Original subtitles

Oh, there she is, the toast of the West End.

Harriet, darling, don't mention toast.

You know I'm off carbs.

I have already called the half, which is utterly redundant

as the only person in the production

is gallivanting around the streets of London

-in his fucking costume. -I needed fags.

Story of my life.

Do not smoke in your costume. I have to take it back to the--

-The higher company-- -On Monday.

And there are a bunch of fucking twats.

They're breaking me out in hives.

Oh, they suit you, darling.

That you think almost as highly of this play

as I do myself.

Hello? Hi. Sorry, who's this?

It's Oscar. Oscar Conlon-Morrey.

Oh, right, sorry, I thought you were the Ethiopian boy

I met at Jersey Boys.

Okay, so Oscar Wilde wrote, right?

Yeah, he was a playwright.

-Yes. -Right. So I mean,

I didn't get that until like, 15 minutes into the thing.

I mean, that wasn't clear to me, and I work in the business, so.

I-- I think most people know who Oscar Wilde is.

Most gay people do, at least.

Well, I'm gay, and I didn't get that.

- So - Did, uh...

Did you manage to speak to any of the investors

that Carol invited yet?

Look, your show's a tough sell.

Investors know that. We all get that.

-We all agree. Right? -That was the whole point

of doing the showcase last night.

It was why I blew 3/4 of my life savings

on hiring the Haymarket Theatre, Oscar's Theatre,

in order to raise funds for my showcase.

It's why Carol currently

on Ryan Murphy's plane to Thessaloniki.

The private jet. His private jet.

It even has a name.

Look, let me find out

and I'll get back to you, okay?

Look, we're here for you if you need anything.

Are you good?

- Um, I actually wouldn't-- - You're good. Okay.

Look, we'll talk soon. Okay? Bye.

Sorry, Tim, I was actually wondering...

Hello?

Shitty, darling. Very shitty.

Just been on with my agent.

Oh, Oscar, do you remember what you told me the day we met?

Never wear Bermuda shorts in central London.

-No. -Green is a difficult color?

- No. - Chunky jewelry--

Oscar, no. Be yourself.

Everyone else is already taken.

I never said that.

Oscar said it.

All right, well, I knew one of the two of you said it.

I'm always confusing you two, anyway.

Tell me about it.

Ooh. Are you naked?

As the day I was born, darling.

-Gotta go. -Love-- love you, mate.

Love you more.

Bye.

The basis of character is willpower.

Coffee in your costume again?

Relax, darling. It's decaf.

-A fan. -Thank you.

More pube brownies.

Be sure to save me one.

Is there anything I have to do whilst I'm here?

Yes, it's beautiful sceneries.

-Yes. -You can have the pizza.

-The pizza? -Yeah.

They're the best pizza in New York City.

-Oh, and local delicacies. -Of course. Yes.

I have nothing to declare but my genius.

Where can I find that pizza?

I came to America the first time in 1882,

to promote Gilbert and Sullivan's

comic opera Patience.

I lectured for one year in 30 states

from New York to California.

By the time I returned to England,

I was a celebrity.

The world's second most famous queen.

And I haven't written anything. Well, nothing you'd know.

Anyway, I was famous just for being famous.

May I continue with the tour now, Mr. Wilde?

Oh, my dear fellow. Well, yes, of course.

The suspense is terrible. I do hope it lasts.

Madison Square park.

An epicenter of Wilde's time in New York.

The Fifth Avenue Hotel, where he would meet

actresses for his plays.

And Delmonico's, his favorite restaurant.

And on this side of the square, Mansions,

where Oscar was fated by society.

Oh, and Oscar's bank, where he had to go one day,

embarrassed to stop some checks

because he had been conned in a card game.

Well, anybody who lives within their means

suffers from a lack of imagination.

Oh, so wonderful.

-What's your name? -Carlos.

-Carlos. -And this is Luca.

-Hello. Luca. -Luca, say hi.

-Hey, baby. -Say hello to Oscar Wilde.

He's a famous person.

It's wonderful to meet you, Carlos.

-Have a wonderful day. -You look amazing.

-It's a pleasure. Ciao. -What a pleasure.

Love Carlos.

I am pleased to see this building

of neoclassical structure has survived.

Well, I'm afraid to have to tell you this,

Mr. Wilde, but Stern Brothers is now a Home Depot.

A Home De--

What in Christendom is a Home Depot?

Well, a DIY.

DIY?

Do it yourself.

