Burton and Taylor Page #5

Or we'll still be here at midnight.

- Rich, we can't be certain.

- She isn't coming. I know she isn't.

Go get ready, love.

You'll be wonderful. Trust me.

Ladies and gentlemen,

due to a sudden illness,

Miss Taylor is sadly indisposed

and the role of Amanda will be

played tonight by Kathryn Walker.

Five minutes' standby

for Mr. Burton.

Mr. Burton, please standby.

- How's it going?

- How do you think?

I'm Richard Burton.

I don't play to 50 people!

Christ, Mike, don't ever put

that woman's back up. Not ever!

- What did you say to her?

- I gave her a note.

And this is hers, back to me.

This is La Taylor saying,

loud and clear,

"Don't you forget, boyo,

who the star of this show really is!"

B*tch!

Yes?

It was a great show, Rich.

You and Kathryn, you really...

What's the matter?

We're gonna go dark.

Just until Elizabeth gets better.

What?

I've spoken to Zev and the numbers,

tickets coming back

and phone calls, I...

People really wanna see Liz, Rich,

so it seems crazy.

We're gonna take a break.

As soon as she's well again,

we'll pick it up.

Okay, folks, please strike this

and reset for act one.

We are back on the road.

Todd, can you get on

to resetting the doors?

- I'm here, I'm here. Hi, Gino.

- Elizabeth.

Hi, babies. You go with Auntie Hayley.

Hay, can you see,

I'm going to see Uncle Rich.

Hi, honey, I'm sorry I'm late.

Elizabeth?

What?

Elizabeth, apologies,

I didn't realize you were already in.

- What is happening?

- Nothing.

I... Richard's on his way,

Mike called from the airport.

Airport? Where's he been?

Can someone please tell me

what the goddamn hell is going on?

Honey, let's go to your room, huh?

We can talk better there. Come on.

It's okay, come on.

Can you guys give us some space, please?

Peter, take the dogs out.

- Thank you.

- No problem.

- Come on. Come on. We'll be outside.

- Just... Thank you.

Well?

Guess they got an exclusive.

It wasn't in any of the others, so...

He got married in Vegas?

Why would he do that?

Yeah?

Richard.

I wondered how you were feeling.

I'm on the mend, thank you.

I do wish you'd told me of your plans.

I was a little surprised

to read of them in the newspaper.

I'm sorry.

Events rather overtook us.

Really?

We'd always intended it, you know that.

And then the break.

Seemed like an ideal opportunity.

I've no doubt it was.

Congratulations.

Isn't that what you say

a performance must always have?

Some danger?

Not parrots.

You really can be more irritating

than anyone in the world.

Hmm. I fail to see what I've done

that is so terribly irritating.

- They want us to fight. Don't you see?

- No, I don't, why should they?

Primitive feminine instinct.

It's what...

Warring females, very enjoyable.

The end. Finally and forever.

- You're not going like this!

- Yes, I am!

- You're not!

- Oh yes, I am, let go of me!

You're a cruel fiend.

I hate you and I loathe you.

- Great work, Rich.

- Wonderful.

I hope I didn't hurt you, did I, Rich?

At the end of act two?

You seemed to wince.

Only on Nol's behalf.

You're slurred again.

You swallowed half the lines.

Christ! What a bloody shambles.

- It's okay.

- What's going on?

- Elizabeth!

- Leave her! She's poorly.

We're getting her

straight back to the apartment.

- There's nothing wrong with her!

- She's sick.

Really? Well, if she is,

take it from one who knows,

she's got it from a bloody bottle!

Can you blame her?

You treat her like sh*t.

She finds out you're married

from a newspaper article.

You criticize her as an actress.

- What?

- You!

I have never criticized her

as an actress!

She is peerless as an actress. Jesus!

You call that acting, out there?

It's like a bloody pantomime dame

tripping over all her lines.

I know she can act.

I know better than anyone!

Which is why I'm not gonna

tolerate that anymore!

In which case, maybe you'll

leave her alone once and for all.

Because Miss Taylor was fine

until you took this job.

She was well until you decided

to come back into her life again.

Now, why you did that,

only you can know for sure,

but from here, it looks like

it was for one reason only.

To break her heart.

What did he say?

Did he ask if I was all right?

He didn't say much.

But I told him.

I think it's disgusting

the way he treats you.

You said what?

Get out.

Get out. I said get out!

Get out! Get the f*** out of here!

Chen! Chen!

Chen!

You okay, Mr. Burton?

Never, never.

Thou art the thing itself.

Unaccommodated man is no more

but such a poor, bare, forked animal

as thou art.

Ah! Congratulations.

- Hey! Great work, Rich!

- Thanks, Jess.

- You were terrific, thank you.

- Thanks, John. Likewise, likewise.

Rich! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

- For what?

- I finally got to act with my hero.

And he was everything I dreamed of,

and more.

You were brilliant. Really.

See you at the party?

Uh, well, we'll see.

Well done.

Yes. And you.

- There's a party I...

- I know. Kathryn said.

- Yeah, I imagine you'll...

- No. I don't know. I might call in.

You're quite an actor.

- Elizabeth.

- What?

I... I will, I'll try and come

to the party.

Ladies and gentlemen, for the last time,

Act One was 43 minutes,

Act Two, 44 minutes

and Act Three, 46 minutes.

There will be no call on Monday.

Thank you and good night.

There you go.

- Thank you.

- Thank you, ma'am.

- You really shouldn't do that, you know.

- Richard, I bought you a present.

I wanna hang it up.

Yes, the thing about hotels, love,

is that they come with the pictures

already provided.

Yeah, copies. Not originals.

This one had its own seat in first

all the way from Madrid.

- What are you wearing?

- Dior. Don't you like it?

No. I mean, why are you dressed,

as it were, like an overripe tart,

when we're about to start exercising?

I thought maybe

we could screw afterwards.

Mmm! I can taste Jack. Lucky Jack.

Right, Francis, you old bugger.

Get us going.

Elizabeth. Elizabeth, come on.

# I get no kick from champagne

Right, start with side bends. Ready?

# Mere alcohol,

it doesn't move me at all #

Ready and one, two, three

and one, two, three and one, two, three.

We're supposed to do 100 of those.

- What?

- Well, I imagine you work up.

We don't have to break any records

at the outset.

Right, next,

jog on the spot for five minutes.

Without stopping?

No, love, after 30 seconds,

they encourage you to have

another Jack Daniels

and ring room service

for another hot dog.

Of course you don't stop.

Are you ready? Okay.

Knees up.

- What are you doing?

- What do you mean?

What are you doing?

Richard, I'm holding my bosom.

It's bouncing up and down.

Richard, I'm 40 years of age.

They're 40 years of age.

They've gained a certain elasticity.

You are so gorgeous.

Your tits are gorgeous, your arse

is gorgeous, your legs, your belly.

Did I mention your tits?

Let's just screw.

We can be extra-vigorous.

Rich?

- Stop the car, will you?

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