Original subtitles

[wine bottle glugging]

[bottle cap turning]

[bottle hits the table] [man 1] So...

tell me about yourself.

[man 2] What would you like to know?

[man 1] I don't know, just the basics.

Erm...

Where are you from, what do you do in life...

besides...

[man 2] Erm...

Well, my name's Sebastian.

I'm twenty-four.

From Edinburgh. - Oh...

I thought I heard an accent.

[locks door]

[exhales nervously]

[breathing heavily]

[man 1] Are you okay? - Yeah.

[man 1] Oh yeah. [panting and moaning]

[both moaning]

Yeah. Good. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. - Get on your back.

Oh yeah.

I'm getting close. Do you want me to come?

Oh fuck, yeah. Yeah, yeah. - Are you sure?

Yeah, yeah.

[man 2 moaning]

[man 2 breathing heavily]

[man 1 exhaling sharply]

[man 1 sighs] Oh yeah.

[traffic noise]

[indistinct chattering and laughing]

[man 1] So tell me about yourself.

What would you like to know?

Oh, I don't know, just the basics. Erm...

[man 1] I must admit, I was worried when you wouldn't send a face pic, but...

you're very handsome.

[man 1] Are you quite new to this?

[announcer speaking indistinctly]

[Claudia] Max, how is the Marloan review coming along?

You'll have it by Friday. Let's just say...

sophomore slump is a kind way of putting it.

[pen strokes] For LLF, they've just announced Alina Casaro.

I would love to... - There's been some indication

she might give an interview, but we've all heard that before.

[Claudia] As for Easton Ellis, his people just confirmed this morning.

I think this one's for you. - But didn't I ask first?

Actually, I think Max beat you to it, but in any case,

I do think it best that queer writers cover queer authors. [James scoffs]

[James] Shouldn't anyone be able to write about anything?

That's a very cis-hetero response.

[James] What does cis have to do with it?

I thought that the priority here was quality reporting, not optics.

It's not about optics.

It's about sensibility,

sensitivity.

Just do me the favour and run those questions by me, Max.

I trust that you know what to ask, but I need to see them

because we may lead with it.

[key stroke] [Easton Ellis] They're not that apparent to me.

I really tend not to write about my life at all.

People point to the story in The Informers called In the Islands,

which is about a father who takes his son to... [audio stops]

["Water" by Bicep plays]

My heart, it felt complete and

Everything was perfectly aligned [alright]

It happened just like that

We found

our satellites

[music fades to pensive music]

[phone camera clicks]

[phone camera clicks]

[Amna] Seriously, it's like a religious experience, the new one. [Max chuckles]

[Amna] Reading it I really feel changed as a person.

Sorry, I know I sound like a twat.

She's only given one interview in, like, eight years.

How does her publisher let her get away with it?

I think the mystique is part of it.

Like, you actually have to read all of her work to understand anything about her.

[Max] It should be out today.

[Max softly chuckles] - [Amna] Wow.

[whispers] So fucking cool.

I just don't think it stands out.

It's so unpolished. - What?

No.

It's exactly that rawness that makes it work so well.

The way you capture the intimacy between the lovers and...

you know, then how it suddenly turns to distance.

Yeah, collapsing those two timeframes together like that in one moment is...

fantastic.

I mean, yeah, it's atmospheric, sure, but...

Is it really saying anything? - Max...

Not everything needs to be some grand statement

if it's well-observed, if it's truthful.

This comes from the heart.

And that's why it works.

I really don't think this could've been written by someone who...

hadn't lived it.

I can't just be stuck writing short stories

and reviewing other people's work for the rest of my life, Amna.

Do you know how old Bret Easton Ellis was when he published his first novel?

Twenty-one.

Zadie Smith?

I'm already late.

[rain pattering on window] [muffled chattering]

[phone buzzes]

[shower running] [tense music builds]

[tense music continues]

[phone buzzing repeatedly]

[music fades]

Hi.

Come on in. [TV playing in background]

Okay.

You're a great kisser.

Thanks.

Sorry, it's a bit messy in here. [clears throat]

The cleaner is coming tomorrow.

[Daniel] Just got back from New York this morning.

[Max] Oh, nice. Erm... Business or pleasure?

Business, unfortunately. [chuckles]

Always business.

Do you want a drink? - Yeah, I'd love one.

Wine?

Whatever you're having is great.

Okay, kid.

You've got a beautiful place. - Thank you.

It's just for work days. The weekends I spend in Kent.

With the family, you know.

[Daniel] Oh yeah. [both breathing heavily]

[Max chuckling]

[moaning]

[both moaning]

Are you gonna make me come? - Yeah.

[chuckles]

[Daniel] Keep going.

Keep going. [gasping]

[loud moaning]

[condom snaps] [Daniel] Do you always have sex like that?

[Max chuckles]

Did you like it?

[softly chuckling] You know the answer. [Max laughing]

[both softly chuckling]

Do you know...

most of the people on that website are just awful.

Have you... had bad experiences?

Disappointments. - Hm.

It's so rare to find someone like you on there.

I mean...

people lie about their age.

Or height or dick size.

It's all exaggeration.

Some of them aren't even gay.

Can't get it hard with a man.

It's so nice that not everyone is deceptive.

[Max reads] "Sebastian stood by the window over London,

looking at both the city and himself with a new perspective.

