Grand Canyon Page #9

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that a producer

is an artist.

But I know what I do.

I know how many

lame-o directors

I've carried on my back

and then watch as they take

all the glory,

reviews, and awards.

Which awards?

That's O.K.

I don't mind working

in modest anonymity.

That's the way

Thalberg did it, too.

If they're lame-o,

why hire them?

I haven't got time

to do it myself.

Hanging around the set

all day,

doing that boring

lighting and sh*t.

Let them do that.

That's beside the point.

The point is...

Turn around.

Turn around and

go back down there.

Where was I?

The point is...

there's a gulf

in this country,

an ever-widening abyss,

between the people

who have stuff

and the people

who don't have sh*t.

It's like this hole's

opened up in the ground

as big as the f***ing

Grand Canyon

and what's come

pouring out... Hi.

My name's Davis,

building 78.

The whole building. Stop by.

I have something for you.

This is the greatest

town on earth.

Go left here.

Where was I?

The Grand Canyon.

Yeah.

And what's come out

of this big hole

is

an eruption of rage,

and the rage

creates violence,

and the violence

is real,

and nothing's going

to make it go away

until someone

changes something.

Which won't happen.

You and I

may not like it,

but I can't pretend

it isn't there,

because that is a lie.

And when art lies,

it becomes worthless.

So I got to keep

telling the truth,

even if it scares

the sh*t out of me,

like it scares

the sh*t out of you,

even if it means

some motherf***er

can blow a big ol' hole

in my leg for a watch,

and I'm going to walk

with a f***ing limp

the rest of my life

and count myself lucky.

That's what's amazing,

you know,

is what we count

as lucky today.

Our criteria for lucky

has changed a bit.

We're not talking

about great art here.

Says you, Mr. Snob,

Mr. Arbiter ofTaste,

Mr. Immigration Lawyer

to the Arts.

I'll tell you this, though.

There's so much rage

going around

we're lucky we have the movies

to help us vent a little.

That line

is so tired.

I'm shocked

you'd use it.

You think just anyone

can do what I do?

You think anyone can make

the crap I make?

Wasn't there something

about "life force,"

"life-affirming"?

That's what Claire

told me.

This is life, pal.

That's what

I'm trying to get

through your thick,

sanctimonious skull.

There's always been

violence.

There will always

be violence...

violence and evil

and men with big guns.

My movies reflect

what's going on,

they don't make

what's going on.

And if I happen to make 'em

better than anyone,

then I've got a bigger

responsibility than anyone

to serve it up.

Mack, you ever seen

a movie

called

Sullivan's Travels?

No.

That's part

of your problem.

You haven't seen

enough movies.

All of life's riddles

are answered

in the movies.

It's a story about a man

who loses his way.

He's a filmmaker,

like me.

He forgets

for a moment

what he was set

on earth to do.

Fortunately,

he finds his way back.

That can happen, Mack.

Check it out.

Ha ha ha ha!

You're kind of big,

aren't you?

You look about

ready to play.

Yeah, maybe.

I want to see you

shoot from the outside.

What made you

get me together with Jane?

Dumbness, I guess.

Compulsion

to stick my nose

where it doesn't

belong.

Why,

has it ended badly?

No, it hasn't ended.

She's the best thing

that's happened to me

in a long time.

Really?

No sh*t?

Yes. Here you go,

my friend.

Sometimes things work.

Yeah?

Yeah.

O.K., then. To 20.

Take it out

from back there.

Winner takes it out.

You're sure? You might

not get a chance to shoot.

You're going down.

That is so cool

about you and Jane.

Yeah. That's why

I came tonight.

I thought of a way

to thank you.

You don't have to.

I have an idea.

If you're up for it,

there's something

I could do for you.

You don't have to.

Just play ball.

That's why I'm here.

I thought of a way to show

I appreciate you for...

for introducing me

toJane.

End of the line, folks.

So what do

you think?

I think...

it's not all bad.

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