All language subtitles for richandfamous1981

[lion roaring]

¶ ¶

¶ ¶

¶ ¶

[WIND HOWLING]

[IN BRITISH ACCENT]
Merry? Where did you go?

What are you doing
in the closet?

[SOUTHERN ACCENT]
I thought it was the
housemother.

For God's sake,
the taxi's waiting.

- Come on. Are you ready?
- I'm ready.

[DOOR CLOSES]

- Are you taking him?
- You think it's silly?

Just because
you don't want to graduate.

He's been here three and a half
years. Maybe he'd like to.

I couldn't leave Hamburger.
He's been my family...

- ...ever since I was little.
- Shh. Come on.

Give me this.

-Liz?
-Yeah?

I guess he could stay and be
some sort of company.

It's okay.

- Come on, Merry.
- Okay, okay.

Liz, tell me. Aren't you just a
little bit jealous?

LIZ:
Are you crazy?

MERRY: Well, in a way, Doug's

far more your type than mine,
you know.

He likes the same old boring
books.

[BOTH PANTING]

A real brain.

Did I tell you he started
smoking a pipe?

I swear on everything you
consider holy, I do not
envy you and Doug.

Well, he was your date.

[TRAIN WHISTLING]

Oh, Liz. Next time we meet I'm
gonna be a married lady.

What do you think?

I'm gonna be
an unmarried lady.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

MERRY:
Oh.

- There he is.
- Oh!

Doug.

Doug.

Hi.

Hello, Doug.

- You been good?
- Flawless.

[CHUCKLES]

[CHUCKLES]

Do you see what I mean?

We better go.

I'm not stealing your roommate.
She's following me...

...all the way to California.

Yeah. You rats.

Have a wonderful life...

...trip, everything.

You owe me one.

[AIR HISSING]

To talk about debuts being
auspicious...

...is to talk about the career
of Liz Hamilton.

She came to our attention with
her very first novel,
Night Song.

A remarkable achievement...

...because it won
the National Writer's Award...

...and she was then only early
in her 20s.

Since then her essays have
appeared in reviews
and in journals.

And her second novel is promised
to us for later this year.

Or maybe early next year in
1970, if she gets to it.

[CROWD CHUCKLING]

Oh, look. Oh, God.

SPEAKER: Although she doesn't...
- Hi. Liz.

...identify herself specifically
with feminist politics...

...her works are themselves an
evocation of the feminine life.

A plea for the feminine ethic...

...a demand for a space to be
just that, female.

I'm very pleased that she's
with us today.

Please, help me greet Liz
Hamilton.

[ALL CHEERING]

Thank you.

[SIGHS]

My sincere thanks to
Professor Fields.

My thanks, also definitely
sincere, to the
Women's Caucus...

...for sending me a ticket
to come to this warm climate.

And receive such a
warm reception.

I'm not sure it's an exclusively
feminine instinct...

...but I need a lot of warmth.

[CROWD CHUCKLES AND APPLAUDS]

Perhaps it is true, as
Professor Fields has said...

...that I do not involve myself
specifically in
feminist politics.

WOMAN:
Why not?

WOMEN:
Yeah.

Perhaps I am too exclusively
involved in work.

That is, in writing and the
paralysis that seems
to come with it.

I don't know why it is, but
writers, many writers...

...must face some
daily barrier of fear.

But then, a dear old man,
James M. Cain said that:

"If your writing doesn't keep
you up nights...

...it won't keep anyone else
up either."

I have a confession to make.

All my life,
I've had a love for old men.

My father was old
when I was born.

Older still, when he died.

My first novel was a
memory of him.

And I am damn sure
not going to apologize for that.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

And this is, sort of,
the entertaining area.

It's just a little thing,
but, you know...

...little tiny houses out here
on the beach...

...they cost as much as a
mansion down home.

- Doug.
- Hi, Daddy.

In case you've forgotten,
that handsome man is my husband.

- Well, what do you think?
- What?

- My house.
- Terrific.

Doug resents we don't
still live near the lab.

But I could not take it,
I tell you, Pasadena. Whew.

Go see your daddy.

Look, honey,
look who's here.

[CHUCKLES]

- Hi.
- Hi, Doug.

- You're looking great.
- Oh, you're the one.

- You're beautiful.
- Is she?

Let me look?

Oh, my God. You don't look bad.
And a celebrity too.

Debby, take your hands
out of your pants.

You should have seen the
admiration of all those girls.

Debby, we all have interesting
things under our clothes...

...but we don't stand around
and pick at them.

So you were a big hit on campus.

They tarred,
but did not feather me.

What we call boffo box office.

Oh, now Douglas,
don't you start.

Here in Malibu,
we all talk show-biz talk.

Liz is not interested
in any Hollywood silliness.

She's a New York authoress.
Right, hon?

She takes her coffee every day
at the Plaza Hotel, Palm Court.

And she eats her steaks at
the Four Seasons on Park Avenue.

I'm impressed.

I take my coffee to go
at a deli on Sixth Avenue.

Heh. I'm even more impressed.

If he had his way, we'd be over
at Caltech all the time.

But those college people,
they're like Atlantics...

...except they lie even more.

When do I get to see more
of your husband?

Later.
We're having a party for you.

And he's agreed not to work
for just a minute or two.

A party?

You're my only friend
who's a celebrity.

- A very minor celebrity, Merry.
- Oh, hell.

It'll do these folks good.
They're all such major ones.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Oh, Liz, honey, look,
this is Kent.

This is Kent, this is Liz.

Hi.

Don't fall all over yourself
because it just embarrasses him.

Don't worry. I only know
how to embarrass myself.

I'm sorry I haven't read any
of your books.

Oh, there's only been one.

But, it's marvelous though, even
the parts I don't understand.

What parts?

Parts unknown.

[LAUGHS]

- Isn't she special?
- But, Merry, wait, I, I--

[WOMAN LAUGHS]

How're you doing?

- I'm drunk.
- Let me catch up.

You shouldn't be talking to the
help. Half of Hollywood's here.

Yeah?

You wanna go for a walk?

- You get time off?
- She likes me to rebel
now and again.

[CHILDREN CHATTERING, LAUGHING]

Hey, your turn.

I'm right in the middle
of a story.

How's the book coming?

Well, the first hundred pages?
Terrific.

I've written them over five
times in five years.

Is that how you normally write?

LIZ:
I don't write normally.

I'm what is called blocked.
Isn't that humorless?

DOUG:
What about the Frenchman?

You still into him?

Into him? You talk hippie talk?

That's California talk, I think.

Are you?

I used to be very young.

Paris was very old.

He was intense. I was shy.

- He did all the work.
- And now?

They ought to warn you before
they let you fall in love.

I mean, for the first time.

You can pick the
God-awfullest one.

And you don't recover.
Not from the first. Never.

What comes after the Frenchman?

Nothing for the moment.

I got no lover,
but I got a therapist.

Now, that's humorless.

Well, he says,
"When I start writing again,
I'll start loving."

What he said was,
"fucking again."

Excuse me, Doug,
the man's a Freudian.

Maybe it's the other way. Start
loving, you'll start writing.

- I suggested that.
- What'd he say?

He said, not writing
was my problem.

[CHEWING NOISILY]

We missing the party?

- The party's over.
- I'm sorry.

It's the habit of this community
to be suspicious.

When a married man goes off with
a married woman's best friend...

...that's the occasion
for suspicion.

We better move, because I'm not
changing my habits.

It's my fault.

JOHNNY CARSON [ON TV]:
You know that.

Anyway, tomorrow night
David Steinberg will be here.

And on Friday, Joe Namath,
who's gonna be a--

[AUDIENCE CLAPS
AND CHEERS OVER TV]

Joe will not do a monologue,
because it takes him too--

Kiss?
I'm not mad at you anymore.

- Better.
- That's my best.

- Thank you, Doug.
- Thank you.

Good night.

- Good night, honey.
- Good night.

Merry, thank you.

What for?

For being there.

One year I come running from
Paris, and you-- You're there.

Another time, I want to crawl
into a hole until
the reviews come out...

...you open the door.

And the party.