Do what myself?

Hm, your bedroom, your bathroom.

Or-- or perhaps your kitchen.

Oh, well, let us see

if they have anything that can live up to my blue China. Hm?

Here we are on Irving Place,

on two houses, Oscar, that you may recognize.

Number 47 and number 49.

At number 47 was a house that Oscar Wilde

actually stayed at when he started taking rooms

in rented accommodation

after staying in hotels most of the year.

Your friend, Bessie Marbury, also lived here.

She became your literary agent in America.

And she lived here with Elsie de Wolfe.

Um, for a period of 30 years

in what was known then as a "Boston marriage."

But we know now they had a relationship,

and they were one of America's leading gay icons

of the late 19th century.

Bessie Marbury was Wilde's literary agent,

probably one of the first female literary agents of her day.

And her partner, Elsie de Wolfe, almost certainly

the first female interior designer in America.

And now, my dear Mr. Cooper,

I must take my leave of you,

for this promenade through my past

has bored me so wretchedly

that I've nearly lost all interest in life.

Good day. Taxi.

- Thank you, driver. - How are you?

- Thank you. - All right.

All right. Thank you very much. All right, then.

Oscar.

You're back.

This is Wonderful.

Oscar.

Good afternoon, dear Oscar.

I hope you are behaving very well.

I'm feeling very well, thank you.

Well, that is not quite the same thing.

In fact, the two things rarely go together.

Oscar, I feel bound to tell you

that you are not on my list of eligible young men.

-Do you smoke? -It's--

-Yes, I must admit I do smoke. -No, I'm glad to hear it.

A man should always have some occupation of some kind.

There are far too many idle men in New York as it is.

How old are you?

I'm 29.

A good age to get married at.

Tell the boys that.

Boys?

Oh, well, yes, Lady Bracknell.

Uh, do you mean you couldn't tell?

The love that dare not speak its name

has always been a deep spiritual affection

is as pure as it is perfect.

I've always been of the opinion that a man

who decides to get married,

Should always know either everything or nothing.

Which do you know?

I am too old to know everything.

-I know nothing, Lady Bracknell. -Well, I'm glad to hear it.

I do not approve of anything

that tampers with natural ignorance.

Indeed, ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit.

Touch it and the bloom is gone.

Hmm.

Dishes will not be necessary, Luis.

We will not be eating this cucumber sandwiches,

just admiring them.

And now to minor matters, Mr. Worthing.

Are your parents living?

Mr. Worth--

I have lost both my parents.

To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing,

may be regarded as a misfortune.

But to lose both looks like carelessness.

Who was your father?

Uh, my fath--

I'm afraid I really don't know.

The fact is, Lady Bracknell, I said I had lost my parents.

It would be nearer the truth to say

my parents seem to have lost me.

I don't actually know who I am by birth.

I was...

Well, I was found.

Found?

The late Mr. Thomas Cardew, an old gentleman

of a very charitable and kindly disposition

found me and gave me the name of Worthing.

Because he happened to have a first class ticket

for Worthing in his pocket at the time.

Worthing is a place in Sussex. It is a seaside resort.

Wh-- whe- where-- where did this charitable gentleman,

who had a first class ticket

to this seaside resort, find you?

In a handbag.

A handbag?

Yes. Yes, I was in a handbag.

A somewhat large handbag with handles to it.

An ordinary handbag, in fact.

Oh, and-- and-- and in what locality

did this Mr. James or Thomas Cardew

come across this ordinary handbag?

In the cloakroom at Victoria Station.

It was given to him in mistake for his own.

The cloakroom at Victoria Station?

Yes, the Brighton line.

The line is immaterial.

I strongly advise you, Mr. Worthing,

to try and acquire some relation as soon as possible.

Well, I don't see how I could possibly manage to do that.

I can produce the handbag at any moment.

It is in my dressing room at home.

I really think that should satisfy you, Lady Bracknell.

Me, sir?

Thank you, Lady Bracknell.

Good day, Oscar.

That was fun.

Laughing to myself.

Oh, my God. Is that who I think it is?

Gay Benjamin Franklin with a Lestat blowout.

Somebody call Anne Rice.

Ladies and gentlemen, my friend Oscar.

Now, I'm sure you've heard it said

that truth is beauty, beauty, truth.

It wasn't me, dear. It was Keats.

I wouldn't dream of taking the credit.

Even so, perhaps you've also heard it said

that I am a lover of youth.

