
744
01:10:35,990 --> 01:10:39,545
The sheets bloodied with stains
the size of Brazil.
745
01:10:47,346 --> 01:10:49,762
As a woman reading it
you're like is that even
physically possible?
746
01:10:51,074 --> 01:10:53,766
Menstruation is as normal
as breathing, or sleeping.
747
01:10:55,354 --> 01:10:57,080
Sadie Stain: What was wrong
with her? Was she haemorrhaging?
748
01:10:57,114 --> 01:10:58,046
Clearly this is somewhat
exaggerated.
749
01:10:59,703 --> 01:11:04,052
Also was that considered a thing
that you would insult someone
750
01:11:04,087 --> 01:11:08,022
by having sex with them
when you're? [Laughs]
751
01:11:30,493 --> 01:11:34,082
Sadie Stein: He puts in so much
detail about how incredibly
unattractive the woman is.
752
01:11:36,464 --> 01:11:41,849
Even by the ungenerous standards
of this story the description
of her is particularly cruel.
753
01:11:43,678 --> 01:11:46,957
It's like he's trying to hurt,
and shock in every single way
he can.
754
01:11:48,442 --> 01:11:51,617
Sally Quinn: One response was
[gasp] how disgusting.
755
01:11:51,652 --> 01:11:55,552
And the other was [gasp]
how could your friend do this
to you?
756
01:13:19,636 --> 01:13:21,638
[Thunder cashes]
757
01:13:23,468 --> 01:13:27,161
Narrator: A short, sinister man
who looks exactly like
Truman Capote
758
01:13:27,195 --> 01:13:29,197
is preparing a fiendishly
ingenious crime.
759
01:13:30,854 --> 01:13:34,548
The victim is here at this very
table, at this very moment.
760
01:13:34,582 --> 01:13:39,173
And so too ladies and gentlemen
is the murderer.
761
01:14:09,859 --> 01:14:12,033
[Screaming]
762
01:14:14,829 --> 01:14:16,072
Is he dead?
763
01:14:20,697 --> 01:14:22,699
We touch nothing. We're all
experienced criminologists.
764
01:14:36,023 --> 01:14:39,233
Dick Cavett: The backlash from
the individuals was wicked.
765
01:14:41,200 --> 01:14:45,308
About a year ago you published
a thing in Esquire.
It's a work of fiction.
766
01:14:45,342 --> 01:14:46,758
No it's not.
767
01:14:46,792 --> 01:14:49,795
Well it's not is it? [Laughs]
768
01:14:49,830 --> 01:14:53,558
Who - what friends did you lose
if I may be so bold?
769
01:14:53,592 --> 01:14:59,011
No, no three friends that
I really liked. And it was -
770
01:14:59,046 --> 01:15:02,601
they were very, very good, very
close friends of mine and...
771
01:15:04,189 --> 01:15:08,193
Dick Cavett: It kind of
ruined him. It almost was
sort of suicide.
772
01:15:25,210 --> 01:15:28,075
Nobody would have known
if they hadn't stood up and said
I'm so angry.
773
01:15:28,109 --> 01:15:30,180
How dare he say that about me!
774
01:15:31,216 --> 01:15:33,080
It's fiction for God's sake!
775
01:15:35,185 --> 01:15:39,811
Good lord I mean what is wrong
with these people? Talk about
a lack of sophistication.
776
01:15:41,191 --> 01:15:44,885
If it had been written about me
I'd say wonderful story,
777
01:15:44,919 --> 01:15:47,335
who is he possibly writing
about? [Laughs]
778
01:15:49,165 --> 01:15:52,755
Sadie Stein: Answered Prayers
is an early template
for reality TV.
779
01:15:54,653 --> 01:15:59,002
Like the pettiness,
the interpersonal stuff.
Knowing this cast of characters.
780
01:15:59,037 --> 01:16:04,214
Not really thinking it has
larger meaning except
in a pop cultural way.
781
01:16:06,423 --> 01:16:10,151
I do think it's a precursor
to a lot of what we now
are living with.
782
01:16:33,450 --> 01:16:35,038
Dick Cavett: I remember
his saying once what are they
upset about?
783
01:16:37,040 --> 01:16:41,907
I was a writer. Did they think
I was with them because
they were so interesting?