As Daniel casually mentioned his family, he felt suddenly complicit in a cliché,

acting out another role, but one he hadn't cast himself in.

Daniel's hands found him and pulled at his skin and flesh

as hungrily as a mouth seeking water in the desert.

He didn't just want [pause], he needed.

This was the relief he had from his family, his job, his other life.

Sebastian in that moment felt that he was living more authentically than Daniel."

[woman] That's good. - [man] So good.

Did you speak to actual prostitutes for your research?

[Joel chuckles] I think Gloria means sex workers. [all laugh]

[Max] Yeah. Absolutely.

What initially drew me to the topic was a piece I did for Wall Magazine last year

on students who escort.

I guess I was struck by how casually some of them talked about the work. Erm...

They weren't really ashamed of it at all.

They saw very little stigma in it anymore.

And some of them had such a sense of professionalism

in the way that they set themselves up as entrepreneurs

or market themselves online.

There was almost this erm... sense of pride.

Anyway, I couldn't stop thinking about some of the people I interviewed

and just felt like I had to write about it.

[woman] I thought it was all OnlyFans now. [man chuckles]

Yeah. People do that, too.

But a screen will never replace touch.

Hm... It's an easier way to earn though.

[Amna] Hm, to cultivate an audience that'll make you any significant money

takes a lot of work. - [Joel] Yeah.

[woman] But you don't physically need to interact.

Yeah, but some people do just really enjoy sex though.

They might not want videos of themselves online forever.

I know someone that used to do it, when they were young of course.

They didn't mind it.

And I asked her honestly whether she didn't find some of the men repulsive.

For her, it wasn't about them, the clients.

It was about her.

[Easton Ellis] That's just... The idea that I'm like Patrick Bateman

because I described a woman-hating man, that I am that man as well,

is just a load of... bunk.

The book that I had problems with was the first one

because everyone assumed it was autobiographical

and my family is really nothing like the family in that book.

So that was the one I felt might have been the hardest for you and Dad to take

because it was erm...

To an outsider it was the most autobiographical.

[Mum] I don't think the content upset me. [phone buzzes]

The fact that it was such a tremendous hit

and it affected you so much at such an early age,

that had much more impact on me than the content of what you'd written.

[Easton Ellis] Listen, as a writer I guess I tend to be a bit of a sociologist

and I guess I tend to be drawn to things that are happening in the culture

and incorporate... [audio stops]

[tense music starts]

[mouse click]

[mouse click]

[mouse click] [men moaning and panting]

[music intensifies, stops] [weight clangs]

[grunting]

[gym equipment clanging]

[tense music builds]

[phone tapping]

[music fades]

I know it's superficial, but you are a young, not unattractive guy

and you shouldn't be afraid to use that.

It's just...

I'm not really big on social media. I find it to be a distraction.

I don't want anything complicated, just a couple of quality posts every week.

I'm afraid nobody gets to say they're above it these days.

And what about the... novel? Did you get a chance to look at the pages?

I have to say, I wasn't thrilled when you said you were writing about sex work.

I'm sure you're aware there's no shortage of treatises on the topic.

[tuts] But...

I think it is alive.

Really intimate.

And you might have found a fresh perspective on it.

I do realise it is a sort of stock character of queer literature, but...

this new generation of sex workers are all using technology.

The digital hustler. [Max chuckles]

Yeah. Something like that. - Hm.

Unfortunately, I can't offer you an advance,

but it would be fantastic if after the stories

we can get your debut novel published already next year.

How soon do you think you could get me a full draft?

Erm... Couple of months? - Oh really. That soon?

Don't want to rush it. - Yeah.

I've got to do more research. Erm, interviews. [phone buzzes]

Yes. I understand.

Sorry.

Did you have any notes on the pages?

Yes. [deep inhale, tuts, sighs]

There was one bigger thing I've been wondering about.

Have you thought about setting it in the first person?

Almost like a memoir.

A pseudo memoir.

[tense music starts] [shudders]

[stammers] It's not something I'd thought about. [music intensifies]

I mean, it might not work. I just think there's something there.

["Ligths Out" by Fred Again plays]

♪ Dancing, dancing with the lights out ♪

♪ Dancing, dancing with the lights out ♪

♪ Dancing, dancing with the lights out ♪

♪ Dancing, dancing with the lights out ♪

♪ Dancing, dancing with the lights out ♪

♪ Dancing, dancing with... ♪

Get the door. Get the door. - I got it. I got it. [both chuckling]

[muffled dance music plays] This calls for celebration.

[sniffs]

It's just a couple of chapters so far.

Max, it's gonna be amazing.

I have faith in you.

["Did You Miss Me" plays]

♪ Open to the rhythm like oh wah wah ♪

♪ Feel it in your bones like oh cha-cha-cha ♪

♪ Did you miss me? ♪

[music quietens] [ice cubes hit glass, cocktail shaker shaking]

[man] Hi.

Have we met?

Don't think so.

Where do you go to uni? You look so familiar.

UCL, but I finished a while ago, so...

What's your name?

Erm... Max. I'm Max.

Are you sure? [both chuckle]

["Acetate" by Samuel L Sessions plays]

[urinating] [muffled dance music plays]

[toilet flushes]

[phone buzzes]

[nervous breathing]

Hey. Let me just grab my jacket. I'll come for a smoke.