I did say that and it caused

quite a bit of trouble with the law.

Don't you know?

That one's mine.

Also me.

I paraphrase.

And look, I know all this sounds fabulous

and desperately clever

and the history books all say that was my charm

but when first I ventured forth on my aesthetical endeavor

I was treated not with kindness but alarm.

Now, before I go there's one thing I ought probably address

an elephantine presence you could say,

for if anybody didn't understand the way I dressed

they really didn't like that I was, well, quite.

Facts are usurping the domain of fancy.

And have invaded the kingdom of romance.

The crude commercialization of America,

its materializing spiritual,

its indifference to the poetical side of things.

And its lack of imagination

and of high, unattainable ideals.

Are entirely due to that country

having adopted for its national hero

a man who, according to his own confession,

was incapable of telling a lie.

And it's not too much to say

that the story of George Washington

and the cherry tree has done more harm

and in a shorter space of time

than any other moral tale in the whole of literature.

Oscar. Welcome.

Ms. North.

What a pleasure to meet you in the flesh.

Oh, thank you so much for coming.

Thank you for my invitation. It's an honor.

-Of course. -What a beautiful home.

-Thank you. -This is stunning.

-We're glad to have you. -Bless you.

-Come inside. -Oh, thank you so much.

I can't wait to see your interior design.

How was your trip?

Oh, hot.

I am very glad to have been invited

and to address an audience in...

Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

And I am impelled for the first time in my life

to breathe a fervent prayer.

God, save me from my disciples.

Your people love art.

- Yes? - Yes. Yeah.

But you do not sufficiently honor the handicraftsman.

I did not imagine until I went

into some of your simpler cities

that there was so much bad work done.

I found where I went bad wallpapers,

horribly designed and colored carpets.

Oh, and that old offender, the horse hair sofa.

-Oh, my God. -My husband's grandmother

had one right in the living room.

-What is that? -Stank like the devil.

And so did she.

Ladies, ladies.

Excuse me. Thank you.

Have no great flaming chandelier in the center of the room.

Also, you should not have cast iron railings

fixed outside the house.

Oh, I think Amy has some of those.

She does.

There is nothing, to my mind,

more coarse in conception and more vulgar

in execution than modern jewelry.

-Yes, and thank you. -No, and thank you.

We spend our days looking for the secret of life.

Well.

The secret of life...

is in art.

Bravo. Bravo.

"Illusion is the first

of all pleasures."

"The world's a stage and the play is badly cast."

Escape it all by cherishing your treasures

and soon you'll find the fear of light has passed.

Right and left, left and right.

Right and left, left and right. Right and left, left and right.

-The secret of life...

-is in art.

And no iron railings!

Yes. And thank you.

Cheers, darling.

Oscar.

-Oscar. -Alyson

Oscar, baby, you made it.

Oh, my darling.

I'm so glad you were able to come

-and look at you. -Thank you for having me.

And a costume change for you as well.

-Well, absolutely. -You look delectable, darling.

Listen, I want you to meet a dear friend of mine.

His name is Randy Jones and he's just going to love you.

Now listen, come on here with me.

I'm sure he's in here somewhere.

We're picking people from our party to, uh,

Be with us later for a little, uh,

how can I say, burlesque type show.

-Oh, burlesque. -Strippers, basically.

-Strippers? -But we're gonna pick them

from the audience.

-You wanna help? -That sounds like vaudeville.

I'm very much-- Oh, can I grab a little slider?

We don't have time to eat, honey.

You'll have time to eat, plenty of time later.

Now listen, keep an eye and see. What do you think?

Well, I think he's was absolutely gorgeous.

Oh, Oscar. Oscar. We love you, Oscar.

-So wonderful to meet you. -You're a hit already.

I told you, they're just gonna eat you up, love muffin.

What we're gonna do now is move on

to our next entertainer.

One, two, three. Oscar, won't you come forward.

You know him and I want you to come and meet everyone.

Give him.

Oscar Wilde.

Give it up for my friend Oscar.

Please, meet Randy Jones.

How often do you get two icons in the same group?

Now, I would be remiss if I did not take time

with my friend Oscar.

I have a question for you.

Hey, everybody. Come on, he's come a long way.

Oscar, will you tell us

what is your strongest impression of the South?

- Holy shit. - Of the South?

Well, hello everyone.

I was forewarned that the south would be hot.

But it wasn't until I came to this party

and saw the specimens in the room

that I truly understood the meaning of that word.