Oh, that little party.
Forget it.

I always thought if my books
were a success, I would buy you
a mink coat.

- Sable.
- All right, sable.

Well, it was a big success.
You were in Newsweek, honey.

There's a lot of broke people
in Newsweek.

Some of these movie folk here
knew your name.

They're all rich and famous.

You're just famous.
That's harder to do.

All the good things
happen to you.

Handsome husband.

A beautiful little girl.

And you know how to sew.

[POURING DRINK]

- Are you gonna drink?
- Just a little.

Why?

I wanted to talk.

I can drink and talk. Go.

Liz, honey, I'm so proud of the
way you turned yourself out.

I sound like a table leg.

I mean, what do I do? I sit here
and sew like my grandmother...

...and kiss my husband goodbye
on his way to work.

Have tea with Rock Hudson.

Oh, you know,
they are just folks here.

They all got problems
same as you and me.

We could debate that.

You take that nice fella,
my little neighbor next door.

That fellow may be just
a neighbor to you...

...but he shows up in a lot
of ladies' dreams.

Well, that is just the point.

Just because he is a star actor,
doesn't mean he's happy.

He's always moping around,
coming in here for tuna fish.

He has got lots of time to sit
home and worry.

- About what?
- He's had three wives.

Not one of them worth spit.

He has become far too familiar
with drugs...

...some of which he
puts up his nose.

Here, just let me find the part
about Kent.

Hmm. Here's the part about--
This is the part about Kent.

Hmm.

Well, maybe I-- Maybe I better
start at the beginning.

Start what?

- What is this?
- Well.

Liz, I know this sounds silly
but this is a novel.

This whole box.

[CHUCKLES]

How wonderful.

Oh, no.

It doesn't have all the commas
in place like yours...

...but it is something I feel
real serious about.

These folks around here, they
come and they sit on this beach.

And it is no different
from down home.

They got problems, honey,
and they tell them to me.

[CHUCKLES]
Because I like to listen.

And then you,
you write about them?

Well, I changed all the names.

- Oh, good.
- You don't wanna hear this?

Let me read, it's easier.

No, it's such a mess.
I better read it.

- The whole thing?
- Oh, Liz, would you mind?

Let's just start and see
how far we get, okay?

You're gonna hate this but,
okay?

Okay.

It's got a title.

It's called A House by the Sea.

You know,
to make you think of Malibu.

[MERRY INHALES DEEPLY]

[SIGHS]

"This was a first
for Laurelle Jordan.

Her first trip to New York, her
first visit to the Plaza Hotel.

Being a girl from Dallas, she
marched into that hotel
drinking room...

...with all the arrogance of
Texas money."

- You're not getting drunk are
you?
- I'm listening.

"As she sat there fingering the
olive in her crystal clear...

...drink she was wearing a hat
in the shape of a Stetson.

But this was no cowboy hat.
It was made of mink.

The little animals who gave up
their lives to make her hat...

...had all come of
age in Siberia.

MERRY:
There was the sand
at her feet...

...and as many as the grains
of that sand...

...were the memories
of her years...

...Brad, Elliot, Gerald...

...in and out of her life as the
tide that came now to wash at
her feet.

'Gone,' seemed to say the
lapping tide, all gone.

But her memories and this,
her simple house by the sea."

[SIGHS]

Was it okay?

Why do they always
end up alone?

Who?

Those ladies, in those stories,
they always end up alone.

You liked it?

It knocked me out.

Is that good?

The Mona Lisa never
knocked me out.

- Do you want some coffee?
- Got any more Scotch?

Haven't you had enough?

A nightcap.
A morningcap.

[INHALES, EXHALES SHARPLY]

I don't want you to tell me
any lies, Liz.

Don't worry. I need to get sleep
before I tell a believable lie.

Did you like my book?

How long did it take you
to write it?

Oh, almost a year.
Let's see...

...I started just after
Debby went--

Well, eight months,
in the afternoons.

Eight months in the afternoons?

What are you gonna do with it?
Get it published?

I was going to ask you.

Go ahead. Ask.

I don't like your tone, Liz.

What is wrong with my tone?

The New York Review of Bookss
said I was a master of irony.

Oh, drink your gin
and go to sleep.

You want me to show the book
to Jules Levi.

Well, I want you to do whatever
you think is right.

Jules Levi is the wrong man
for you, Merry.

Why?

Too much important tailoring.

He's like an apple the butler
polishes every day.

He's the most impressive
publisher in the business.

Let's say he's impressed.

Liz, would you--?

Would you show it to
Jules Levi...

...tell him it not be like some
translation from the Russian?

I haven't escaped from the
iron curtain or anything...

- ...but I do know what it
feels--
- To have feelings!

You know what it feels like
to have feelings.

- I suppose.
- It is not a supposition.

It is a fact,
from the master of irony.

Merry knows what it feels like
to have feelings.

That is worth money
in the pocket.

But not Jules Levi's pocket.

He doesn't have any pockets.

- Too much expensive tailoring.
- Why not Jules Levi?

Jules Levi is interested in
something called serious art.

Serious art.
Ask him and he'll tell you.

There are only two markets for
serious art:
homosexuals and Jews.

- That's an ugly thing to say.
- What? Homosexual or Jew?

I could smack your face
and not even feel it.

Another gin
and I wouldn't either.

What's wrong with me writing a
book? Makes you so jealous, huh?

Nothing.

What is wrong with learning to
bounce balls on your nose
eight months?

I should learn to bounce balls
on my nose. Balls, I should.

I'm too busy writing and
rewriting my first 100 pages...

...for that famous apple
polished, impressed
and impressive publisher.

He has been waiting years for
what they call my second effort.

Do you know what it is
to be blocked?

Could you develop a few
hang-ups?

Don't you wanna write major art?

And knock them out
at the local gay Hadassah?

Why are you all shouting?

Liz is just being a bitch, is
what we call it down home.

Well, we're not down home.
We're way out West.

And quit quoting Atlanta as
though it were gospel.

Atlanta has fallen.
Haven't you heard?

Sherman has spared us
any further wisdom...

...from that quotable
capital of the South.

Give us a quote from Paris,
France then, Miss Smarty.

Okay.

In Paris in France they had a
guy who was, for the record...

...both a homosexual and a Jew.

Who wrote a seven-volume book
they continue to refer to
as a masterpiece.

Who was such nitro-glycerin
in the head...

...that he had to hide out
in a cork-lined room...

...or else he'd have
gone up in shrapnel.

Proust, Marcel Proust.

He had the good grace
to suffer for his art.

And didn't push aside
the tuna fish sandwiches...

...on his Formica kitchen table
to write it.

Has anybody slept around here?

Liz Hamilton, it is my duty
to remind you of a promise...

...you extracted from me
early in our careers in college.

You made me promise to tell you
if you ever went too far...

...and were in danger
of hurting me.

Well, you are too far right now.
Apologize.

I apologize.

Tell her I apologize for a basic
lack of honesty.

You have been lying.

Not yet. I would only be lying
if I let you believe...

...it was merely Scotch or gin
that are making me do what I am
about to do.

What are you about to do?

Vomit.

[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]

She liked my book.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[SIGHS]

Don't worry, I'll get some sleep
on the plane, I guess.

Oh, give these back to Merry.

And, tell her, thank you.

I wish I understood you two.

Why should you know the secret?
We don't.

[WOMAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY
OVER PA]

[SIGHS]

[SOFTLY]
Thank you.

I'm just sorry.

Why? You've been behaving
like a normal human being.

I'm sorry you don't
live around here.

You are?

It'd be nice for Merry
having a friend.

[SIGHS]
Oh, some friend.

You're okay.

Bye, Doug.

Thanks.

WOMAN [OVER PA]:
--Airlines, flight 174...

...for St. Louis and Houston...

...will depart from gate 30.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Thank you.

Are you not drinking?

Not this trip, thanks.

Hmm. I don't think
she's drinking.

A little wine.
That doesn't count.

- Well, don't blame me.
- Heh. No, you are blameless.

Thanks.

It was hard at first.
Sure, it's an adjustment.

I can't imagine.

It must be really horrible
in its way.