784
01:16:41,942 --> 01:16:45,221
[Instrumental jazz music]
785
01:16:48,086 --> 01:16:50,847
Babe said for Christ's sake
don't talk to me about Truman.
786
01:16:52,677 --> 01:16:56,163
And then eventually she'd
say well all right let's talk
about Truman.
787
01:16:56,197 --> 01:16:57,785
Well what's happening now?
788
01:16:59,511 --> 01:17:02,618
Kate Harrington: She's
the only one he cried over
their friendship ending.
789
01:17:06,691 --> 01:17:12,179
That's why I think he loved Babe
the most. Because he spoke about
her forever, until he died.
790
01:17:14,388 --> 01:17:19,669
I think he really, really never
got over the fact that she
disappeared from his life.
791
01:17:21,844 --> 01:17:27,435
The main body of people who
he had lunches with, and who
he called first thing vanished.
792
01:17:28,471 --> 01:17:31,129
Only CZ Guest stuck by him.
793
01:17:42,450 --> 01:17:45,764
Kate Harrington: I would go
to this place called Studio 54.
794
01:17:50,389 --> 01:17:55,671
[Party chatter]
[Upbeat disco music]
795
01:18:26,460 --> 01:18:28,980
Once Truman said there's
a new place and we have to go.
796
01:18:30,602 --> 01:18:33,778
It's a night club and it's
fabulous, and you're going
to love it.
797
01:18:35,331 --> 01:18:38,921
Truman was one of the great
favourites there oh my gosh.
798
01:18:38,955 --> 01:18:41,924
There was a huge crowd outside.
799
01:18:44,167 --> 01:18:47,032
And little Truman would get out
of his limousine
800
01:18:47,067 --> 01:18:51,381
and the guys would see him
and make a big path for him
801
01:18:51,416 --> 01:18:53,936
and be like come on Truman.
Come on in.
802
01:18:57,871 --> 01:19:00,425
And in you'd walk
to this inner sanctum.
803
01:19:20,238 --> 01:19:24,863
André Leon Talley: It was
dazzling. It was almost
the Black and White Ball.
804
01:19:24,898 --> 01:19:26,347
Except it was public.
805
01:19:27,659 --> 01:19:30,317
It was very upbeat and positive.
You felt good at 54.
806
01:19:31,870 --> 01:19:34,079
Kate Harrington: I just sat
and kind of watched it all.
807
01:19:36,012 --> 01:19:37,807
Like it was in a movie.
808
01:19:40,189 --> 01:19:42,639
I would stay until he'd make me
go home.
809
01:19:42,674 --> 01:19:46,989
So I never saw the real crazy,
excessive whatever may have
happened after midnight.
810
01:19:48,542 --> 01:19:50,475
André Leon Talley: It was
the last days of Sodom
and Gomorrah.
811
01:19:52,546 --> 01:19:56,446
People having sex, drugged
out of their minds and you'd
just have to step over them.
812
01:19:56,481 --> 01:19:58,517
They didn't even know who
they were having sex with.
813
01:20:00,105 --> 01:20:04,178
You had to just gaze at
the moment of ebullient life.
814
01:20:08,458 --> 01:20:11,116
Narrator: On these evening
patrols Joel had witnessed
many spectacles.
815
01:20:13,291 --> 01:20:18,434
A girl waltzing stark naked,
an old lady dropped dead while
puffing out candles on a cake.
816
01:20:20,401 --> 01:20:28,306
And most puzzling of all
two grown men in an ugly
little room kissing each other.
817
01:20:47,325 --> 01:20:49,672
Dotson Rader: One of the things
that made Studio 54 attractive
818
01:20:49,706 --> 01:20:51,605
is you could get cocaine there.
819
01:20:51,639 --> 01:20:53,331
And I mean you
didn't pay for it.
820
01:20:57,404 --> 01:21:02,133
It's totally integrated both
sexually and ethnically
you know?
821
01:21:04,238 --> 01:21:09,519
Boys and boys, girls and girls,
girls and boys, mules and fire
hydrants. Anything goes.
822
01:21:12,453 --> 01:21:15,905
Kate Harrington: Even though
he had so much fun during that
he was also beginning
823
01:21:15,940 --> 01:21:19,012
a terrible, terrible addiction
to prescription pain medicine.
