Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus Page #3

you had refused.

What'd they ask you?

- Lf I had a boyfriend. - Well?

- Told them I didn't. - Thattagirl,

thattagirl.

I'd only do it for you, Frank.

It'll be all right, you'll see.

I love you.

And when we 're married, we 're going

to forget all this. Promise.

Yeah, sure.

Sophie.

Sophie Arbus...

Purple and pink.

Lionel.

This is another one for you.

Excellent work, Sophie. Thank you,

Soph.

Yeah, but he likes me more.

"It's all very well to say, 'Drink

me'...

...but the wise little Alice was not

going to do that.

'No, I'll look first,' she said...

...'and see whether it's marked

"poison" or not. '

For she had read several stories about

children who had gotten burnt...

...and eaten by wild beasts. " -Hi.

Are you ready to go?

Mm-hm.

Are you coming back?

Of course.

Sleep tight.

- You're a flirt. - I like it, I like it,

I like it.

- I don't think this... - Yes!

That's good, that's good. Did you like

me in that show?

You are such a bad girl.

What is this?

- That's my tit, darling. - Oh.

Let me show you.

Oh!

You like them?

Lionel is just the greatest, isn't he?

He is.

Sing it, Andy.

Take me!

No, it's true. I wrote about...

Cheers, baby.

If you don't mind me asking...

...why did you drop the key down?

You looked like you needed to come up

to my place.

Have you ever met a woman who was also

like you?

Sure, it was like white on rice.

More libations?

So you preferred other women?

I was... I was always...

Always looking.

What were you looking for?

A real freak.

- Medium, Shorty? - Medium, yeah.

When did you do these?

One of many exciting humiliations.

Were you the best performer at

Hubert's?

That was the Albanian contortionist,

but I was the biggest attraction.

- Can I ask you a question? - Please.

Where is your favorite place to go?

The ocean.

Then why haven't we been?

We will.

Is that the tooth fairy?

It's Mommy.

My tooth came out. Daddy was here.

Oh, Sophie, I...

I'm sorry I missed it, I...

It hurt.

I'm sorry.

I studied photography in college at

Bryn Mawr.

But I also love fashion and

advertising.

Great, um...

My wife used to be my assistant.

Oh, and, uh, what does she do now?

- Hello. - Hello.

This is Diane.

Are you the new assistant?

I hope so.

All the way up, doctor.

Hey.

Hey.

Come on.

Careful, careful.

- Hello. - Hi.

Welcome.

Just through here.

Lovely place.

Thank you for coming.

Careful there, Shorty.

Nice to see you again.

Hello.

So good to have you.

Wonderful, yes.

- Lionel. - Allan.

Sophie, Grace, this is Hank.

- Hi. - Hello.

Gracie, I'm sure that Hank would like

to see your room.

You are so embarrassing.

Sophie, why don't you show Hank your

collection of dolls' eyes?

Okay.

How are the portraits coming? I haven't

seen any yet.

Slowly.

Aren't they neat, Hank?

Slowly, but they're coming.

You're going down, Lionel.

Oh, Satch, what do you got?

I got you this time, pal.

Satch has not much. But a full house!

It's a cocktail party.

My mother says I'm supposed to be

brave, whatever that means.

All dead bodies are cold.

- Thank you. - Something to eat?

Little salmon, Scarlett?

- Is there anything else I can get you?

- No, I'm good.

Drinks.

Look, um...

...I'm sorry, but I can't stay.

What?

Some of your father's clients are in

from Chicago, and...

I'd put them off, but I really should

meet up with them for a drink.

Allan.

- I wanted you to be... - To what, Diane?

To be a part of all of this.

I need to keep the business going, you

know?

I know, right.

Right.

Just...

Come with me.

Let them find their own drinks.

No, I can't do that.

Okay.

I gotta go.

Dee?

Are you coming?

- I don't know. - Oh, never mind.

Mother, Father...

...this is my friend, Mr. Lionel

Sweeney.

What a pleasure it is to meet you both.

How do you do?

Excuse me, everyone. Shall we have a

toast?

Yes, do that.

- Come on, Allan. - Well...

Uh...

I remember the first time I saw her.

She was dressed all in black...

...and her hair was so thick...

...and it went all the way past her

shoulders down to her waist.

She was only 15.

- Sixteen. - Fifteen.

You were the most...

...stunning...

...inexplicable creature I'd ever

seen.

It was August 12th...

...Sheep's Meadow.

She kept moving back and forth as if

she was dancing or something...

...but that was just the way she

moved back then.

I couldn't take my eyes off you.

I still can't take my eyes off you.

Allan.

Happy birthday, Diane.

- Happy birthday. - Hear, hear.

- Thank you. - Yeah.

So, Lionel, you're Diane's first

project all on her own.

Mother.

Allan tells us you're doing a little

extra art project...

...a photo study of your neighbors.

Yes, sort of.

Why don't you be a little portrait

photographer?

You've already got the studio. People

could just drop by.

Well, Mother, maybe I will.

I mean, real art hangs in museums,

doesn't it?

You know, I'm on the board at the

Metropolitan.

- We know, Mother. - We'd love to see

what you've done.

Well, I'm not ready to show anything to

anybody yet.

It's true. She hasn't even shown me

yet.

Allan, I told you I will. When I'm

ready.

What is it?

Every month or so I'm...

...able to breathe about 5 percent

less.

My lungs are disintegrating.

It's getting harder and harder for me

to breathe deeply.

I n a matter of months, I'll drown

without even swimming...

...because there'll be nothing left.

...of my lungs.

You're not dying.

Yes, I am.

No, you're not.

Come on.

You've kissed him.

No, Allan. No, I haven't.

It doesn't matter if you have or you

haven't.

No.

Allan, he's dying.

Oh.

That makes it even more special.

What'll happen after he dies?

- You encouraged me to do this. - I

encouraged you...

...to take a few f***ing pictures.

You want me to just watch my family

fall apart?

Am I supposed to do all the studio

work, run the business...

...buy the food, be the f***ing tooth

fairy?

Am I supposed to take care of the kids

all alone?

What's next? Are we gonna house the

circus when it comes through town?

I don't know.

I'm just a normal guy.

You know?

Now I got a hole in my ceiling and

f***ing freaks coming through it.

He's going to die anyway, Diane.

Goddamn it.

Okay.

I'll end it.

Close the door.

I need you to help me.

Lionel, I...

Take it off.

Go on.

Keep the brush away from that.

Let's go back to shaving.

You girls go on to bed.

- Daddy, come on. - No.

Why can't we see?

What are they?

Let's go make breakfast.

I...

...blew this up for you.

Why did you want me to shave you?

Why?

So I could swim out further.

Swim out?

Yes.

What are you saying?

And I want you with me.

- What? - Diane.

- Diane. - What are you talking about?

You want me to watch you die?

I want you with me.

That's all.

But is this what you did?

Made me fall in love with you to watch

you...?

I don't see it that way at all.

I love you.

I never took your portrait.

Thank you.

Lionel wanted you to have this.

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