Guys, you'd like very much to thank you for having me,

to thank you for your hospitality,

for your kindness, your rock hard abs.

But mainly I'd like to thank you for your teachings.

So, you see, I cannot wait to take that

to London with me to sing

"The Higher the Hair, the Closer to God."

Thank you.

Hello! Now...

Hey!

Now what we have to do, what we have to do

to and Winston-Salem is to decide...

Good evening. Welcome to Thompson Talks.

I'm Ron Stacker Thompson.

And I have here with me tonight a very special guest.

The cowboy from Village People,

Randy Jones.

Hey there. How are you?

And you brought a very special guest too.

You know what? I absolutely did.

And what the surprise of my life.

Are you aware at all Mr. Wilde of Village People?

Uh, we-- Well, I'm afraid

I'm terribly sorry to say this, Randy,

but my first exposure to this delightful premise

was last night at the party where I had the great privilege

-of sharing a stage... -Right?

...with the Village People.

So you got to see it from my perspective.

-I did. I did. -Is that not amazing?

It's remarkable.

I assume there were many people there last night.

- There were. - How did they respond to...

The Village People?

All...

The-- the barriers were dropped...

-Yes. -...for those three minutes

-when you started singing. -Yeah.

Everyone came together

-and it was unifying. -Yes.

And I realized in that moment, whilst it might...

To raise a child, it takes a village.

- Yes. - To raise a queer child,

it takes the Village People.

- And to have-- - Oh, nicely put.

Yes, and to have a united country,

it takes a village.

And it takes-- We are a huge village,

this country, because we are built

of some of the most diverse people on the face of the earth.

You mentioned beauty and I love the term that you,

I think, coined yourself

the architect of beauty or the,

uh, the, exhilarator of beauty?

Uh, do you still feel that way?

To live out a tawdry...

existence.

Rather than to live one's true self completely

and totally, was never an option.

So at some time in my life,

I should like to think I can find the beauty in myself.

I understand what you've just said.

But simply put...

when you look in the mirror,

do you see something beautiful?

- No. - No?

Never have?

No.

- The lovers number six. - Hmm.

This card is not about a lover.

An illicit lover, a love affair.

This card is about a major...

life altering choice in your life.

A choice.

Seven. You're defending yourself against something.

Oh, the Two of Cups. This is true love.

We have another strong masculine figure.

You have interacted with this person in other forms,

other lives, other--

And it's, uh...

karmic, it's just coming back from another life.

Y'all may have not been, uh,

lovers in the past life,

but you definitely are attracted to each other in this life.

You're quite right in...

That there are...

two Oscars...

battling...

to get out.

And it's which...

that I'm prepared...

to let free.

Yes, because one is imprisoned

by what other people think.

Oscar!

Hi!

Kimberly.

Oh, my God. I can't believe it's you.

Oh, it's so good to see you.

I couldn't come to Alabama without swinging by.

-I'm so glad you're here. -Oh, darling.

-How are you? -I'm-- I'm well.

-Yes? -I'm well. How about you?

-Come on. -Fabulous.

The beautiful South.

- I know. , right? - This is your childhood home.

-This is it. -My gosh.

Now all the stories make sense.

-I know, right? -Wow.

It's beautiful.

Oscar, what are you wearing?

I think I explained it all in the email.

Uh, well, I didn't expect, like...

full Victorian.

Come on.

Uh, sorry, I'm still packing stuff up.

Of course.

Welcome to my home.

This is quite lovely.

Remember the stories that I told you about Sunday dinner?

-Yes. -This is where we always,

every Sunday, right here,

we always had dinner at this table.

Are you thirsty?

Darling, I am so thirsty.

Good, I just finished making some ice tea.

-You want some? -Oh, my God.

I don't even know what that is, but the answer is yes.

Okay, great. I'll go get it.

Thank you, darling.

When was the last time I saw you?

- Must have been-- - Last August.

Last August?

Was that when you were last in London?

Yes, at that awful party, remember?

Oh, gosh. Yeah.

I didn't know someone could get that drunk off white wine,

-but here we are. -That's my mother.

Have a seat in a recliner.

Uh, get comfortable.

-Okay. -And, uh, you can lean back

if you grab that little lever on the side,

you can pull yourself back and...

Get relaxed.

It's like a rocking chair on a porch.

Exactly, exactly.

-It's nice and comfortable. -Little leaver on the side.

Right there.

Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Give it a yank. Kick your legs up.