824
01:21:20,116 --> 01:21:24,017
So that photo
of Gloria Swanson and I
825
01:21:25,018 --> 01:21:27,537
where Truman's basically
passed out
826
01:21:27,572 --> 01:21:31,679
is indicative of some of the sad
things that were going on.
827
01:21:33,026 --> 01:21:35,235
He would come out of it,
and go back into it.
828
01:21:35,269 --> 01:21:36,684
He would function and then
he would fall apart.
829
01:21:37,789 --> 01:21:40,412
Because I had experience
with my father
830
01:21:42,380 --> 01:21:48,075
I knew how to be the adult
and look after the adult
who was acting like a child.
831
01:21:49,801 --> 01:21:51,113
Where were you last night?
832
01:21:53,046 --> 01:21:58,983
Well I haven't actually been
to bed for about 48 hours.
I mean you know I...
833
01:21:59,017 --> 01:22:00,018
How come?
834
01:22:00,053 --> 01:22:02,987
Somehow got here today just...
835
01:22:03,021 --> 01:22:05,990
Kate Harrington: I was just
going to take care of Truman
the way he took care of me.
836
01:22:07,025 --> 01:22:11,719
When I say I'll do something
I do it.
837
01:22:11,754 --> 01:22:12,997
Yes sir.
838
01:22:13,031 --> 01:22:14,791
I really, really do it.
I'm you know?
839
01:22:14,826 --> 01:22:19,313
Jay McInerney:
At the end he unravelled.
And he unravelled on TV.
840
01:22:21,384 --> 01:22:28,529
One appearance in particular
where he clearly came directly
from Studio 54 drunk,
841
01:22:28,564 --> 01:22:31,774
and coked out of his gourd.
He was making a spectacle
of himself.
842
01:22:31,808 --> 01:22:34,328
Is that you have had
a history of alcoholism.
843
01:22:34,363 --> 01:22:36,089
Jay McInerney: It was
a terrible thing to see.
844
01:22:36,123 --> 01:22:38,608
How are you coming along
with the problem of drinking?
845
01:22:41,784 --> 01:22:43,751
Dotson Rader: Truman had been
in and out of rehab.
846
01:22:45,270 --> 01:22:49,378
And as I walked in the room
he looked oh hi Dotson.
847
01:22:50,724 --> 01:22:53,278
And he said just a minute
I have to take my pills -
848
01:22:53,313 --> 01:22:54,141
Antabuse - I have to take
my pill.
849
01:22:55,487 --> 01:22:58,007
They have to see you take it,
and he took the pill.
850
01:22:58,042 --> 01:23:00,561
And the nurse left and she shut
the door
851
01:23:00,596 --> 01:23:05,670
and he goes works every time.
[Laughs]
852
01:23:08,397 --> 01:23:13,126
And he said oh, you want
a drink? The bar's over there.
[Laughs] It's true.
853
01:23:16,198 --> 01:23:21,582
John Richardson: I was walking
near my apartment and I suddenly
saw Truman a little aged dwarf
854
01:23:23,826 --> 01:23:28,831
carrying a huge plastic bag full
of I don't know what. Bottles
and things which were clanking.
855
01:23:28,865 --> 01:23:33,318
[Water pouring] He looked like
a beggar. And I said Truman!
856
01:23:33,353 --> 01:23:37,115
Come back and have a cup
of tea with me. [Tea pouring]
857
01:23:37,150 --> 01:23:39,842
I got him in. he's very wobbly.
858
01:23:39,876 --> 01:23:43,052
Sat him down and went
to put a kettle on.
859
01:23:43,087 --> 01:23:46,780
But by the time I'd made the tea
860
01:23:46,814 --> 01:23:50,059
Truman had emptied
a bottle of gin
861
01:23:50,094 --> 01:23:52,027
which I think was half full
862
01:23:53,511 --> 01:23:56,790
and was drunk to start with, but
this time he was blind drunk.
863
01:23:58,861 --> 01:24:03,072
And there I was looking an idiot
with a little tray with a little
pot of tea and so on
864
01:24:03,107 --> 01:24:07,111
and I said look I've made this
for you. No interest at all.
865
01:24:08,112 --> 01:24:11,598
And so off he went
into the dusk.
866
01:24:12,254 --> 01:24:14,118
I was taking...