For example, I've never been
able to take this off.

How old was she?

If you don't mind saying?

Twenty-nine.

I'm just two years older.

Any kids?

No. Thank God for that.

You ever known a guy--?

Have you ever known a guy who
loved you so much that he'd...

...run up the stairs because he
couldn't wait for the elevator?

You ran up the stairs
for your wife?

Sometimes.

[SIGHS]

I've never lived in
an elevator building.

It can be nice.

What?

ATTENDANT:
Would you like one last drink...

...before our approach
to Kennedy?

Kennedy?

No. Thank you.

[UNBUCKLES SEAT BELT]

Oh, excuse me.

LIZ:
Sorry.

[WATER SPLASHING]

[OBJECTS CLATTERING]

Oh, sorry.

[LOCK CLICKS]

[SIGHS]

WOMAN [OVER PA]:
The captain has turned on the
no smoking sign...

...in preparation
for our landing at Kennedy.

We ask at this time that
you return to your seats...

...and extinguish
all smoking materials.

[LOUD WHIRRING]

At this time we would like to
request that you put your...

...seatbacksin full upright
position, make sure all
carry...

...on luggage is securely
under your seat.

[FLY UNZIPS]

[LIZ MOANING]

[LIZ MOANING]

The sound you hear is the
landing gear locking into...

...place and is a normal
part of our flight.

[SCREAMS]

[BOTH GRUNT]

[TIRES SCREECHING, LIZ MOANING]

[BOTH MOANING]

The sound you hear is the
captain reversing engines...

...to retard our forward motion
and is a normal part
of our procedure.

[BOTH EXHALE]

On behalf of Captain Price
and the entire flight crew...

...we want to welcome you
to the New York area...

...and to thank you
for flying TWA.

We hope your trip has been
pleasurable.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

I work in the city
and maybe we could--

You know, I don't even know
your last name.

Max, some things are perfect
just as they are.

- Well, what if I give you my
number?
- Well....

GIRL:
Daddy, Daddy.

Max, darling. Max, thank God.
I thought we missed you, honey.

WIFE: The kids fought all the
way down the Saw Mill
River Parkway.

I wanted to surprise you
but it wouldn't have been...

... much of a surprise
if we'd missed you.

- Can I help you?
- Oh, no, no. No, thanks.

I've been helped quite enough
for one day.

Come on, let's go.
I made this wonderful dinner.

You're just gonna love it.
Come on, you got everything?

[HORN HONKING]

[BELL RINGS]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

- Jules.
- Ah.

[LAUGHS]

- Mwah.
- Welcome home, dove.

- That is a tan.
- Ha-ha.

Most New Yorkers never get out
of the Polo Lounge out there.

- I passed out on
the beach a lot.
- Five years.

I've always had to call you.

I felt like a rejected suitor.
At last you call me.

With your manuscript.
Unbelievable.

Not quite.

- What are you drinking?
- Scotch and water.

Another martini for you,
Mr. Levi?

When a writer calls her
publisher,
it's usually love or money.

- They're out of one or the
other.
- Well, Jules, it's neither.

- You have some money left?
- Yeah.

You're not in love?

No, I've lost my resilience
in that department.

How do you mean?

Well, my trust, which at best
has always been minimal,
is now entirely gone.

Nothing ventured.

I've never found anyone to
compare with you, Jules.

Heh. What's wrong with the
original? Try him, terrific.

- Sarah says so.
- Sarah who?

Your wife, Sarah.

I don't know why so many
attractive ladies are more
concerned...

...about my wife's feelings
than mine. Your novel.

This isn't mine.

I thought you said you were
closing in on it, on the finish?

I am closing in on it. But--

Since I came back,
I've been possessed with work.

- A couple hours a day I'm
possessed.
- Then, what is this?

This is by a friend.

My oldest friend, truly a
friend. It has potential.

Give it to Allan for a read.

No, I want you to read it
as a favor.

What's it about?

Feelings.

What kind of feelings?

The kind of feelings
they have in Malibu.

Malibu.

[SIGHS]
Oh.

Just because I'm from the
South, every time I open my...

...mouth some Yankee thinks
I sound stupid.

Why? Because of the accent?
Well, I don't care.

I'm not gonna curl up
like some salted slug.

I'm proud to be from Atlanta.

Twice a year, when Merry Noel
Blake takes down Margaret
Mitchell's...

...phenomenal bestseller to
read, it's not just to be
reminded of home.

She may be comparing royalties.

Ever since her first book...

...A House by the Sea, went
through Hollywood like a...

...mowing down about half the
film colony with its exposí...

...she has established herself
as more than a writer.

This prolific woman, with five
torrid bestsellers,
one after the other...

...has become a, kind of,
publishing institution.

But at what a cost.

KENT:
Nah. I've always loved Merry.

She's a good kid.

DICK:
You don't feel that...

...there's a slightly altered
portrait of you in her book?

Now, do I look like the kind
of a guy that-- Teenage girls?

I mean, once in a while, some
schnook could get carried away.

But, I mean, with all of the
daughters of all of his...

...friends? Including the
daughter of the studio head?

God, somebody's gotta be
a fruitcake to do that.

DICK:
It's not true then...

...that your attorney
is bringing suit against her?

[KENT LAUGHS]

Nah. Heh.

Nah, I'm sorry to see Merry
move out of the colony.

DICK: We should mention,
that's the Malibu Colony.

And that's where the first
novel is set.

Why did she leave Malibu?

I don t know.
Some guy set fire to her car.

DICK: It's hard to imagine that
the pyramids...

...along the Nile or the sphinx
with its mysterious smile,
could have--

You're gonna miss this.

It's a rerun.
You've seen it once.

- Make me one too.
- What do you want?

Half of whatever
you're drinking.

DICK:
--that you use a nom de plume.

MERRY: I was a Christmas
surprise to my mama...

...so she named me
Merry Noel...

...you know, M-E-R-R-Y.

All the folks down home call me
Merry Noel to this day.

DICK:
In her second book, Cleo...

...Merry Blake imagines a
modern day Cleopatra,
who comes to America...

...and falls in love, in fact
into bed, with a executive...

- ...who looks like our own
Gerald Ford.
- There's your half.

- Do you wanna go to New York?
- Nope.

I'm booked on
to The Merv Griffin Show.

- What would I do?
- What do you do here?

[INTERVIEW CONTINUES ON TV]

I'm sorry.

I know how you like to affix
blame...

...but I did not close down the
project, the lab did.

I said, I'm sorry.

Sometimes words just slide out
of my mouth. Heh.

Like a snake out of its hole.

Home Cookin'.

- You like it?
- Hmm.

That's it.
That's the title.

Home Cookin'.

It's gonna be about Mama.

Yeah.

I keep trying to remember why
she kept going off to see Papa.

She had been married
three more times...

...and she was living
with her third husband.

And she snuck off to a motel
to see Papa.

She was 60.

- My God, she was driven.
- Mm-hm.

- I wonder.
- What?

Wha--

She must have loved Papa.

[DOUG SIGHS]

You never recover from the first
person you fall in love with.

- Doug, you know that?
- No.

- Well, you said it.
- Liz told me.

- You and Liz talked about love?
- We did.

- When?
- Some years ago.

Doug, honey, Doug, could you
excuse me? Just a second.

I'll be right back.
Hon, I'll be right back.

You just-- I'll be right back.

One second, okay?
I've just gotta--

[LIGHT SWITCH CLICKS]

Dougy.

- Mm.
- I'm sorry.

Doug-bug?

- I thought you wanted to--?
- I finished.

Without me?

I only feel, Merv, you can only
be honest when you do something.

You have to do it,
speak from the heart...

...you have to tell it like it
is. That's how I feel.

- You have a daughter?
- I do, yes, I do, she's 14.

I wonder, Merry Noel, what
advice you give her about boys?

Oh, well, I just tell her
what my mama told me.

I just tell her, if you think
too much about boys...

...you get on the back
of a horse.

[AUDIENCE LAUGHS]

MERV:
Quite a philosopher, your mama.

MERRY:
She was, yes.

MERV: Did you do a lot of
horseback riding as a youngster?