Erm... Actually, I'm gonna have to go.

I just remembered I've got a deadline.

Oh... Grindr calls. - It's... It's not that.

Well, it was very nice to meet you.

[Amna on phone] So, I read your new pages.

I think the character is really intriguing and your prose is vivid as ever,

but I just wonder if it gets a little repetitive.

This series of the same kinds of erm... encounters

with generally always older men.

I'm just wondering what it might look like

to see him in a slightly different situation.

Only to give it a bit more variety

and maybe to explore how he might react to a new context.

Also, I was just a little thrown by the bit about Sebastian's erm...

intermittent feelings of shame and the erm... how did you put it...

shame about shame, which definitely makes sense,

but it's just that I thought you said

you were struck by how little shame your interviewers felt. [tense music starts]

I'll send you my new chapters tonight.

Anxious to get your thoughts before the submission.

[tense music continues]

[music fades out]

[muffled dance music plays]

["Get Down" by Vakabular plays]

[Samir] Hey, Sebastian. - Hi.

Glad you could make it. Come on through.

[men chattering indistinctly]

We got friends over. I hope you don't mind.

Oh... Nice, Sam. - [Carlo] Hello.

[Carlo] What's your name, son? Come on in.

Can I fix you a drink? We have vodka, gin, wine. Erm, I think...

Or would you prefer a shot?

Actually, I think I'm gonna go.

No. No, wait. Wait, wait, wait.

Stay. Please.

You didn't tell me it was a group thing. I don't do that.

Why not?

Please, stay.

[sighs, whispers] I'll make it worth your while if that's what you're worried about.

It's late. [phone buzzes]

[Samir] We'll have fun. I promise.

[Carlo] You didn't want it? - [Jacopo] You put more in yours.

[Carlo] Okay. I don't see well. And after, you drink slowly.

So erm... where did you come from tonight?

Just from home. - [scoffs] And where's home?

Erm... East.

Phone, please.

You get it back when you go. We put them away when we party. House rules.

[Carlo] Just so everyone can relax. It's to protect us all.

[Jacopo] Yeah, you know. From any sneaky pornographers.

Or rather, it's because our lovely hosts here

wouldn't want to be pictured with the likes of you, Jacopo.

Fuck you. - Hey, whoa. Careful. Come on.

[Samir] Turn it off if you want. I'm just going to put it in a drawer.

Okay.

[Oliver] Want some?

What is it?

Mephedrone.

Do you notice the difference?

[Carlo] I didn't say.

The other one wasn't bad, but this stuff is a lot speedier.

[music intensifies] [ragged breathing]

[music builds to climax, then stops]

[muffled chattering]

[sharp exhale] [tense music plays]

[Claudia] Are you okay? You weren't in the meeting.

I need your piece ASAP and your questions for Bret.

Are you not coming in at all today? Give me a call when you get this, please.

[key strokes]

[music intensifies]

[Oliver] So tell us, where did you come from tonight?

["Your Discount" by Maae plays]

[panting and moaning]

[key strokes] [men panting]

[panting and moaning intensify]

Fuck him. Fuck him.

[Samir] Like it, Carlo?

Oh fuck. - It's good, right? Yeah.

[panting and moaning continue, then stop]

[muffled dance music plays]

[Oliver] I think they enjoyed that.

[Oliver urinating]

You're new to this, aren't you?

So have you erm...

been here before?

Yeah, I've been over a couple of times.

They like to get trashed once a month or so.

Who are they?

[toilet flushes] Like, what do they do?

Both lawyers. Hence the phones.

I have no idea what kind, but...

they can afford to be generous.

Where did he find you?

Erm...

[hesitant] Dreamy... guys.

Yeah, I can see why he picked you.

We should collab, you know.

OnlyFans.

I don't think I want to be that erm... public.

You'd do so well though.

Do you think so? - Hm.

Yeah.

You've got that wholesome boy-next-door thing going on.

But it's all filth underneath.

Why don't you think about it. Hm?

[Easton Ellis] What I find interesting now

is that there is this kind of anti-sex thing going on

in a way in terms of... In a lot of the reviews in America,

they complained about how much sex was in the book,

which surprised me because I don't think it was that much.

Morning. - Hey.

Max. Good to see you. - Hi.

Meeting's in five. - Yeah. Thanks.

Amna is doing the Rachel Cusk interview,

Fazel has the Design Biennale. Max...

Erm... I've got Bret. - [Claudia] Change of plans.

You're going to Ecotec today for the app launch.

Erm... But I'm interviewing Bret.

No. James is taking care of Bret.

But erm... Max is like an expert.

He was here on Friday for the LLF meeting and has prepared for it.

[scoffs]

But that's not even our section.

What do you think makes the existence of this magazine possible?

Do you think literature pays for itself?

[Claudia] And please hurry up with the Slimani review.

It should've gone up by now.

I know, it's fucked up.

But... why didn't you come in on Friday?

I told you.

I hooked up with someone and I fell asleep at their place.

You know, I really could've used your feedback on my pages.

[gasps]

[sighs] Fuck, erm...

I'm sorry. I'll look at them tonight. I promise.

I've already submitted it. The deadline was yesterday?

[tense music builds]

[footsteps receding, door opens and closes]

[female speaker] ...intuitive interface,

so all you'll be doing is swiping left or right,

which I'm sure you can all manage.