867
01:24:14,152 --> 01:24:16,568
Dick Cavett: One program he
seemed ill on the show.
868
01:24:17,638 --> 01:24:20,089
And there was a phrase
he kept using.
869
01:24:20,124 --> 01:24:24,162
I seem to be going through
this terrible haze of pain.
870
01:24:25,681 --> 01:24:27,372
And I said to him one day I said
will you cut that out, stop it.
871
01:24:27,407 --> 01:24:29,547
Dick Cavett: I thought he might
get up and have to leave.
872
01:24:29,581 --> 01:24:31,066
And he just laughed you know?
873
01:24:32,826 --> 01:24:38,245
Haze of pain is a good phrase
though. The writer was still
at work yeah.
874
01:24:42,870 --> 01:24:47,185
Narrator: Let's order something
that takes forever so we can get
drunk and disorderly.
875
01:24:47,220 --> 01:24:51,672
Say a Soufflé Furstenberg
could you do that?
876
01:24:51,707 --> 01:24:54,330
The maître d' tutted his tongue.
877
01:24:54,365 --> 01:24:58,300
Soufflé Furstenberg is a great
nuisance, an uproar.
878
01:24:59,542 --> 01:25:03,891
An uproar said Lady Ena
is exactly what we want.
879
01:25:19,976 --> 01:25:25,810
Jay McInerney: It seems
to have been almost a literary
hoax in a way.
880
01:25:26,983 --> 01:25:29,952
You know certainly he meant
to write it, but
881
01:25:29,986 --> 01:25:34,577
I really - I don't think
there's any evidence
that anything existed
882
01:25:34,612 --> 01:25:36,924
except the few published
excerpts.
883
01:25:36,959 --> 01:25:40,411
Excerpts of a novel
that doesn't exist. [Laughs]
That's a good one.
884
01:25:46,693 --> 01:25:50,559
Kate Harrington: He wrote
on yellow lined legal pads,
and he wrote by hand.
885
01:25:51,456 --> 01:25:53,493
He didn't typewrite anything.
886
01:25:53,527 --> 01:25:56,530
So he had so many pads lined up
887
01:25:56,565 --> 01:25:58,877
and so I just assumed
as the pile grew
888
01:25:58,912 --> 01:26:01,225
that he was in fact
finishing his book.
889
01:26:02,433 --> 01:26:04,952
I don't know what happened
to the manuscript,
890
01:26:04,987 --> 01:26:06,644
but I do believe that
he had one.
891
01:26:08,059 --> 01:26:13,202
He would tell me that it was
just wonderful, and wicked,
892
01:26:13,237 --> 01:26:15,204
and people were going to be
so surprised.
893
01:26:15,239 --> 01:26:18,242
And I know some people think
the whole thing was a lie,
894
01:26:18,276 --> 01:26:20,796
but it couldn't have been
because he was sitting there
writing, and writing,
895
01:26:20,830 --> 01:26:21,210
and writing something.
896
01:26:22,832 --> 01:26:24,834
Yeah, I think he completed
the book. He said he completed
the book.
897
01:26:27,320 --> 01:26:31,565
I mean I don't know if you can
find a source that says Truman
told me he didn't complete
the book.
898
01:26:31,600 --> 01:26:34,396
I don't know, Truman told me
he'd completed the book.
I thought the book was done.
899
01:26:36,605 --> 01:26:40,643
It was one of his really best
friends says that he gave her
a key to a safety deposit box.
900
01:26:40,678 --> 01:26:42,404
And indicated that the novel
was in there.
901
01:26:43,750 --> 01:26:46,684
But I have no idea what
safety deposit box it fits.
902
01:26:46,718 --> 01:26:48,686
There are millions of those
things around.
903
01:26:48,720 --> 01:26:51,482
And I don't know how
you ever would tell.
904
01:26:52,759 --> 01:26:57,350
4 million, 4 million 200,000,
4 million 400,000.
905
01:26:57,384 --> 01:27:00,491
Maybe 20 years from now,
30 years from now suddenly it's
- someone will find it
906
01:27:02,009 --> 01:27:05,634
[clears throat] and you'll have
to pay a pretty penny to get it.
907
01:27:05,668 --> 01:27:07,774
But do I think it exists? Yeah.