Kick it up.

Yeah.

Well, yes, this is terribly relaxing.

It should be. Welcome to the South.

A little sweet tea and a nice recliner,

-and all set. -Oh. Thank you, darling.

-There you go. -Oh, this looks delicious.

So that's my Aunt Wanda's recipe.

She used to make it all the time.

We say, "a spoon could stand up in it."

Mmm.

-That's delicious. -Yes.

-Yeah, it's something. -Cheers, darling.

How have you been?

Good. We've been, uh, working all day here.

My brothers were here, and, uh,

were helping me pack up stuff,

and so we're getting the house ready.

Oh, my gosh, that reminds me.

I told my brother that you were coming,

and he's going fishing tomorrow,

and he asked if he wanted to come.

Well, first he asked, have you ever fished?

Yes, when I was a child.

Oh, good. Would you like to go?

-Fishing with your brother? -Yeah.

Gosh, I haven't been fishing since I was a child.

Well, he's going tomorrow,

and I got something to do in the morning.

And he said, would you like to go with him and go fishing?

Do you think he might be my type?

Mm, maybe not.

-How old is he? -In his 60s.

The only thing is, he was gonna go early in the morning.

-Is that okay? -Absolutely. How early?

-Like three o'clock. -Thre-- That's not the morning.

-Well, it is around here. -Oh, my goodness. Okay.

Well, he likes to see sunrise.

Must be beauty in the sunrise.

Exactly. Okay, good. Perfect.

We have our whole day set.

Um...

I-- Listen, Oscar, what's go-- What's happening?

I did explain it to you.

-Uh... -I'm trying to find Oscar.

Oh, okay.

Uh, and how's that going?

It's going.

Well, you had the show in London, right?

That went well, right?

-Yes. -Good.

Do you know what? I'm--

Do you mind if we change the subject?

Absolutely.

Let's not talk about that.

Okay.

-Your brother. -Okay.

Yeah. So there was this, uh...

comic opera...

called...

Patience.

I don't know if you're aware of comic opera?

No.

But as soon as...

as soon as Patience was launched,

they realized that there was no way that the aesthete

could actually be portrayed in parody.

And so Gilbert and Sullivan,

they're the people who created the operas in the first place.

They employed Richard D'Oyly Carte,

who was the most remarkable man,

a manager of opera and...

I have always loved nature.

It's wild, magnificent beauty.

I have been a London man

and have been surrounded by naught but smoke and fog.

It is in the midst of the city life

that I saw all the follies of present society.

And the grotesqueness of modern customs.

I love flowers.

As every human should love them.

I enjoy their perfume

and admire their beauty.

The surroundings of art

enhance one's existence

and make life...

worth living.

Don't you agree, Jeff?

-Hmm. -Hmm.

-Yeah. -Yeah.

Oh, this is terribly exhilarating, Jeff.

I met someone recently, Jeff.

A mystic of sorts.

Do you believe in any of that?

He told me

that I may well meet someone...

on the water.

And here we are.

I think his crystal ball might require some cleaning.

Can I offer you a cigarette, Jeff?

No, thanks. I'm going to chew and spit.

-Chew and spit? -Yeah.

-Chew and sp-- -You want some?

-Can I try it? -Yeah.

-What do you-- what does one do? -Oh, it's good.

Just-- just poke it between your lip and gum.

Between your lip and gum.

Oh.

Oh, it's spicy.

Mm.

And then you chew it.

Yeah, and then spit.

Don't swallow it. You'll have a heartburn.

Oh. Oh, goodness me.

I'm not sure about that at all.

Oh.

Oh, no, that's not a Southern custom

I'm quite ready for, I don't think.

No, I shall stick to my cigarette.

Cigarettes are the perfect type of a perfect pleasure.

They are exquisite and leave one unsatisfied.

-What more could one want? -Mm-hmm.

Oh, for goodness sake.

I highly respect your silence, Jeff.

I am so clever that sometimes even I don't understand

a single word of what I'm saying.

With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon,

who could not be happy?

You're a bit of a dreamer, aren't you?

A dreamer?

Yes, I suppose I am.

For a dreamer

is one who can only find his way by moonlight.

And his punishment

is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world."

Do you know, Jeff...

I think that makes you a dreamer.

Whoo.

I'm quite conscious

that much of what I say may be annoying.

But after all, I came to America to say it.

And so long as an audience allows me

to strut and fret my brief hour upon the stage,

then I should be singularly stupid

not to take advantage of the opportunities given to me.