This time the best part is

that you won't even have to take an awkward stranger out for a drink.

[speaker] Now, we have spots in our software

where you can share ideas,

brainstorm, make parking lots for your research and development...

[gentle music plays, people chattering]

[phone buzzes]

[man] So this is Max from Wall Magazine. Joan, our Head Developer.

Pleasure to meet you, Max. - Hi.

Shall we sit down over here?

Yeah.

[Joan] Where do we begin?

Has anybody demonstrated to you how the app works?

Yeah, they have.

I can tell you more about the development process

or how we came about our user interface, or the design.

Actually, I think erm...

I've got enough. [zips bag up]

[man] Oh no, you really want to talk to Joan about this.

She pretty much spearheaded the project.

[Max] It's not necessary. The presentation covered everything, so...

I'm gonna have to be off.

Thank you so much.

No. I'm sorry. We're not done here.

Joan needs to be a part of this piece.

[doorbell rings]

[Nicholas] Did you find your way here okay?

Yeah. No problems.

I know it can be a little unintuitive from the station.

Where did you say you live again?

In Hackney. - Oh right, yes.

Hackney has really come up, hasn't it?

It wasn't that long ago no one wanted to go near it, let alone live there.

I remember when it was just gangs and drug dealers and...

Can I offer you a drink?

I've opened some Primitivo.

I'm grateful to have had my career when I did.

Starting out in the seventies was an absolute joy.

Tertiary education was free.

The pursuit of knowledge was regarded as an end in itself.

Speaking with post-doctorates now,

the situation seems just dire.

I don't know how they manage to cope with all that...

uncertainty and debt.

["Im Abendrot" by Edda Moser plays]

You're erm... studying, aren't you?

I thought your profile mentioned that.

Yeah, erm...

I'm doing my masters. - Oh, what in?

French literature.

That's wonderful. I used to lecture in comparative literature.

Do you know what you're going to do your thesis on yet?

Yeah. I think so, erm...

But I don't want to bore you. - Oh, you couldn't.

I live for that stuff.

[Nicholas exhales sharply] I haven't...

Sorry, could we just keep talking for now?

Are you sure?

[Nicholas breathing heavily]

[moaning]

[Nicholas] Please.

I just want to get to know you a little better first. There's no rush.

[flapping noise]

[grunting]

[loud grunting]

[muffled sobbing]

I hope you're all as excited and as honoured as I am

to welcome onto the stage tonight an author whose decade-spanning body of work

has not only left an indelible mark on 20th and 21st century literature,

but someone who I can also say has had a profound influence on the way

many writers of my generation, myself included,

have come to view the role of the writer in society.

Please join me in welcoming onto the stage

the winner of both the Goncourt and Booker Prizes,

the author of the devastatingly brilliant Blackwater,

her 18th novel, Alina Casaro.

[Max] I mean, you were fucking incredible. [soft piano music plays]

That question about the influence of erm...

[Amna] Oh no no no. I don't want to talk to her.

After she rejected my manuscript. So embarrassing.

[Dionne] Max, hi. - Hi.

Erm... Amna, is it? - Yes.

Brilliant job on that Q&A. - Oh, thank you.

You really managed to drill down deeply.

Thanks.

I've got to ask. How did you randle that?

Oh well... I interviewed her for Wall and then she asked me to interview her here.

Max, I've got a couple of people indoor that I'd really love you to meet,

if you can spare him for a moment.

Yes, be my guest. - Okay.

Erm... Amna, why don't you come by the office.

We can have a chat about whatever you're working on.

Yeah. That'd be great.

I'm always on the lookout for a fresh voice like yours.

Brilliant.

[Dionne] Ready?

Just so you're aware, Joy is on the panel for the Polari Prize. Okay?

Hi. Can I please introduce Max. He's one of our latest discoveries.

Ian. - Hi.

Charmed. - Nice to meet you.

Ian runs the London Review. - Wow.

Dionne is being far too generous. I merely oversee it nowadays.

I leave the daily business to... well, to the younger generation. [Joy laughs]

Joy is with the Arts Council. - Hello.

Lovely to meet you. - Nice to meet you.

So, what are you working on? - A couple of things at the moment. Erm...

We're really proud to be publishing some of Max's short stories.

He's already had one in Granta a few months ago

and another has been nominated for the Bridport.

That's wonderful. - Oh, good. Well done.

Congratulations. - Thank you.

And currently, he's working hard on quite a tantalising novel

that we're hoping to publish next year, all going well.

[Ian] No doubt we'll be covering you on our pages soon.

Certainly one for the radar.

[Ian] You look awfully young to be getting published.

How old are you, Max? - I am twenty-five.

Oh... Well, perfection.

[Joy] So, what's your novel about?

Erm, it's about a student who erm...

who...

[nervous chuckle]

It's about sex work in the digital age.

[Ian] Good, good.

[Dionne] Max is exploring it as perhaps just another job

amongst many other jobs in the gig economy.

Erm... I... I just remembered that I've left something.

I'm so sorry, I will have to excuse myself, erm...

I'm sorry. Thanks.

[heavy breathing]

[music intensifies]

[piano music stops]

[heavy breathing]

[heavy breathing continues] [train rattling]

[train rattling louder] [music intensifies]

[door closes, music stops]

[door unlocks and opens]

[tap running]

[phone buzzes]

[handdryer whirring]

[people chattering indistinctly and laughing]

[woman]...it's not very fluffy. What can she do?