908
01:27:09,051 --> 01:27:12,054
It may show up in an auction
someday, who knows?
909
01:27:12,088 --> 01:27:14,367
Auctioneer: Anyone wish
to give more telephone bids?
910
01:27:14,401 --> 01:27:16,507
Someone probably bought it
like they buy art
911
01:27:16,541 --> 01:27:18,923
thinking well maybe
10 years from now darling,
912
01:27:18,957 --> 01:27:20,476
this will be worth something.
913
01:27:21,650 --> 01:27:24,722
Just like the de Kooning
we bought. [Laughs]
914
01:27:25,516 --> 01:27:27,863
All done? [Hammer fall]
915
01:27:32,108 --> 01:27:33,972
Reporter: When he died
at the age of 59
916
01:27:34,007 --> 01:27:36,734
Capote had not finished
what he called his final
917
01:27:36,768 --> 01:27:38,977
and most important book
Answered Prayers.
918
01:27:39,012 --> 01:27:42,360
The book was about life
among the unhappy rich
919
01:27:42,395 --> 01:27:45,329
where Capote spent much
of his time. [Sad piano music]
920
01:27:50,368 --> 01:27:53,060
Dotson Rader: When he writes
about the rich or the powerful
921
01:27:55,131 --> 01:27:57,375
contempt just bleeds
through him.
922
01:28:03,692 --> 01:28:07,040
The most beautiful writing
is about people that don't have
any money.
923
01:28:09,007 --> 01:28:13,391
Who aren't famous, who aren't
celebrated. That's where you see
Truman's heart.
924
01:28:39,728 --> 01:28:40,625
George Plimpton: Yes.
925
01:28:40,660 --> 01:28:42,524
[Tape spinning]
926
01:28:43,628 --> 01:28:46,562
[Sad piano music]
927
01:28:59,161 --> 01:29:00,852
Oh, well then you -
how can you come here
928
01:29:00,887 --> 01:29:02,682
and talk to me about it?
929
01:29:02,716 --> 01:29:05,512
Jesus, we've been having this
big discussion here based on
930
01:29:05,547 --> 01:29:07,963
something that I thought he had
this intimate knowledge.
931
01:29:07,997 --> 01:29:09,965
[Laughter]
932
01:29:12,726 --> 01:29:14,901
Dick Cavett: What is heaven
for Truman Capote?
933
01:29:20,044 --> 01:29:22,909
I think he probably felt
he was in it for a time.
934
01:29:25,912 --> 01:29:27,776
Ballsy little guy.
935
01:29:29,709 --> 01:29:31,711
André Leon Talley:
I have Truman's sofa.
936
01:29:31,745 --> 01:29:33,989
The sofa that he was
photographed on in Brooklyn.
937
01:29:35,577 --> 01:29:38,062
And I bought some little
ornaments for the table.
938
01:29:39,684 --> 01:29:43,723
Little matchstick holders and
lots of little things like that.
939
01:29:45,863 --> 01:29:47,209
[Pop]
940
01:29:47,243 --> 01:29:49,970
What I wanted to buy but
I regret that I didn't
941
01:29:50,005 --> 01:29:52,041
was a box of cookies.
942
01:29:53,249 --> 01:29:57,392
Truman had gone through
his entire life with
943
01:29:58,669 --> 01:30:02,017
ginger cookies
made by Aunt Sook.
944
01:30:04,709 --> 01:30:07,781
They were little gingerbread
men dried and desiccated.
945
01:30:09,507 --> 01:30:12,407
His Aunt Sook's gingerbread
cookies went with him
everywhere.
946
01:30:14,132 --> 01:30:18,102
So extraordinary that his
childhood meant so much to him.
947
01:30:19,310 --> 01:30:21,726
These things mattered you know?
948
01:30:27,836 --> 01:30:29,562
Kate Harrington: Truman had
a composition style notebook.
949
01:30:31,287 --> 01:30:33,704
He just said if you want to live
with me you have to write
about your life.
950
01:30:35,326 --> 01:30:37,915
So I said well why? And he said
because your life's about
to change
951
01:30:39,503 --> 01:30:42,195
and it's the only way you'll
hold onto who you really are.
952
01:30:46,682 --> 01:30:49,098
So I always think of that
with him.