How wonderful.

Is that okay?

Lovely.

Thank you, Jeff.

No. No, Jeff. Jeff.

Jeff, Jeff.

Well, I've learned an awful lot about fishing today

from your brother Jeff.

Oh, did you have a good time? He was so excited to take you.

-It was wonderful. -Oh, good.

-Oh, a red cardinal. -Oh, hello, red cardinal.

- God. - Beautiful.

Yes, he's quite the conversationalist.

-Is he really? -Yes.

We spoke about many things.

-My brother Jeff? -Mm-hmm.

I think maybe I took the lion's share

of the talking, but--

Oh, okay.

We've covered some interesting themes.

I-- uh, I can't believe it

because-- mm.

Not talkative with you?

Just not in generally a talkative person,

and especially fishing, 'cause, you know,

you have to be super quiet when you go fishing.

Oh, that. That.

I now understand the looks.

Oh.

So you were, um, talking the whole time?

I probably was, yes.

Oh, I'm not going to be on his Christmas card list, am I?

Uh, I-- maybe the Christmas card,

but probably not the fishing invitation.

Mm.

-No, totally understandable. -Yeah.

Well, you got to do it once.

That's true.

I shall ch-- cherish it.

There's my mom and dad's tombstone.

Uh, I just, uh...

you know, we just had her funeral...

and my aunt and uncle are buried right beside them.

Um, and I love

that couple in the front, the Storys.

Miss Mae, she was such a sweet old lady.

She was an-- an older,

older lady when I was a kid.

Your parents are next to each other.

Mm-hmm.

It's amazing that...

a whole part of your life

can be buried in one small space.

Should we go to the church?

This is my first Baptist church.

Ah. Wow.

Congratulations. You're gonna love it.

I'm worried I might burst into flames.

Oh, no, you're gonna--

it's gonna be great.

Come on, I want to show you around.

Oh, look, they got a new plaque.

"God's House."

- Mm-hmm. - Should we knock?

You never have to knock. The door's always open.

-Oh. -After you, sir.

Well, thank you.

Oh, this is beautiful.

Yeah, they really did a beautiful job here.

All the-- um, actually, mom and her friend Charlotte

did a lot of the decorating.

They were always running off

to look at something or buy something

or purchase something for the church.

Actually, I think they bought this table.

-I was just admiring the table. -Mm-hmm.

This is so gorgeous.

Oh, you should see it at Christmas.

Big Christmas tree in the corner...

candles in the windows.

-Oh, beautiful. -Santa Claus.

That well-known biblical figure.

Absolutely.

- Yeah, so-- - And what's this flag?

This is the American flag and the--

Christian flag.

- Oh, the Christian flag. - Yeah.

She says, as if you're supposed to know.

So this must...

for you feel very much like coming home

-and feel at peace here. -Oh, always. Always.

I look so forward to meeting--

like, coming back and seeing everyone that's here.

I mean, these people raised me.

They were in the most important, informative years of my life.

They taught me about kindness.

They taught me about unconditional love.

It's really a...

a wonderful place to be

and to know you can come home to.

-You know? -Yes.

I-- I never-- I had a very awkward,

like, middle childhood, you know that--

you know that phase

when you're not a cute little girl

and you're not a teenager

who's trying to, like, be--

-Be a woman. -A woman.

Yes. I remember it well.

At one point, I did sport a mullet of some sort.

Like, you know,

short in the front, party in the back.

It was-- it was kind of the style at that point,

but it was awkward.

And, uh, I remember singing,

like, my first solo with a horrible mullet

and the rolled up jeans

and the, you know, chambray shirt.

Like, sitting in front of the whole church and singing.

Singing, and everyone knowing...

that it was, like, me.

And listening to me

and being excited to hear me sing.

You felt powerful.

I think so.

In a time of complete and utter powerlessness

in my life.

Yeah, definitely.

And singing ultimately became

what you would do for your career?

Absolutely.

And it's still the thing that, you know,

it's still at times when I feel most powerful.

I think that, you know, it's very funny.

Uh...

it used to--

I guess I should say it-- I used to be scared a lot more.

I went through a phase of being very scared of singing.

Um...

and then like...

having some, um, huge losses

in my life...

really did make me not so scared.

A crack is not that important.

So, yeah.

I would like to be fearless all the time, but...

yeah.

Oh, hi. Can I help you?

Hello. Yes, sorry, I was just admiring your automobile.