MERRY: Oh, no, I didn't Merv.
I don't like horses.

They're so big,
but I like jockeys.

[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]

MERV [CHUCKLES]:
Do you?

[LAUGHTER CONTINUES OVER TV]

[SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE]

[MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO]

[DOORBELL BUZZES]

[DOORBELL BUZZES]

[MUSIC STOPS]

You're early.

Hi, Doug.

You're not at
The Merv Griffin Show?

[LOUDLY]
I stepped out for a drink.

- I was about to have
one myself.
- Me too.

I thought you were sticking
with Merry.

She can never find her way
down here.

She can figure out how to find a
bookstore in Satsuma, Florida.

I'm not worried.

I haven't figured out whether
I like you better drunk
or sober.

No Scotch?

Ah. Next to the typewriter.

I forgot the literary process.

You're almost right.

I was having drinks
with a novelist.

That is literary,
isn't it?

The novelist?
Are you still seeing him?

- No.
- His wife came back?

-No.
-You're not talking?

- If there was something
to talk about.
- Ahh.

Poor Liz.

I finally figured out after
three, what is it...

...three and a half,
on-again off-again years...

...that my friend Paul
considers me an interruption.

To his otherwise
important thoughts.

Poor Liz.

Don't worry.
I took his best years.

Please God,
don't let me burn that bird.

[CHUCKLES]

All the times we've been here,
I've never seen you in the
kitchen.

I don't go in the kitchen.
The roaches talk about me.

I'm thinking about
moving back here.

I'm not afraid of cockroaches.

You're kidding?

Hmm. They run when I turn on the
light. They're afraid of me.

I mean about moving back here.

There's an opening at the
Rockefeller Institute.
I'm going in to see them.

Does Merry want to live
in New York?

I don't know.
I never asked her.

- Don't you think you should?
- Liz.

I have this fantasy that if I
work back here I can come by.

- You can incinerate a bird.
- Where is Merry going to be?

- She can fly in between books.
- Oh, yeah.

That's what she does,
flies in between books.

- Naughty.
- Hey, I can cook.

Did I tell you?
I used to read Gourmet Magazine.

Let me ask you something--

I'm thinking,
if I get a place back here...

...I can cook duck
or cherries jubilee.

- That sounds fun.
- And invite you.

You're thinking, you can move
away from Merry...

...between books and invite her
oldest friend over for duck?

And cherries jubilee.

And then what?

-Where does your fantasy go from
there?

-I told you way
back in college...

...when I started going with
Merry, if there ever came a
time when you--

You promised you'd never
mention that again.

I lied.

[DOORBELL BUZZES]

That's Merry, Doug.

[DOORBELL BUZZES]

Doug.

The limousine driver had no idea
where Minetta Lane was.

He had to stop and ask a cab.

I got so darn angry
I took the cab...

...and then that damn fool
couldn't even find the Village.

Goddamn it. I see you
found your way down here.

- Liz has some wonderful Scotch.
- You want a drink, Merry?

I don't. He doesn't.
Why do you give him liquor?

She also sacrificed a chicken.

Great, great. You're drunk.
That's just great.

- I'll get it.
- No, I got it.

- I'll get it.
- Goddamn it.

Well, l took a Dexamyl
and cleaned house today.

You did all this in one day?

Oh, the dexie did it.
I just watched.

[COAT FALLS]

Good night.

- Where are you going?
- Back to the hotel.

-Why?
-I've got an interview tomorrow.

I wanna go and drink myself
to sleep. Alone.

Do you have any idea
how far away you are...

- ...from sleeping on park
benches?
- Come on, Merry.

I wish you weren't always
ready with a Scotch...

...and a back scratch
for poor Doug.

"Poor Doug" likes his
back scratched.

It is, l am told,
the spirits of affection...

...and not the distillery
that comfort the soul.

- Brother!
- Could you please help in that?

This is not Bellevue.

I do not accept responsibility
for the sprits of my guests.

You cannot imagine
what it's been like...

...since he drank himself
out of his job, at the lab.

- Bullshit. I never drank
to do my job...
- Hah!

I only drink to perform
my job as husband.

Then you better bring a bottle
to bed next time.

LIZ: Let's say we eat.
- Blame me, goddamn it...

...it's clear he blames me
for what turns out to be...

...to my surprise, something
missing in his character.

What's missing are a few
intimate parts of my anatomy.

Disgusting.

I do blame myself because
if I hadn't offered them up...

...you'd never have
sliced them off.

- I wish I'd slice you up.
- Get your hand off my tie.

[GASPS]

How very stupid.

It's a scene from
one of your books.

That ain't stupid.
It's just trash.

- Trash?
- Trash.

You said trash?

- Trash.
- Successful trash.

You're goddamn right.

You put together enough trash,
you get major garbage.

[SLAMS DOOR]

Trash.

Trash, my ass!

[PLAYING LIVELY TUNE]

Liz.

Doug.

Hi, Doug.

- I had the interview.
- Oh.

And it wasn't right.

Really. I'm sorry.

It was probably best.
I'm going down to Houston.

There's a NASA position
that sounds right.

That means I'll live
in Texas. Assuming--

- You're serious about this with
Merry.
- Yes.

I gave her 15 years. You can't
say that I wasn't serious.

Aren't you gonna tell her?

We talked it out,
we shouted it out, last night.

- No, about Texas.
- Will you tell her?

- Is that why you asked me here?
- No.

No, Doug. Don't start any more
of this fantasy business.

Why don't you let me
be your friend?

You are my friend.

Close friend.
You need a close friend.

You and Merry are both
my close friends.

You know what the end
of my fantasy is?

- No, Doug.
- Merry divorces me.

- Please.
- You forget about her friend.

- Stop.
- Hey, look at me.

And you marry me.

Doug, you're scaring the shit
out of me.

MERRY:
Doug.

[EXHALES]

- What is it?
- You told her you were meeting
me?

Doug.

- I had to.
- Why?

Fifteen years.

Don't you want me
to tell her something?

Yeah.

Tell her goodbye.

MERRY:
Doug.

Doug, wait.

Doug.

- Doug.
- He's gone, Merry.

- Gone where?
- He's gone to Texas.

Texas?

- A job interview in Texas.
- Ugh.

Did you tell him I forgive
everything he said?

He doesn't wanna talk,
he's leaving, he's left.

- Left what?
- He's left the marriage.

He said you all
talked it out.

Stupid man.
He said stupid things.

Well, go get him. Go.

Did he say anything more?

He said, goodbye.

Goodbye?

- Goodbye.
- That's it?

[SIGHS]

[VOICE BREAKING]
What--?

What am I gonna do?

You're gonna miss him, terribly.

Oh, no, I don't want to.

I hate to be unhappy.

Oh.

You are making me unhappy
and I'm gonna hate you for it.

I'm gonna hate you, Doug.

I hate you.

- I hate Texas.
- Merry.

Oh.

[CRYING]

Oh, Liz,
we were a good marriage.

Everyone said so.

I don't mean just the magazines.
I mean, our friends, everyone.

Didn't you think we were happy?

Now what are they going to say?

What can they say?

Just something more that was
happy, gone to waste.

It's the times.

What ugly times,
we live in.

Another broken home.

Mm.

I never wanted to be
a statistic.

Oh.

Make a new life, isn't that
what abandoned ladies always do?

Well, to hell with that.

I'm just gonna keep the same
life with just a piece missing.

I'll just break off a piece.

I got my career.

- I got my daughter.
- Hmm.

I got you, my friend.

Liz, you'll be my friend,
won't you?

That's a stupid question.

We'll just be old friends
like always, huh?

Old friends.
Of course.

[HORNS HONKING]

Hello. Sorry.

Liz is late.
Take a little off her vote, huh?

I've forgotten how long it takes
to get around in this city.

How are the ducks and the pigs?

I have a mill pond.
It's for mills, not for ducks.

I'd be damned if I'd live in
Connecticut without something
that said "moo."

- Ducks and pigs don't go "moo."
- See what I know?

If I can get down to what is
called serious business.

- Where'd they put you up?
- The Algonquin.

--which I must read.