953
01:30:49,133 --> 01:30:51,480
[Sad instrument music]
954
01:31:22,822 --> 01:31:27,792
♪ I didn't know what time
it was. ♪
955
01:31:29,173 --> 01:31:35,179
♪ Then I met you, oh what
a lovely time it was. ♪
956
01:31:36,145 --> 01:31:39,183
♪ How sublime it was too.
957
01:31:39,217 --> 01:31:43,152
♪ I didn't know. I didn't
know what day it was. ♪
958
01:31:44,809 --> 01:31:50,988
♪ You held my hand warm like
the month of May it was. ♪
959
01:31:51,989 --> 01:31:54,750
♪ And I'll say it was grand.
960
01:31:56,649 --> 01:32:02,240
♪ Grand to be alive,
to be young, to be mad,
to be yours alone. ♪
961
01:32:04,588 --> 01:32:08,315
♪ Grand to see your face, feel
your touch, hear your voice. ♪
962
01:32:08,350 --> 01:32:11,318
♪ Say I'm all your own.
963
01:32:12,423 --> 01:32:16,185
♪ I didn't know what year
it was. ♪
964
01:32:16,220 --> 01:32:18,705
♪ Life was no prize.
965
01:32:20,293 --> 01:32:25,574
♪ I wanted love and I hear it
was shining out of your eyes. ♪
966
01:32:26,886 --> 01:32:31,304
♪ Oh eyes and I know
what time it is now. ♪
967
01:32:32,029 --> 01:32:35,066
[Jazz guitar solo]
968
01:33:06,442 --> 01:33:13,070
♪ Grand to be alive,
to be young, to be mad,
to be yours alone. ♪
969
01:33:14,830 --> 01:33:18,351
♪ Grand to see your face, feel
your touch, hear your voice. ♪
970
01:33:18,385 --> 01:33:21,423
♪ Say I'm all your own.
971
01:33:21,457 --> 01:33:25,841
♪ Oh I didn't know what year
it was. ♪
972
01:33:25,876 --> 01:33:29,017
♪ Life was no prize.
973
01:33:30,156 --> 01:33:32,607
♪ I wanted love and here
it was. ♪
974
01:33:33,469 --> 01:33:36,852
♪ Shining out of your eyes.
975
01:33:36,887 --> 01:33:41,270
♪ Oh eyes, and I know what time
it is now ♪
976
01:33:42,444 --> 01:33:46,310
♪ And I know what time
it is now. ♪
977
01:33:46,344 --> 01:33:49,244
♪ And I know what time it is.
978
01:33:49,278 --> 01:33:50,832
♪ I didn't know.
979
01:33:50,866 --> 01:33:53,317
♪ I didn't know what time
it was. ♪
980
01:33:53,351 --> 01:33:56,941
♪ I didn't know. I didn't
know what time it was. ♪
981
01:33:56,976 --> 01:34:00,807
♪ I didn't know. Didn't know
what time was. ♪
982
01:34:00,842 --> 01:34:02,706
♪ Oh, I think I know.
983
01:34:02,740 --> 01:34:05,053
♪ I think I know what time
it is. ♪
984
01:34:05,087 --> 01:34:09,885
♪ I think I know. I know
I know what time it is yeah,
yeah, yeah ♪
985
01:34:09,920 --> 01:34:12,750
♪ I know what time it is.
986
01:34:12,785 --> 01:34:15,822
♪ I got the time.
I got the time. ♪
987
01:34:15,857 --> 01:34:17,341
♪ I know what time.
988
01:34:17,375 --> 01:34:20,378
♪ I know what time. I know
what time it is. ♪
989
01:34:20,413 --> 01:34:23,830
♪ Finally I know what time
it is. ♪
990
01:34:23,865 --> 01:34:27,213
♪ Finally I know what time
it is. ♪
991
01:34:27,247 --> 01:34:28,697
♪ I got the time.
992
01:34:28,732 --> 01:34:30,803
♪ I got the time, I know.
993
01:34:30,837 --> 01:34:34,496
♪ I know what time it is
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. ♪
994
01:34:34,530 --> 01:34:36,774
♪ I know what time it is.
995
01:34:36,809 --> 01:34:40,398
♪ Ooh, I know what time it is.
I know what time it is. ♪
996
01:34:40,433 --> 01:34:43,954
♪ I know what time it is.
85937
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