-Is it yours? -Yeah, it's a beaut, huh?

A beaut indeed.

Oh, my God, you look amazing. You look fabulous.

Oh, thank you so much. As do you.

-Oh, thank you. -All dressed up to the nines.

-Yeah! -Somewhere to go?

Well, I'm DJing at a pool party.

-A pool party? -Yeah. Do you like parties?

-I love parties. -Like pools?

-I believe I do love pools, yes. -You like bears?

-Bears? -Yeah.

I wasn't aware there were bears in this part--

Oh, honey, it's Palm Springs. There's a ton of bears.

Grab this. Get in.

-We're gonna have fun. -Okay.

The bears you mentioned, are they terribly dangerous?

Uh, some of 'em. But I'll steer you in the right direction.

Don't know if I'm quite correctly attired.

Oh, you look amazing. Where'd you get that, Revivals?

I'm afraid I don't know what that is.

Oh, I'm DJ ModGirl.

-DJ ModGirl? -Uh-huh.

Enchanté. I'm Oscar, Oscar Wilde.

-So great to meet you. -Lovely to meet you.

Do you know, DJ ModGirl,

I fancy I should be greatly pleased with California.

I agree.

All right, we're here.

Oh, wonderful.

-I'm late. -Right.

Give me that.

-This? -Yeah.

-Right. -Okay, you coming in?

Absolutely. I should be there momentarily.

Okay. I-- I got to go. They're-- already starting.

All right.

I might just have a quick cigarette.

Calm my nerves.

Hey!

Whoo!

Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.

Hey, girl. Nice outfit.

Oh, thank you.

Uh, we're going to a party. Wanna come?

Hello?

Mr. Sarony?

Hello?

Yeah, bring your leg up. More eyes. More eyes.

More Isadora Duncan. Yes. You dance with her!

Oh, this is where I belong!

This is my atmosphere.

The legend in his own time.

I didn't know such a place existed

in the whole United States.

creating a mise en scène.

How are you? You look wonderful.

-As do you, my darling man. -Yes, in daylight. Here you are.

You met Chad. He's also the of New York.

- Chad. - Yes.

I hope I do not offend you when I say that you seem to me to be

the visible personification of absolute perfection.

Thank you.

Well, he wrote the chapter on aesthetics and beauty.

-Well, naturally. -Just for your book.

Bless you. Now it's my turn, darling. Bugger off.

Okay. Shoo, shoo.

Yes, good. Turn here.

-That's it, that's it. -How's the hair, darling?

Yes. A little higher with the handkerchief.

Yes. That's it!

- Another. - That's good. Oh, yes.

Yes. Good, good, good.

I've had everybody here.

Mark Twain was very, very witty.

- And I adore Sarah Bernhardt. - She's such a.

Ellen Terry, Mark , the great Edith Evans,

John Gilroy, Ralph Richardson.

But I look for sense of magic and allure,

and a unique spark in a personality.

You can always tell. You can always--

When they walk in a room, you can tell.

It's the magic that comes through this.

This, this camera.

You see it, and it just becomes a light.

on fire.

But it helps if they have a sense of themselves.

You know, they know who they are.

This was my best friend.

This is my best boyfriend, the camera.

I like your hair.

Oh. Well, thank you so much.

I like your hair, too. Perhaps we share a barber.

-Oh, perhaps. -Perhaps.

-I'm Oscar, Oscar Wilde. -Oh, I'm Felix.

-Felix. -Yes.

-How wonderful to meet you. -Nice to meet you.

Perhaps you could help me, Felix.

-Yeah. -What is this?

- Who are these people? - Uh, stars. Celebrities.

Oh, celebrities?

Because I have quite a vested interest in celebrity.

And where are you going all floral?

Oh, I'm going to the parade.

-A parade? -Yes.

Oh, what manner of parade?

-A gay parade. -A gay parade?

Well, I guessed from your ensign.

-How exciting. -Yes. You wanna come along?

-Would that be possible? -Absolutely.

You're gonna love it.

-Well, then, yes, absolutely -It's gonna be fun.

-Lead on. -Yes, come on.

Oscar and Felix, an odd couple.

That sound just great.

- Is it this way? - Yes, this way.

Well, it says it's under Capitol Records.

Gotta be somewhere over here.

Sarah Bernhardt.

Okay.

Billy Wilder. Maybe a distant cousin.

Hmm. Okay. Elliott Dexter.