Martha, you have every
good intention...

...we know, but you're not
gonna read the rules.

- We know the rules.
- It is not my intention to bore
you.

Then don't.

Sorry.

We have until December 31st
to make the announcement...

...of the best of American
fiction for the year.

- All of you, as previous
winners--
- She's going to do it.

I have a question. One of the
titles we've been considering...

...is Merry Blake's
Home Cookin'.

It's already getting
some remarkable press.

That woman has ground out
sausage for 10 years...

...and suddenly a
book comes out.

That woman is a friend of mine.

It's not your fault she wrote
something good.

- Even old Dr. No likes it.
- Who?

Hennings. Didn't you see his
piece in the Sunday Times?

- No, what?
- Enough. Please.

He said, "At last she has
written from the heart...

...and decided to bypass the
obstruction of her brain."

Mm. Funny.

I wanna register with you,
if I should disqualify myself.

If anyone should disqualify
himself, it should be me.

What do you mean, Martin?

Well, you know, about me
and Anita Turner.

No.

Her book is all about me,
for chrissake.

[JUDY CHUCKLES]

Now, what does that mean?

Oh, Martin, be a big boy.

You be a big boy.

I just wanted you all
to be warned.

My old friend Merry has taken
the floor of a hotel...

...and she intends to lobby this
entire city for this award.

She's got Jules Levi lined up to
a series of what she calls...

...opinion-forming parties.

We're the only three who can be
impressed by such tactics.

That is a cold
statement of truth.

When the National Writers' Award
was first formed...

...it was the intention
of the charter--

[HORNS HONKING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

1218, please.

Thanks.

Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry.

A messenger brought
this for you.

The National Writers' Award.

- And this.
- Books, great.

- There's a man waiting to see
you.
- Who?

- Mr. Adams.
- Who's that?

Christopher Adams.

He's over there,
next to the column.

Oh, okay.

Mr. Adams?

- No. I'm sorry.
- You're not Christopher Adams?

- No, I'm not.
- I am.

Hi. Chris Adams.

Liz Hamilton.

You wanna do it down here
or go to your room?

- Do what?
- You don't remember?

- I don't remember.
- Well, that's okay.

It's better than okay, it's
terrific. Nice meeting you.

Would you like a bellboy for
these, Miss Hamilton?

- Uh--
- I got them.

Hmm?

Are you a messenger
from the Writers' Award?

- I'm from the Stone.
- The what?

Rolling Stone.
We have an interview.

[WHISPERS]
Chris. Chris Adams.
Rolling Stone--

[NORMAL VOICE]
God, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry I can't possibly do
it. I've gotta read all these.

- I'll carry them up for you.
- Ahem.

Come in.

- Where do you want this?
- Over here.

[SHOES FALL ON THE FLOOR]

I'll just be a minute.

Give me room service please.

Oh, don't put that on yet.

- What do you want to drink?
- I don't drink.

- You don't want a soft drink?
- No.

This is room 1218.

I'd like a Scotch, please.
And a water to back it up.

Oh, no, give me double,
thank you.

Um....

Somebody left grass around.
Maybe you'd prefer that?

No.

- Funny.
- Mm.

When they said someone
from the Stone was coming...

...I imagined a satin
jumpsuit...

...and two coke spoons coming
out of your nose.

I don't have to use this
at all, if you don't want.

Well,
how long is this gonna take?

Whatever you want.

You don't wanna talk now,
you can call me later.

Since when would I want?

I mean, you guys.

How old are you,
may I ask?

Twenty-two.

Well, you're more like 12.

If you say.

I don't really understand
why the interview.

Why?

Yeah.

Why me? Why the Stone?
Why me, for the Stone?

- It was my idea.
- Yeah?

Yeah.

Perhaps you could break
the language barrier...

...and let me know
what this is all about.

- There's a language barrier?
- I thought this was a joke...

...you know, about your
publication.

The utterances of those
who can't speak...

...written by those
who cannot write...

- ...for those who cannot read.
- I used that.

You did?

In one of my interviews.

Well, you see.

After your second novel, it was
my idea to do a piece on you.

There's no one that fits in
right where you do.

The magazine wanted
a woman in the arts.

There were others with more
visibility but I wanted you.

You have political anger.
But reason keeps it cool.

Especially in your small
magazine pieces.

Your fiction, there's passion
right there.

But again, within the parameters
of taste.

Or maybe it's art, not taste,
you'll tell me.

More than any other woman with a
public profile, I respect you.

[CHUCKLES]

Well, turn it on
and maybe we'll get started.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

Ah. No, it's Scotch.

- Oh, Debby.
- Hi, Aunt Liz.

- Hi.
- Hi.

This is my favorite niece.

More or less my niece,
daughter of a friend.

Her name is Debby. This is Chris
from Rolling Stone.

- Hi. Mom didn't call here?
- Four times.

What'd she say?

I don't know.
I just got the messages.

I can tell you, she's going to
be opposed to my moving in here.

She is? Well, so am I.

There's only room here for me,
and the ghost of Dorothy Parker.

I'm not really, I've just gotta
get out of that hotel.

So I can stay at Ginger's.
She hates Ginger.

Well, who's she?

Ginger Trinidad. He's this
terrific Puerto Rican poet.

You've heard of him.

He started writing poetry in the
Tombs, the New York jail.

- What was he doing there?
- I don't know.

It was in TIME magazine.

He robbed some liquor stores
or something.

But it was
politically motivated.

Oh, apart from a
few minor details...

...I don't know what your mother
has against him.

We're making it, that's what.

She's got some weird idea I
should save myself for an
astronaut or something.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

[SIGHS]
The Scotch.

- Oh.
- Do you ever answer your phone?

I have been too busy
answering the door.

- This is Chris Adams.
- How do you do?
I see you're here.

- He's from the press.
- Oh, how interesting.

- Which publication?
- Rolling Stone.

I've just been trying to find
out one little piece of
information...

- ...about what went on today?
- You mean about--

- I guess you mean about--
- I can't talk about it.

- What did they say?
- They liked your book.

That much I can say.

- How much?
- Oh, Jesus.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

[SOFTLY]
Please, God.

MAN:
Hi, there. Is Debby here?

- You must be Ginger.
- Yeah. You the mother?

She's the mother.
I'm the aunt. Come in.

Thank you.

- Hi, honey.
- Hi, Ginger.

- How you doing?
- Fine.

- Ready to go?
- Please.

- Good.
- Just one moment.

Please, young lady.

I know, maybe
you don't like me too much.

Not like you?
I have no reason to dislike you.

It's just a question of my
liking my daughter more.

Perhaps too much, but then
again, she is my daughter.

Maybe you don't like Puerto
Ricans. Is that it?

Heh. It has nothing to do
with being a Puerto Rican.

You could have skin whiter
than apple blossoms.

As long as there's
lingering respect...

...from my daughter that she'll
consider my opinion...

...I would prefer that she not
race about the streets of this
dangerous city...

- ...with the criminal element.
- Wow.

Let's go, Ginger.

- Nice meeting you all.
- Ginger.

Debby!

[SIGHS]

You. Darling, Aunt Liz.

After whom my daughter
chooses to model her years.

I've ordered a double, you can
have half. Save your speech
until then.

You consider it adventuresome,
her affair with a car thief.

- He stole a car?
- He's addicted to the practice.

Maybe he can get me a Mercedes.

Debby would roar
over that cynical humor.

Would you get off it?

- I've been keeping this fellow
- I don't mind.

- I mind.
- I'll go.

- Just give me one simple word.
- What simple word?

Am I or am I not
wasting my time...

...and considerable amount
of money back here...

...or am I going to win
the National Writers' Award?

Well,
there are two simple words.

Yes and no.

- That's all for now?
- That is all for now.

Okay.

Don't forget.

Dinner Friday night at Jules'.

I can't, Merry. I've gotta go up
to Connecticut for the weekend.

- With 200 books.
- All right.

Well, there's another Tuesday
night at my place.

- I'll try.
- Please.

And find someone nice to bring.

[SIGHS]

Can we do this later?

You know what you need?

You know what I need?

You need to relax.

What do you mean?