[man] So that's Emily's idea of a dilemma, is it?

[woman] She's got a busy life, she wants to make a nice cake for her party.

[man] So in the morning, she's bothering people with that sponge cake.

[woman] Oh, you know... - [man] It is true.

Hi, Mum.

Yeah, I'm good.

How are you?

You're already in bed?

All right then. Yeah, that's fine. I can call tomorrow.

No. Nothing's the matter. Don't worry.

Yeah. Okay.

Good night.

Love you.

[Amna] Yeah, it had almost a dystopian vibe to it.

[man] Yeah.

I thought it was very honest. So thank you for that, Joel.

Okay, let's move on to Max.

What do you have for us today? - [clears throat]

"Although no one seemed to have been able to detect the signs leading up to it,

they were all afterwards in mournful apprehension that they had been there.

Everywhere. Undetected like an odourless, poisonous gas.

The morning had been routine.

Another identical link in a chain of silvery summer days at Dunbar."

[people chattering, pop music playing]

[bartender] There we go, guys. Cheers.

I liked your poem.

Yeah?

Yeah.

It captured that sense of urban loneliness really well.

Did it... resonate with you?

I doubt those feelings are entirely foreign to anyone

who's single in London.

["Scarlett" by Holly Humberstone plays]

What happened to...

what was his name? Sebastian.

I don't know. I just...

I felt like that story wasn't going anywhere new.

I didn't know where to take it next.

I wanted to hear more. [chuckles]

[heavy breathing]

[moaning and panting]

Do you like that? - Yeah. Yeah, I do.

Do you like my cock? - Yeah, fuck me.

[Joel grunting] Stop.

Please, stop. Stop, stop. Slow down.

[Max] Sorry. - [Joel] That's okay.

[Joel breathing heavily] It's all right. Don't worry.

It's not a porno. [chuckles]

[muffled chattering]

[woman] Did you and Dad get round to watching that show I told you about?

We started it, but I had to turn it off after fifteen minutes.

I don't know why every programme nowadays has to be like that. Just so vulgar.

[woman] Oh, Mum. You should have stuck with it.

[muffled chattering] [knock on door]

[Mum] Do you have anything for the wash?

No.

I read your story.

I thought it was very beautiful.

Which one do you mean?

His Breath. The one in the magazine.

How did you...

I do know how to use the internet, you know.

I thought it was very touching.

But...

It made me worry about you.

But it's fiction, Mum.

But it has to come from somewhere, doesn't it?

I just worry about you

being by yourself in London.

I have friends.

Has there been anybody else since...

You never talk about these things.

No, because I have honestly got to focus on work right now.

I should be staff at the magazine soon.

They've got a new position coming up.

Do you have to write about such personal things?

You do have the right to keep some things just for yourself, you know.

[gentle music plays in background]

[knock on door] Hey. I've sent you the version with the latest edits.

We've picked the images and they're in Proof now.

I'll get started with the Husmann review next.

Max, come in.

[keyboards clicking, phone ringing in background]

I've got some not great news for you.

Our editorial board, now that we have a new staff editor...

You mean James.

They are looking to shift their emphasis away from freelancers.

So unfortunately, the pieces that we discussed for next month

are going to be done in-house. - Right.

So is there anything for me to do?

I'm afraid not.

Sorry, but wasn't my piece one of the most read last month

and the month before that too?

Max, I get the feeling that our magazine

hasn't exactly been your top priority of late,

so I wouldn't want us to keep you away from whatever it is you'd rather be doing.

I'm sorry this didn't work out.

["Macho Man" by the Village People plays]

[Max] I get the sense that she can't handle

having anyone with any other prospects on the team,

like anyone with anything other than a shitty collection of poetry to their name.

You could ask Steven if they've got anything at Glamour.

I know it's not exactly Granta, but... it's money.

Do you really think that will go down well with my publisher?

Glamour isn't exactly compatible with being a serious writer, is it?

Hm... Yeah.

You know what, you should erm...

I think you should use a pseudonym.

No one need know after all it's by the Max Williamson.

I've got to focus on my fiction anyway.

And live on what?

It's not like you've got an advance or anything.

[mouse clicks]

What did you see tonight?

It was The Goat by Edward Albee.

Oh yeah. - Are you familiar?

No. I've...

not had a chance to see it yet.

I'd like to though.

But I couldn't help thinking

that for all its ingenuity and brilliant allusion to Greek tragedy,

the play just didn't move me. ["Samson et Dalila Act 2" starts playing]

Whereas with Tennessee Williams, well...

I saw yet another production of The Glass Menagerie last week.

Seeing their work almost back-to-back forces you to compare.

Is this a...

a Schiele?

A very lucky find back in the day. [Max chuckles softly]

I like all of your pictures.

I've managed to collect a few things over the years.

But really, it's a wealthier person's hobby.

No, no. You... You've got a beautiful home.

It's a bit big for one, but...

I've decided to stay.

So, you write as well then.

Or are you more of an aficionado, like me?

[stammers] I'm studying. I told you that.

I wasn't sure I'd see you again.

I mean, I had quite a shock myself that night.

I have been offline for a bit. - I noticed.

