Burton and Taylor Page #3

This is a difficult situation.

Well, I wasn't going to say anything,

I wasn't going to say anything,

but, no, well, what could I say?

I never see you to talk to. You just go!

After every rehearsal,

after every fitting...

- Elizabeth...

- No, just disappear

- back to your apartment.

- I have to work!

This isn't how I planned it.

I see.

I just thought

we'd spend time with each other.

I was looking forward to that.

Weren't you?

That we'd get to see each other again

and have fun?

I don't know what to say.

I don't.

I don't know what to say.

You have a... You have a God-given gift.

You can do it anywhere,

on stage, on film...

- What?

- I'm just a dumb broad.

You're not dumb. Don't say that.

It's not true

and it makes me angry when you say it.

Okay. I'm not dumb.

But...

The stage is not my home and I...

I...

Well, this play is hard, really hard,

and I'm isolated

and I thought you'd be there

to back me up.

I am!

Really, I am. That's why I'm here now.

To help.

And I will.

Good.

- I just didn't want to disappoint you.

- Disappoint me?

Just learn your lines, love,

go on stage, say them,

and you will electrify.

And irrespective

of what happens here tonight,

the entire run of this show

is already sold out,

guaranteeing both stars a pay day

somewhere in the region of $1 million!

...outside the Lunt-Fontanne

Theatre, massive crowds wait

for a glimpse of Elizabeth Taylor

and Richard Burton.

...is the first time

Taylor and Burton

have been on stage together...

Ladies and gentlemen,

welcome to this evening's performance

of Private Lives.

We would like to take this time

to remind you

that all photography of the performances

is strictly prohibited.

We hope you enjoy

this evening's performance.

We go up in 10 minutes.

Where the bloody hell is she?

- They're parking up.

- What?

People are parking

on the side of the road

and in the middle of it,

hoping to get a glimpse as she goes by.

- It's caused gridlock.

- Oh, Christ!

Ladies and gentlemen...

Mike!

Will you fetch me the Times crossword,

please?

And possibly get the kettle on.

Oh, and a couple of sleeping bags also.

It's going to be a bloody long night.

Ladies and gentlemen,

unfortunately, this evening's

performance of Private Lives

is delayed for another 25 minutes.

It is now 45 minutes

till act one beginners.

- 45 minutes till act one beginners.

- Hi, Gino.

- Hi.

I'm here, I'm here! I'm here!

I'm so sorry I'm late. Here, here.

Here, Chen.

I'm so sorry. I'm so, so, sorry.

I did my make up in the car.

I thought that might help.

- Thank you.

- Not at all.

In these situations,

we gotta all pull together.

You're a bloody menace!

You should have come out.

Everyone was calling your name.

And I signed so many posters

for Virginia Woolf.

- Virginia Woolf?

- I know. For that. I was so fat.

Anyway, can't talk. Got a play to do.

- A parrot?

- He's called Alvin.

What is she? An actress or a bloody zoo?

Thank you, Jess.

- Sibyl?

- Yes?

I've brought the cocktails outside.

Hurry up.

I can't find my lipstick.

Never mind. Send down

to the kitchen for some cochineal.

Don't be silly.

Hurry!

Whose yacht is that?

The Duke of Westminster's, I expect.

It always is.

- I wish I were on it.

- I wish you were, too.

There's no need to be nasty.

Yes, there is, every need.

I've never in my life felt

a greater urge to be nasty.

And you've had some urges in your time,

haven't you?

If you start bickering with me, Amanda,

I swear I shall throw you over the edge.

Try it, that's all, just try it.

It's intermission,

ladies and gentlemen.

20 minutes till act two beginners.

What a start, Rich.

I set 'em up, you knock 'em down!

Did you notice her at supper

blowing all those shrimps

through her ear trumpet?

What are you thinking about?

Oh, nothing in particular.

Come on, I know that face.

Poor Sibyl.

Sibyl?

Yes, I suppose she loves you terribly.

Oh, my God. What have we done?

- Rich, listen.

- Didn't you hear them?

When Sibyl was mentioned.

They reacted like it was my wife Sybil.

Richard Burton! We did it. You did it!

A standing ovation,

five, six, curtain calls.

I knew this play would be a hit.

I knew it right from the off!

- What's the matter?

- Couldn't you hear it?

Richard, I heard laughter

and I heard cheering.

- That's usually a good sign, isn't it?

- They were laughing at us.

- No, they were not.

- They were!

They didn't think

they were watching a play.

They thought they'd had

an invite into our lives,

to see us happen in front of them.

Stop it! You're overreacting.

Well, okay, maybe there were a few

that were more interested in us

than in the show, but you always

get that on the first night crowd.

You get the rubberneckers.

But they were not the majority.

And the majority loved what we did,

they loved it!

Mike to stage door, please.

And I'm proud of you, Elizabeth.

You're phenomenal.

There's no one like you.

Thank you.

So stop worrying. Okay?

And let's go wow.

The party. We've got a club in town.

The whole place. And a band.

I'm sorry. I've made arrangements.

Later, perhaps, I could...

But people will be expecting it. Us.

Rich, Sally's brought the car around.

Are you going to be long?

- Or do you want me to ask her back?

- No, no. I'm coming. Thank you.

No, it's fine. It's fine.

I forgot.

You do what you gotta do.

I'll see you.

Hello, love.

Chen?

We've got a table booked.

Thou art a soul in bliss,

but I am bound upon a wheel of fire

that mine own tears

do scald like molten lead.

You loathsome,

loathsome man.

They're not the best I've read.

Ah!

Elizabeth, please.

Critics deserve nothing but our pity.

To be so close to art

and yet to contribute absolutely

nothing whatsoever towards it.

It's like being a eunuch at an orgy.

Yeah, but how can they say those things?

They're c*nts.

That's a more prosaic version

of what I just said.

Christ, Elizabeth!

You don't need their approbation.

- Approbation!

- No, don't... Don't do it to yourself.

No, no, no. Listen to this.

"Miss Taylor plays Amanda Prynne

"in perhaps the strangest voice

this side of a Disney cartoon.

"She squeaks, peeps, swoops and then

pauses as though speaking Pinter."

Approbation?

I just want their f***ing manners.

Do you have a handkerchief?

Here.

- I don't deserve that.

- You don't. You're right.

Let's not forget, they weren't exactly

gushing about me, were they?

- Yeah, well, they all like your voice.

- Of course they do.

It's the theatrical equivalent

of a big cock.

Everyone likes it. Doesn't make you

a great lover per se, though, does it?

- Here, have some of my burger.

- No, I'm on a diet.

Two of those bastards said

I was spending more time

in the green room than on stage.

Sod them!

None of their business.

But you're right.

You shouldn't have to endure it.

And nor should I.

- Nor do we have to.

- What do you mean?

Let's cancel the run. Right here. Now.

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