Relax? Relax means relax.

You mean, I need someone
to relax me?

You think I need someone to
relax me? To come here
and relax me?

I didn't mention someone, no.

- Oh, you were gonna do it?
- Do what?

There's an arrogance about men,
sometimes.

Maybe you haven't noticed,
not being yet a man yourself.

- Are you okay?
- Do I sound okay?

Look, all I meant was
you should get some rest.

If you wanna get some rest
with someone, that's up to you.

If I wanna get movement in bed
I'll check into a motel...

...and drop a quarter
in the vibrating mattress.

I'm at the Chelsea
when you wanna do this.

I'm wrong. It is the young men
who are the most arrogant.

When it comes to arrogance
in sexual matters...

...they assume everyone
is falling down over them.

Put that on. I have a quote.

[SIGHS]

I find this century obsession
with young flesh obscene.

It's like eating green
cantaloupes.

Okay. Goodbye.

[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]

[DOOR SLIDES OPEN]

- Is that for 1218?
- Yes, ma'am.

Great.

Wait.

Thanks. Down, please.

[BAND PLAYING
"JOY TO THE WORLD"]

[MUSIC ENDS]

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Excuse me, could you tell me
where Cartier's is?

Yes. It's just up there
on the other side of the street.

Near those flags?

Yeah.

[SIREN WAILING]

[HORN HONKS]

It's up there.

This thing doesn't fit.

It's supposed to be a bracelet.

It'd be fine,
if I wanted a necklace.

Is it a gift from your mother?

[CHUCKLES]

No. My mother lives
in Redlands, California.

Are you Mrs. Collins?

No.

East 71st Street?

No.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

At one time, every important
literary figure in New York
came here.

Over there where you see
the restaurant area...

...they had a weekly luncheon
called the round table.

With writers like Robert
Benchley, George Kaufman,
Edna Ferber.

Thank you, Jim, for walking me
all the way down here.

[CHUCKLES]

You do a lot of smiling.

[PUTS DOWN GLASS]

How old are you?

Eighteen.

Who is Mrs. Collins?

[UNZIPS]

[EXHALES]

[LIZ MOANS]

My problem is,
I'm truly an old-fashioned girl.

I like men who talk.
I love to talk.

There's a whole generation
crowding up behind us...

...of people who wanna talk
with their bodies.

Christ, everyone is so muscular
and chic.

Their tits spilling out all over
the place, soft fashions.

We've got a generation of
beauties. They're more beautiful
than the Greeks.

But what happened
to the articulate guy?

I mean, nobody wants to
talk anymore.

You don't have to be hard on me.

- I'm just listening.
- Listening is an intimate act.

[LAUGHS]

- It laughs.
- You said something funny.

I don't talk to everyone, nor
make love to every woman I meet.

Maybe you should catch up
with your peers.

I'll agree with your point.
A way to approach a woman is
through the ears.

Ears, you know. They're little
emblems of sexuality.

I'm listening to you through
little emblems of sexuality.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

I'm not ready to concede that
the young aren't more...

...sexually arrogant though,
and this is important...

...I have been recently
led to believe...

...that they might have
something to be arrogant about.

Namely...

...endurance and bodies.

My old friend Bessie Smith...

...whose records shared many an
afternoon with me in Paris...

...said she liked it when her
daddy took her for a buggy ride.

What I like about you is
you never stall.

How about you, kid?

I never preferred it
with girls my age.

[MOUTHS]
Oh.

I was about to make you,
Christopher Adams...

...the lead character of my new
book, Young Flesh.

Why not with girls your own age?

They're always watching
for their own orgasm.

[CHUCKLES]
What should they
be watching for?

Your orgasm?

Our orgasm.

I suppose if I talk fast enough
and stay up all night...

...I could tell you my life
story before I get on the train
in the morning.

I'll drive you.

- Connecticut?
- Why not? I got a license.

Well, for one thing, I've got to
read all those books.

If you give me a minute,
I'm sure there's another reason.

Pick you up at 10.

- All right?
- Okay.

Night.

Good night.

LIZ:
Ah. Heh.

CHRIS:
Oh, it's so great.

LIZ: Isn't it terrific?
CHRIS: Yeah.

- I'll get the bags later.
- Okay.

CHRIS:
Here, here, here, I'll help you.

LIZ:
Thanks.

Watch out, it's slick there.

Hang on, I'll just get the key.

- Thank you.
- Mm-hm.

[SIGHS]

Let me look at you.

[CHUCKLES]

Ooh!

Put this on, put this on.

[CHUCKLING]

Mwah. All right, one more.

- That's enough. That's enough.
- One more. Uhn.

Hah.

[FIRE CRACKLING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

I don't like this.

- Why don't you like this?
- Because I don't like parties.

- Ginger, you need these people.
- I don't need--

- Hello, how are you?
- Hi.

- This is Ginger Trinidad.
- Hi.

[TALKING INDISTINCTLY]

- Francis, how are you?
- Francis.

Hello, hello.

MERRY: Oh. How are you?
- Oh, Merry. You're a beauty.

I won't be for long if Jules
doesn't give me some rest.

It's party, party, party.

MERRY:
Excuse me.

You are late.
But I barely forgive you.

- And your young friend.
- Jules.

Hi, Liz.

My girls.

[LAUGHS]

This is Christopher Adams.

- How do you do?
- Fine.

Thank you very much.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[HUMMING]

[MAN LAUGHS]

Merry.

I do not believe it.

It's true.

You are in love.

[BOTH LAUGH]

You sly, old land turtle.

[SIGHS]

He's--

He's so young.

God, I'm sick.

[CHUCKLES]

[SIGHS]

[GUESTS LAUGH]

MERRY:
You see, I'll invite just
anyone.

- Is this just anyone?
- Ha-ha.

MERRY:
I could not believe your review.

I thought Southern boys were
taught nicer manners than that.

I bet your mama won't let you
say at home what you
say in print.

Merry Noel,
are you trying to charm me?

MERRY: Oh, I'd imagine that's
beyond the realm of possibility.

[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

Yeats was an absolute madman.

He and his wife used to sit
around listening for voices...

...to tell him how to write.

Once he heard an owl bark,
and it threw him off for days.

[CHUCKLES]

Oh, but what he wrote.

God, the Irish.

But one man loved
The pilgrim soul in you

And loved the sorrows
Of your changing face

Hmm.

I've had this great revelation.

That it's all right.

You know?

No.

It.

It's all right. Us.

I mean...

...it's all right for me.

Oh, it's all right to be in
love? Heh.

Look, I've the right to let me
say it.

That's what I mean...

...in love.

To be in love.

Does sex confuse you?

No.

I don't mean how to do it,
though that can be confusing
at times.

I just mean the question of sex.

Mm-mm.

I went to this therapist
one summer.

He had this insane notion
that's probably true...

...that I had to wait to be
emotionally mauled by some guy
before I can write.

He also said...

...that I take surrogate lovers.

To wit,
I am aroused by object A.

I go out and go to bed with
object B.

With you, I feel like
I'm making love to object A.

Did you ever think that what
makes sex so exciting is that
it's so frightening?

Is that what you think?
Do I frighten you?

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

It's like T. S. Eliot. He made
this crack about D. H. Lawrence.

He said Lawrence
was looking for an intimacy...

...that was impossible
between a man and a woman.

Well,
I say bullshit, T. S. Eliot.

See, Eliot was just scared.

And there was Lawrence like some
sexual test pilot, ready to take
the dive.

You understand?

Oh, you intellectuals
are too much for me.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

What is everybody afraid of?

Chances? Risk? Commitment?

Those are the popular words but,
God, they don't measure up to
the old words.

Lovesick, heartfelt,
with this hand...

...sickness and health,
death do us part.

Those are sensational.

You can't hear them
without ladies weeping.

What do men do?

Don't they weep?

Well, different style. They've
got little hairs that stand up
in a lot of places.

Are your
little hairs standing up?

Those words, love, honor.

I'd love to be able to use them,
you know.

I'd love to believe in someone,
some one woman so much...

...that I could
believe those words...

...and they'd just come jumping
out of my mouth.