I hope not on my account.

And it goes without saying that this is between us.

Nothing leaves this room, this house. So don't worry.

To be honest erm...

I was a little surprised to hear from you again.

That night that I was here, erm... I'm sorry...

No. No need to apologise.

I was on edge myself. Too tense.

I'm pretty much of a novice

in case you didn't realise. [Max chuckles softly]

So...

Is it poetry or prose you write?

I still do occasional work editing textbooks.

I still get invited to these things.

I'm only asking out of genuine interest, you know.

I do write.

Mainly just short stories.

Anything I can read?

Not so fast.

I need to get to know you a little better first.

Touché.

["Les Pêcheurs de Perles, Act 1" plays]

[heavy breathing]

["Les Pêcheurs de Perles, Act 1" continues]

[moaning]

[key strokes]

["Les Pêcheurs de Perles, Act 1" continues]

[music quietens]

You remind me of someone. Thirty years ago, when he was your age.

[takes deep breath, moans]

It's something about the way you laugh.

The tenor of your voice.

[key strokes]

[music builds to climax]

[music fades]

[camera shutter clicking]

[photographer] Chin up a little bit.

[chuckles] Okay. No, not so sultry. Thoughtful, not sexy.

It's a serious subject you're writing about, yeah?

Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah, that's it.

[woman] Oh, that's stunning. I love this one.

Can we get a couple more very close up?

Yeah, sure.

[woman] Yeah. [chuckles] Max, what's your Insta?

Erm... It's @maximes.

But I've not really got many followers or anything, so...

[woman] We're going to fix that.

We'll do a big feature on our Instagram.

Once this comes out, your face is gonna be on the top of everyone's feed.

[nervous chuckle]

[gasps]

Les Nuits Fauves.

[Nicholas] Oh, that certainly sparked debate in my seminars. [Max chuckles]

I know some people view him as immoral.

Or selfish.

Unlikable.

But I think it's a beautiful account of a kind of... joy.

Even in the face of death, against the tyranny of Aids and homophobia...

I think there's great beauty in his refusal to give up on life.

His continued desire to taste everything until the...

very end.

What?

Can I ask you a question?

Why is it that you do this?

I don't imagine there are many boys on that website

who are published in Granta or nominated for literary prizes.

Are you saying that I shouldn't be here?

No. No, not at all.

You know, there's not much money in writing fiction.

Or writing full stop.

No, I don't imagine there is.

But is it really just about the money for you?

Erm...

No.

It's not that simple.

[Nicholas] We met in California in the early nineties.

I still wasn't out.

The only time I plucked up courage to meet anyone was on work trips.

That too became a frightening business because of Aids.

Yeah, of course.

So how did you meet?

I had the afternoon off from my conference

and had gone to spend it at the Getty Villa.

It really is a marvellous place. You should go if you haven't been.

I was looking at this sculpture, the Victorious Youth,

lost in admiration,

when suddenly I heard,

[in American accent] "Cute ass, isn't it?"

Turning round,

I saw David for the first time.

Smiling his cheeky smile. So handsome.

We got into conversation,

went for lunch, had drinks,

an unforgettable night in my hotel.

Three days later,

I flew back to London and David came with me,

and never left.

Until one day, twenty-nine years later,

he was taken away.

It'll be three years next month. [sighs]

A stroke.

He went as suddenly as he had appeared.

Oh... Our time is almost over.

I'd like to stay.

Well, you know I'd love that, but really I can't afford...

Not him.

Me.

[Dionne] I've seen the proofs from the Evening Standard piece.

Really good shots, don't you think?

They're great. I'll see if we can get one for the dust jacket.

[Dionne] The interview's good too.

I love that thing you said... What was it?

"I carve out my existence in the world using words. They are..."

They are the footsteps I leave in my wake.

Beautiful. - Yeah.

It's not too lyrical?

No, it's just what we needed.

Fingers crossed it gets the review it deserves.

Shouldn't be a problem. Larry is doing it.

I think he'll have a real appreciation for your style.

So have you read the draft? - Yes.

Ben's had a look at it too.

I'm gonna be honest because we want to get this out as soon as possible

after the short stories while you're still fresh in everybody's mind.

This erm... whole new thread with...

Oh, what's the character's name? The older gentleman.

Jonathan.

I'm not sure about it.

But it's the heart... - Don't you think it's...

somehow too romantic in a way?

Is Sebastian, who has been so consumed by sex until now,

really suddenly about to become all Harold and Maude with this guy?

I'm trying to show that he's moved beyond that initial, more superficial interest

in sex work to... to this deeper appreciation of its meaning.

I can see that's what you're trying to do.

But you spend so much time now on this one relationship,

I fear it's losing focus.

Don't get me wrong. It started off brilliantly.

Really exciting stuff.

I'd just like you to continue in that vein.

It's just, I really feel like I'm discovering...

something deeper here.

These exchanges between escorts and their clients.

They are really important, connecting generations of gay men

that might have not had much to do with each other

and thus they're transmitting queer history and culture and...

That's something I want to talk about.

But that's not what we discussed originally, is it?

You've veered from your proposal.

An authentic portrait of contemporary sex work.

The reality of what life is like...

But it's grounded in reality. It's all based on research.

From my interviews.

I'm sorry. I just don't think our audiences will like it.

You need to bring something more to it, Max.