Virginia Mayo. Just making me hungry now.

Barbara Stanwyck. No.

Oh, Ethel Merman. I know all about her.

Sarah Bernhardt. We found her.

And there she is.

Is it a friend of yours?

A dear friend.

And the most famous actress the world has ever known.

And now, this is her legacy.

To be trampled over daily by thousands of people.

Maybe celebrity isn't quite as immortal

as we would like to believe.

Well, at least her name is being repeated.

That's very true. That's very true.

-Interesting. -What are all those...

beautiful colors, noble costumes,

and sculpturesque groupings?

It's the parade. The gay parade, where I'm going.

This is the gay pride parade?

Absolutely, yes. You wanna check it out?

-That's where I'm going. -I think I'd love to.

-May I accompany you? -Absolutely.

- Come on. - Thank you very much.

You want one?

- Oh, really? - It's fun.

- And you wave it? - Absolutely.

Yes.

All trials are trials for one's life,

just as all sentences are sentences of death.

And three times have I been tried.

The first time I left the box to be arrested,

the second time to be led back to the house of detention,

the third time to pass into a prison for two years.

Society, as we have constituted it,

will have no place for me,

has none to offer.

But, nature,

whose sweet rains fall on unjust and just alike,

will have clefts in the rocks where I may hide,

and secret valleys in whose silence I may weep undisturbed.

She will hang the night with stars

so that I may walk abroad in the darkness without stumbling,

and send the wind over for my footprints

so that none may track me to my hurt.

She will cleanse me in great waters,

and with bitter herbs

make me whole.

Oscar.

Sarah.

Oscar.

You altered the minds of men

and the colors of things.

You awoke the century with your imagination.

You created myth and legend around you.

Accept everything.

I work here. What? Hi, darling. How are you?

- How are you? - Well.

It's nice to see you, love.

And who's this handsome gentleman?

Finally, someone dressed in proper attire. Hi.

What a magnificent creature to behold.

Correct. You're not wrong. Welcome.

So wonderful to meet you.

How do you know this sea urchin?

Well, actually, we just met at the pride parade.

Oh, yes, it's Pride. How marvelous. Pride.

-Anyway. -Are you a celebrant?

No, thank you, I'm full.

Why don't you kids come to my show?

We have our male revue show. Is that too much for you?

I think I can enjoy a male revue,

Yes, I mean, we already have one here.

Listen, I have to go. I work in this town.

I'll see you kids in a bit.

Among the most prominent playwrights were Henrik Ibsen,

George Bernard Shaw and me...

Oscar Wilde.

Wow.

Hello, gorgeous.

Hello, gorgeous.

Oh, my God.

Ploughman's lunch.

Oh, yes, I love a ploughman's lunch.

What's your favorite dessert? Spotted dick.

Oh, gosh. Yeah.

So, Liza Minnelli. Great big Broadway star.

I mean, she loved the theater.

She was in so many musicals, you know, just loved it.

She was in John Kent or Fred Ebb.

And she sang "New York, New York".

And everyone loves her because,

well, you know, she's from royalty.

Her father was Vincente Minnelli and her mother was Judy Garland.

You know, Dorothy, from The Wizard of Oz.

I do know the friends of Dorothy terribly well.

Everyone's a friend to Dorothy.

Who wouldn't want to be her friend?

She was so nice.

Hello, Oscar.

Hello?

I remember when this musical opened

and everybody was so excited about Jerry Herman

having a new show on Broadway, and...

Everyone was a little shocked,

more than a little shocked, because it was about,

well, men in dresses.

It was about men in love.

That's really the big shocker.

And I don't think people...

were ready or could fathom how...

loved this musical was going to be.

Two men who loved each other

and they had a child that they loved.

It was the first time we saw this, so it was all new.

And it was a little scary,

I'm sure, for the people who did it.

Right? Because...

How are they going to be received,

But in the fullness of time...

do you know what this is a musical about now,

after decades and decades?

It's a musical about family.

None of the rest of it need matter.

It's about family. It's still entertaining.

The men in dresses are still fantastic.

The characters are still dynamic and wonderful.

But that's all it's about.

It's about family. And I don't think that...

I really-- if I had to think back,

how could they have had the guts to do this?

If you didn't have the guts to do what you did?

I don't think they could have. I really don't.

I think that in your way, you started something.

That allowed someone else

to start something and allowed someone else.

And it led up to what was a groundbreaking moment.

Thank you,.

"Who being loved is poor."