What did you mean,
some one girl?

- Isn't a woman too old for you?
- God, you're hard.

I'm like T. S., I'm scared.

I mean, I'd like to say to you
I wanna get married.

But you'd bitch, you'd laugh.

No, I wouldn't.

Who do you wanna marry?

Do you know how many times I've
asked someone to marry me?

Think about it.

[DOOR OPENS]

[DOOR SLAMS SHUT]

[PIANO PLAYING]

[DOORBELL BUZZES]

Oh, it's you.

That fact doesn't thrill me
either.

Debby doesn't come in, doesn't
call. I'm giving up on her.

She's 18, and in this state,
that's old enough for a martini.

This Brahms you recommended
is crippling my fingers.

[RESUMES PLAYING]

Didn't he write that lullaby,
that Brahms--? "Brahms Lullaby"?

I guess, he must have.
It's got his name on it.

[STOPS PLAYING]

[SIGHS]

[PLAYING "BRAHMS' LULLABY"]

What do you think?

Perfect.

No, I mean, the whole picture.

Self-sufficient woman,
a woman of proven talents...

...sitting by the fire,
playing her piano.

Is a reporter coming?

Oh, hardly.

A man.

Oh.

A man.

He likes lullabies?

Oh, may I?

Doug called.
He's in New York.

Doug Blake?

He's tanned and successful,
up from Houston.
That's what he says.

He would've come over,
but it's business, business.

- When's he coming?
- Tomorrow.

Give him my love.
He's a wonderful man.

He's got something very obvious
in mind. I know it.

I'm willing to stake my
life on it.

He wants the marriage back.

It's only been four years.
That's not long.

They say it takes you five years
for your mattress to lose its
imprint.

We're still imprinted
on each other.

Let me look at you.

- I've lost.
- What?

That's why you look like you're
standing on your own udder.

Oh, Merry, please.

They took a vote, I've lost.
And you can't tell me.

- What is today's date?
- I'm not a child.

Today's date is December 30th.

The final vote is December 31st,
as promised.

Oh, Liz, I've been dreaming
about my party.

Right at the stroke of midnight,
New Year's.

I announce the victory of my
book and the rejoining of my
marriage.

How can you be so sure?

- Of what?
- Either.

I'm having tables
all along here...

...just spilling over whatever
grows this time of year.

The trouble with December
is there's no strawberries.

How am I gonna create a big red
area in the center of the table?

Stab one of the guests.

Liz, if all you want is to be
unhappy, just let me be.

I'm sorry, but those are my
thoughts.

I'm sorry.

[VOICE BREAKING]
I didn't mean to make you
unhappy.

Give my love to Doug.
I meant what I said.

He's a wonderful guy.

[DOOR OPENS]

[SNIFFLES]

You know, you two are the only
thing I ever admired.

A marriage...

...a real child and you loved
each other.

I'm fine, really.

I wanna know
what's going on with you.

Tomorrow, Merry, tomorrow.

Merry, go back inside.
You'll die out here. I'll call
you later.

Can you lend me your coat for a
second? Just for a second, okay?

- Yes, ma'am. I'll wait inside.
- Okay, thank you.

MERRY:
Liz.

[PANTING]
Liz.

You are so determined.

If you're going through all this
worry just because of me
and that prize.

No.

Your writing?

Please, no.

Rolling Stone?

His name is Chris Adams.

That's what it is.

He wants to marry me.

That boy?

That's what I said.

He proposed?

Yes.

To this mature woman.

Ah. I do not believe that.

That's my problem too.

Do you think he's serious?

[SIGHS]

- He says he is.
- What do you think?

I said no.

What do you feel?

I don't want anyone around
watching my thighs grow old.

You are such a big, bad bear at
times, you only scare yourself.

Well--

I mean, how long could it last?

It's insane.

- A year.
- You see?

Or two, maybe three. From there,
there might be a fourth.

What are you saying?

There's no guarantees.

If that man says he wants you...

...you let him stick around
until your thighs turn to stone.

What the shit difference
does it make?

Why didn't you say this
in the beginning?

[CHUCKLES]
Oh.

Well, honey, we're not talking
about a new dress here,
this takes a moment.

1218, any messages?

No messages.

Oh, thanks.

Courthouse? Which courthouse?

Is he on a story?

Yes, please. Tell him I'm at the
hotel. I'm eating in.

Thank you.

[PHONE RINGS]

Hello.

Oh, Debby, it's you.

Look,
your mother's looking for you.

And I'm trying to keep off this
line. I'm expecting a call.

What? He's with you?

Yeah, Chris is here. He's been
terrific. He's in talking to the
judge now.

- Is he in trouble?
- No.

No, not him. It's Ginger.

They arrested Ginger for parole
violation, carrying a weapon.

It wasn't even for real. It was
a real gun and everything...

...but he was using it to see
how people would respond.

He's starting a new novel.

Why didn't you call me?

I was. I was trying to reach
you. You weren't in.

So I called the Chelsea and I
asked for Chris, thinking you'd
be there.

No way was I calling my mom and
getting the daughter of Dracula.

Debby, could you please
put Chris on?

He can't, no. He's in there with
Ginger and the judge.

Okay, sure. As soon as he can.

Okay.

[SIGHS]

Oh.

Um.... Wait.

555-9970, please.

[GRUNTS]

Room 2-1-8.

What?

No, this is a friend.

You must.

They say?

They said they don't want
to be disturbed?

[ENGINE RUNNING]

[HORNS HONKING]

Liz. Liz.

I'm having lunch uptown
with Doug.

Well, I'm going downtown.

Oh, we'll go downtown.
Go downtown.

[ENGINE STARTS]

Well?

I thought we can have this
conversation later over a drink.

I lost.

- Not exactly.
- I won.

- Not exactly.
- Well, what in God's earth--?

It was a dead heat.

A split prize?

Well, not really.
It was decided that...

...two people should
win first prize.

You...

...and Sharon Gay.

Sharon?

Both books are in what they
call the American grain.

-The coming of age of rural
America--
-I know the American grain.

Hers is the black woman's point
of view. Yours, the white.

Sharon Gay.

Merry,
both are excellent choices.

If they had the guts, they'd
have given it to the black.

What is that?

They obviously wanted
to give it to Sharon.

The reviews have been
licking her feet.

You were on the jury,
they had to toss you a bone.

Goddamn it, your book is good
and so is Sharon's.

I'm a son of a bitch
if I'm gonna explain.

You didn't have to
share the award.

They gave it all to you.
Blue Ribbon.

It may come as a surprise, but
we did not write the same book.

Meaning mine is worse than
yours?

Meaning I am sick
and fucking tired...

...of you trying to live your
life through my skin.

Ha. If I had your skin,
I'd take better care of it.

[LAUGHING]

That is truly amusing.

Oh, you stop it.

I'm angry and I want you
to be angry too.

- I'm getting out of the car.
- I always wanted to write.

Ever since I was 8
and I started my first diary.

It had nothing to do with you.

Merry, be honest.

If I had become a glider pilot,
you'd be behind the wheel of a
747 by now.

Driver, can you drop me here,
please?

[HORNS HONKING]

[CAR DOOR CLOSES]

Taxi.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[SIGHS]

How are you?

Wiped out.

I was worried, this jail
business and all.

I had about three hours' sleep.

Did you get Ginger out?

They're holding him for 60 days.
Parole violation.

Debby must be heartbroken.

- I guess.
- Where is she?

I guess she's still asleep.

Merry didn't mention
she was back.

- Back where?
- Back at her mother's hotel.

She's not there.

- Then where is she sleeping?
- My room.

Your room.

On the couch.

- How odd.
- What?

She could have come to my hotel,
I have a couch.

She was going to her mom's
but you know how that is.

No. How is that, Chris?

- Are you upset?
- I'm upset for Debby.

All alone and no place to go.

Chelsea must be booked up
or she wouldn't impose on you.

- You know Chelsea's not booked.
- How do I know?

- I haven't checked the books.
- I didn't wanna tell you this.

Tell me about what?
Something I shouldn't know?

No,
I knew you'd get carried away.

Never been calmer. It's you
who's gone all emotional.