Find a way to raise the stakes.

I don't want it to be just another tragic sex worker's story. Not at all.

And nobody is asking you to do that.

Look, we already know that you've mastered the short story.

But this is a novel. You have to remember that.

It is a different beast entirely.

As it is, I'm afraid it's not working.

[woman in French on screen] It scares me. I don't know...

It's as if I have a cold heart.

[man] Have you never fallen in love with a boy?

[woman] Yes.

[man] Then why aren't you with him?

I don't know. It's my fault. I didn't know what I was doing.

Think of him a lot?

Sometimes. I don't want to talk about it.

If I were you, I'd listen to the people who've done this 100 times before

and are giving you this opportunity.

Yeah, but I don't think that she actually gets it.

They're drawn to totally different aspects, to this more superficial version.

Sure, but it really doesn't matter how amazing your version is

if no one gets to read it.

[sighs]

[people chattering] [ice cubes hitting glass]

[bartender] That'll be 28 pounds when you're ready.

[card reader beeps]

[drink pouring]

[glass hits table] Sorry.

Thanks.

[Nicholas] There's something I really think we should see, erm...

The week after next it's coming on.

I think it... [continues indistinctly]

The inside pocket of your jacket.

I'll see you again next Thursday.

Next week erm...

may be a bit tricky.

I've got a lot of work on at the moment with the writing, so...

Of course.

But I'll let you know though.

Whenever it suits.

[footsteps receding]

[door opens and closes]

[announcer in French] Welcome aboard the 10:45 Eurostar

to Brussels Midi.

The restaurant-bar is located in carriage 4.

We will arrive at our destination at 1:45 p.m. [key strokes]

We wish you a pleasant journey.

[Daniel] It's really good to see you.

[Max gasps]

[lively jazz music plays] [chattering, cutlery clinking]

[waitress] Ah, Mr Larson. Nice to see you again.

Just follow me, please.

How are you? - Very good. Thank you.

[gentle piano music plays]

So they all know you here.

Yeah.

I like to come here whenever I'm in town.

Yeah, I love their food.

Though I always seem to have the same meal. Yeah.

But never the same company.

No, erm...

Well...

If I find something I like,

I want to have it again.

[soft chuckle]

So what are your family doing this weekend?

Just... [chuckles]

keeping themselves company, I suppose. [clears throat]

Have they ever been to Brussels?

Well...

[clears throat] I don't think they're very interested.

[waiter] Would you like some more wine?

Yes, please.

Thank you.

[waiter] Perhaps another bottle?

Erm... [chuckles]

Why not.

[both chuckle]

[Daniel moaning]

[heavy breathing]

Sorry, I'm not feeling too well.

I think I had a bit too much to drink.

[chuckles] Go get some water then. [pats him]

[glass hits washbasin] [taking deep breaths]

[door opens]

[chuckles] I'm tired.

[whispers] It's okay. It's okay.

Can we just wait until morning?

[whispers] Do I have to remind you who is paying for this?

[Daniel moaning]

[Daniel grunting, then panting]

Can you at least get a condom?

Please.

[Daniel sighs]

[drawer opens]

[church bells ringing]

[people softly chattering]

[woman] Max?

Max!

We haven't got all day.

[phone buzzing repeatedly]

Can you at least get a condom?

[Daniel moaning and panting]

[key strokes]

[Daniel panting]

[Daniel moaning] [key strokes continue]

[toilet flushing]

[tap running]

[Daniel, muffled] What the fuck is this?

[breathing heavily]

Oh fuck. Erm...

"And in that moment, Sebastian realised that to try to fight back

would have been fruitless, or dangerous even."

That is not what happened! What the fuck is this?

It's just for myself. It's nothing.

I should have known. Never trust a whore.

Sorry. Give my laptop. - Get out.

It's nothing. - Please. Get out.

Give my laptop back. - Get the fuck out.

Can I have my laptop? - Get the fuck out.

Just give it. - Now!

[Max panting] - Get... out!

[panting] Okay, well, give me my stuff. - I'll give you your stuff.

[panting] - Out. Now.

[door slams] [Daniel, muffled] Fucking whore!

[panting]

[taking deep breaths] [lift pings, door opens]

[sighs]

[under his breath] Fuck.

Do you have my wallet? I need it.

[panting]

Daniel!

[man in French] Sir? Sir, please.

You need to stop. You are disturbing the guests.

I left my wallet. - Sir, please.

I want you to leave. Reception can sort it out.

I need to get in...

Good afternoon, Mr Larson. I'm sorry to disturb you.

I have a young man in front of me who wants access to your room.

He's looking for his wallet. He says his name is Sebastian. Do you know him?

No?

No, he's lying. - Okay. Thank you very much.

I'm so sorry to have disturbed you. Thank you. Bye.

There's nothing more I can do. - He's a liar.

Your colleagues have literally seen me here before.

I'm sorry. If you're not booking a room, I have to ask you to leave.

Are you kidding? That's fucking ridiculous.

I've been here before! - Please, sir, calm down.

Sorry. I can't do anything. - Call him again.

I can't do that. I'm sorry.

[phone buzzing repeatedly]

[buzzing stops]

[phone buzzing repeatedly]

Hi, Mum.

[Mum] Hi, Max. Why are you not picking up?

I've been trying to get through to you.

I was just in the cinema.

Why am I getting a strange dialling tone?

Where are you?

Erm... I'm in Brussels, with Amna.

In Brussels?

Sorry, I didn't get the chance to tell you. It was so last minute. Erm...

Amna got a deal on Eurostar tickets, so... erm...

She took me here for the weekend.

A late birthday present.

That was really nice of her.

Listen, your dad and I were just calling to say

that we had read that piece in the Evening Standard.

You came across really, really well.

I am so proud of you, Max.

Yeah.

That's great.

You spoke so beautifully.

Bye. - Bye, darling.

[man in French] Closing time.

[man in French] Closing time.

Get going. We are closing up.

Move along. We're closing.

[laughter]

["Sonniku" by Sweat feat Liz plays in the distance]

[music plays louder]

♪ How much longer can you last? ♪

♪ Push it to the limit Over in a minute ♪

♪ Burning up until you crash ♪

♪ Oh, oh ♪

♪ How much longer can you last? ♪

♪ Oh, oh ♪

♪ Burning up until you crash ♪

♪ Make you sweat Dripping down your neck ♪

♪ Let's get together Gonna make you sweat ♪

♪ My silhouette running round your head ♪

♪ Let's get together Gonna make you sweat ♪

["Did You Miss Me" playing] [card reader beeps]

[in Flemish] Thank you.

[both in French] Thank you. - No problem.

A handsome guy like you should never be thirsty.

Are you here on holiday?

Yes. Something like that.

["Water" by Bicep plays]

♪ Everything was mine [alright] ♪

♪ I knew it when I saw you that night ♪

♪ My heart, it felt complete and ♪

♪ Everything was perfectly aligned [alright] ♪

♪ It happened just like that ♪

[in French] Want to go to my place?

It's not far.

Yes. I'd like that.

But that'll be 200.

What?

It's 200.

[scoffs]

[quietly sobbing] [dialling tone]

Hey, this is Amna. I can't pick up now, but please leave a message

and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Thanks.

[ambulance wailing] [drunken chatter]

[dialling tone]

[Nicholas] Hello?

Sebastian?

Are you there?

Is everything all right?

[announcer talking indistinctly]

[pages turning]

[scoffs] I've always been rather fond of the name Jonathan.

I'm going to tell my publisher that I'm scrapping the whole project.

They never even liked that section anyway.

[page turning]

Do you not hate me?

For using you like that?

No, I don't.

You need to carry on and finish it.

What I would hate you for is not publishing it.

And...

if I can help in any way, and heaven forbid,

be an inspiration to you,

I couldn't be more thrilled.

[page turning] It's good.

[sharp exhale]

[tense music builds]

[music turns hopeful]

[music fades out]

[panting]

[moaning]

[moaning]

[heavy breathing]

There are fresh towels in the bathroom.

[shower running]

Really nice to meet you, Max. - You too.

Have a good rest of the day.

I'm really excited about our conversation.

Your book is one of my favourites of this year.

Thank you. [lift pings, door opens]

I'll begin by introducing and welcoming everyone

and then if you just want to follow out after me and get seated

once I introduce you. - Yeah.

Did you get a chance to look at the questions?

I did, yeah. - And did they all seem okay?

I mean, if there is anything you don't feel comfortable discussing...

or if anything feels too personal, please tell me.

[camera shutters clicking]

You can ask me anything.

[soft piano music plays]

["Begin again" by Jessie Ware plays]

♪ I work all night ♪

♪ I do my thing ♪

♪ Just killin' time ♪

♪ Need a friend ♪

♪ Is this my life? ♪

♪ Beginning or end? ♪

♪ Can I start again? ♪

♪ Can we start again? ♪

♪ There's a new moon on the rise ♪

♪ Turn the tide, turn the tide ♪

♪ I've been walking a thin line ♪

♪ Between the Earth and the sky ♪

♪ Why do my realities take over all my dreams? ♪

♪ Why does all the purest love get filtered through machines? ♪

♪ Gimme something good that's even better than it seems ♪

♪ Why does all the purest love get filtered through machines? ♪

♪ I work all night [I work all night] ♪

♪ I do my thing [I do my thing] ♪

♪ Just killin' time [just killin' time] ♪

♪ Need a friend [a friend] ♪

♪ Is this my life? ♪

♪ Beginning or end? [Beginning or end?] ♪

♪ Can I start again? [Can we begin again?] ♪

♪ Can we start again? [Can we begin again?] ♪

♪ There's a new sun in the sky ♪

♪ Where are you? Where am I? ♪

♪ Have you been looking, like I've been looking for a reason or a sign? ♪

♪ Oh, why? Oh, why? ♪

♪ Why do my realities take over all my dreams? ♪

♪ Why does all the purest love get filtered through machines? ♪

♪ Gimme something good that's even better than it seems ♪

♪ Why does all the purest love get filtered through machines? ♪

♪ I work all night [I work all night] ♪

♪ I do my thing [I do my thing] ♪

♪ Just killin' time [just killin' time] ♪

♪ Need a friend [a friend] ♪

♪ Is this my life? ♪

♪ Beginning or end? [Beginning or end?] ♪

♪ Can I start again? [Can we begin again?] ♪

♪ Can we start again? [Can we begin again?] ♪

♪ Can we begin again? ♪

♪ Can we begin again? ♪