Sudden compassion
for runaway teenagers.

- Do you consider them as peers?
-Stop it, please.

Why couldn't you receive calls?
What was all that about?

Debby and her mom were having
fights and she kept calling
back.

What if it had been me?

Why am I on the defensive?

I'm trying to say that...

...I've been sleepless all night
reconsidering your proposals.

You remember,
your many proposals.

- Your many insistent proposals
- Stop!

You said no. We don't have
to beat it to death.

Oh.

- I'm sorry.
- I wanted to marry you.

You didn't have to be
so goddamn hostile.

Well, then, be man enough
to end the hostilities.

Hostilities end when
one side surrenders.

Oh. Is that what you think
marriage is? A surrender?

Who the fuck is talking
about marriage?

You were. Until you opened
a youth hostel.

Can I join you guys?

I guess not, huh?

- I'm sorry, it's not really--
- No, no. No problem.

I better go call Mom and tell
her what's going on, anyway.

I'll call you later.
And thank you, really...

...for saving my life.

Bye, Aunt Liz.

Bye, baby.

I'm going on the road
with Fleetwood Mac.

I'm doing an interview.

Debby's going with me
as my assistant.

It was in the budget
and the guy I was--

Debby's been wanting to get away
from home. I think that's good.

[SOFTLY]
Yeah.

Truly.

It's better than good.
It's fantastic.

Yeah?

- Do me a favor?
- What?

Don't say we're
gonna be friends.

We're inappropriate as friends.

-If I can't have you as a lover,
I--
-What makes you so sure?

Well, we have to agree
about one thing.

That in some ways
I'm more mature than you.

I've seen some endings.

This is one.

I wanted something from you.

I know.

- You made me really furious.
- I know.

Do me another favor.

Let's forget about
the interview.

[VOICE BREAKS]
I don't wanna read it.

We've written something
sensational together.

But it's a private edition.
Let's not make it public.

You talk some good talk,
you know.

Like my old friend Yeats said:

[INHALES DEEPLY]

When you're old and gray
And nodding by the fire

You can take down that book
And slowly read

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

Are you leaving?

I'm going to Connecticut.

What about my party?

I'm sorry.
I was gonna call.

I'm so down,
I'd just spoil it.

I think we have come to a
serious juncture in our lives...

...when we should examine
the terms of our friendship.

Hold this.

Thanks.

Merry, I'm truly sorry
about the award...

...but it's not the worst thing
that could happen. There'll be
lots of publicity.

That is water long under
the bridge.

- How was Doug?
- Even longer under the bridge.

- Is he still drinking?
- Dry as the Sahara.

How does he look?

He's getting married.

- Not to--?
- Joyce.

From Houston.

Oh. Poor Merry.

What a day you are having.

They've bought a house
with a yard.

- Sounds wonderful to me.
- Oh, since when?

I'm not immune to the
attractions of a man and a yard.

Or to Doug specifically?
Doug and a yard?

I never thought of it.

- Never thought of Doug as a
husband?
- Never.

Along with his ability to drink,
he has lost his ability to lie.

- Don't you look away from me.
- I'm closing my suitcase.

I began to smell there was
something he didn't wanna say.

I bought him a drink and it
all came tumbling out.

You bought him a drink?

What a petty, disgusting
confession it was.

Me, the unsuspecting wife...

...blaming myself over the years
as I sensed my husband...

...slowly but surely
slipping away from me.

Those don't sound like
Doug's words.

Isn't it true that all the time
he was married to me...

...he was pouring out
his love for you?

- He mentioned it.
- While married to me?

- At the last.
- And he proposed?

Tsk. Merry, I said no.

Oh, because of your friendship
with me?

- At least you got that right.
- Oh.

Except for that strange lapse
into morality you would have
taken him?

[LAUGHS]

He sure deserved better
than he was getting.

How did you know what he was
getting? Did he describe it?

If you have any more
revelations, keep them
for your diaries...

...or your novels,
they sound about alike.

Well, it's happy time for all.

Doug and his Joyce.
You and your cradle snatchings.

You can have a double ceremony.

If you mean Chris, he's gone.

Where?

[SIGHS]

Into the arms of what you would
be corny enough to call...

- ..."the other woman."
- Who?

Debby.

My Debby?

That's absurd.

That's what I thought.
They're too close in age.

I'm gonna put a stop to that.

Hell you are.

Chris is giving her a job
with my blessings.

Doesn't that just complete
the picture?

In a painful kind of way.

Everything I've ever had,
I had to share because of you.

My award, my husband,
my daughter.

Isn't there anything
that's mine?

- Your bile.
- My righteous anger.

Ah.
What a preacher you would make.

Because I don't have the morals
of a yellow dog?

I have respect for the morals
of yellow dogs.

- One come in the yard, we'd
kick it.
- They're loyal.

They'd hump a snake
if it stood still.

- I haven't tried snakes.
- A miracle.

- Now, I'm a slut?
- You said it.

What are you saying, Merry?

How many men have you had?

- Is that the test?
- How many?

How many before you're a slut?

- Three.
- Heh.

- Kick me out of the yard.
- How many besides my husband?

Three sailors and a jockey
but never your husband.

Which at this point, I regret.

What astonishes me is that you
have no idea why I truly hate
you at this point.

It's not because of your
jealousy over my work.

Oh, your work!

Because you lack the moral
sensibility to appreciate what
I have lost in Doug.

- Next to nothing.
- Liar.

A possession.
You lost more in that bear.

That is one thing of mine
you won't keep.

Take him. That's one thing
that won't talk back...

...so you can turn to hate
of all exaggerations.

- I am not such a woman.
- You're right.

- You are part such a woman.
- Meaning?

Cunt.

God!

- Give me that bear. Give it.
- It's mine.

Give me that.
Give it here.

[FABRIC RIPPING]

[CRYING]

Oh.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[MAN SINGING, PLAYING "ON THE
SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET"
ON PIANO]

[LAUGHTER]

[LAUGHTER, MUSIC
AND CHATTERING CONTINUES]

[GLASSES CLINKING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Darling,
I've been looking for you.

- Happy New Year, Jules.
- Happy New Year, angel.

Where are you going, love?

A party.

[TAXI DEPARTS]

Liz.

Hello? Liz?

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

MERRY:
Liz.

Hello?

[KNOCKING]

Come in.

[SHIVERS]

Oh.

Do you know how much it costs
to take a cab, from New York?

Ninety dollars.

Ninety.

I tipped him five.
Was that enough?

Ooh.

Oh, boy, doesn't that feel good.

Do you have glasses?

I hated my party.

Damn, the bubbles are gone.

Thanks.

I'm not much good at
apologizing.

I guess I never have,
actually, but I am now.

- You don't have to.
- I certainly do.

I couldn't hate you.

And even if sometimes I do,
I shouldn't say it.

You're my oldest friend.
What else have we got in life?

Our oldest enemies.

[CHUCKLES]

Honey, as the years go on,
they begin to look alike.

I've been thinking about us.

Really?

We're terrific.

You don't say.

We've accomplished one hell of a
lot, in one lifetime.

What we deserve is a rest.

[CHUCKLES]

And we shouldn't always argue.

I know. You're right.

- You know what we should do?
- What?

Take a year off...

...and sail around
the Greek Isles.

Only sleep with guys
who can't pronounce our names.

All Greeks.

[CHUCKLES]
Uh--

Well, I couldn't do that.

- Just the fishermen.
- Well, how--

[CHUCKLES]

But how could I do such a thing?

[SIGHS]

It's simple. You just go there
and let it happen.

I wouldn't even know where to
start. I wouldn't-- would I say?

All my life I've wanted men...

...to find something mysterious
and seductive in my work.

Some poetry.

[SIGHS]
Me too.

Now, let them find the poetry
in my body.

Forget about the books.

[CLOCK CHIMING]

Merry...

...do me a favor.

What?

Kiss me.

[CHIMING STOPS]

After all these years...

...are you going to tell me
there's something about you?

It's New Year's Eve.

I want the press of
human flesh...

...and you're the only
flesh around.

Kiss me.

[GLASSES CLINK]