Henry & June Page #5

It was a way to understand her | so I could free myself from her.

- It's finished now. | - Not yet.

- Now we've got to get it published. | - Published?

Who will publish it? | I know what they'll say.

There's even laws against | what I've written.

But I feel good now.

I'm ready to celebrate my failure.

I won't let you be a failure.

I'll make the world listen to you. | I promise.

I'm ready now to call on the pope...

and all the kings...

and all the editors and publishers | in the world to get them to support you.

It's Anais.

- Eduardo. | - Hello, Henry.

- Where's Hugo? | - Hugo's gone on business.

Osborn's gone, too. | Gone crazy.

Really.

Totally.

We're celebrating Osborn's madness. | This is a rare occasion.

It doesn't happen every day. I hope | he's really insane and not faking it.

- They came and took him away. | - He was a monster.

That was his best side.

We've got the whole place to ourselves.

You ever see what | a good contortionist can do?

Yeah.

I'll get you something to drink.

Sorry I couldn't keep in touch.

I thought of you every day.

You know me with writing. | I have a terrible time.

I don't have the gift | like you and Henry.

I found your book | lying around here.

I hope you don't mind.

I took a peek.

House of Incest?

It's nice.

Is this character Sabina | supposed to be me?

"The muffled, close half talk | of soft-fleshed women.

Deep into each other | we turned our hollowed eyes. "

It seems like poetry sort of.

It's so damn sweet of you | to try to write something about me.

I really...

I really expected something more...

I don't know. | More real.

More real?

Yeah. More about, you know, life.

Hey, don't get upset.

Some of it's really beautiful.

I promise I'll read it again.

Things have been so damn tough for me.

The acting didn't pan out.

Then Jean, my friend, left.

Anais, what's happened to Henry?

He's so changed.

June, I don't know.

I don't know what to say. | I've been busy.

I've seen him occasionally. We work | on our writing together sometimes.

But, I don't know.

I've been seeing someone.

- You mean you have a lover? | - Yes.

That man you came with?

Yes. Eduardo.

Anais, I'm so happy for you.

I don't know who I came back for.

Don't let it come between us. | Please.

I need your faith.

That could be good luck, too.

Could be.

Jack, you've come.

How are you?

June, I'd like you to meet Jack...

the man who wants to publish my book.

- My wife June. | - Hiya, Jack.

Nice to meet you, Mrs. Miller.

I feel I already know you intimately | from reading Henry's book.

Yeah? What do you think?

I think it's strong meat. | That's how we'll market it.

- What's our cut? | - Your cut?

Lt'll be 5%.

A crummy 5%?

Henry spends years | writing the book.

Lives like a bum. | Busts his nuts.

- Stay out of this, June. | - I scrape by and do without.

And pour my heart and soul in making him | some kind of Dostoyevsky.

And all we get is 5%?

With me, the percentage | will mean something.

What does "mean something" mean?

I believe it's a fair deal.

Well, I'll be.

Of course, if you don't want | to publish it...

Henry just doesn't get business.

Let's us talk.

By all means. But as I've said, | before we can do anything...

it's absolutely necessary to have | the money to print it.

Jack, I've told you. | I'll get the money.

I guess I was naive about | how things work in your business.

I hope I didn't upset you.

I was wondering if some advance | might be possible.

Or maybe there's room | to improve in the percentage.

Let's not discuss it now.

Here is not the place.

Maybe you know a place | where we could have lunch?

I certainly do. | A marvelous place.

It's done then. | It's been so good to meet you.

Really. It's been wonderful | having you.

You, too.

Good night.

- Yes. | - See you.

Good-bye.

Who's he trying to kid?

A crummy 5%.

He hasn't dealt with | this Brooklyn girl yet.

- Let's go for a nightcap, Henry. | - Go ahead. We'll join you later.

- Always merry and bright. | - To you, too.

- I should go. | - No, Anais.

Don't go. You can catch up | with Eduardo later.

All right, Eduardo?

Say, you know...

I don't know.

I was thinking maybe it's not time | to publish Henry's book just now.

Not publish?

What the hell you talking about?

I'm talking about the crappy deal.

And the fact that you're | taking advantage of Anais.

And Hugo, too.

They're not made of gold, Henry.

Am I right, Anais?

Yes, but... No.

We believe we have to publish it.

I'll get it published.

The right way, | just like I always have.

We've always managed to survive, | you and me.

Besides, it needs work.

- What? | - It's not ready.

It's better than | when I first read it...

but it could be even better.

There's too much anger in the book.

Too much anger?

Too much f***ing anger?

Even Anais agrees that you | distorted me in your book.

She had to write her own book.

- Isn't that right? | - No.

I did tell June you failed to perceive | certain things.

- Don't. | - After all I've done for him.

He owes me for all the years | I sacrificed.

Your sacrifices just add | to your greatness.

- I don't owe you a thing. | - You don't what?

What Henry really means is...

For Christ's sake, | can't you see what she's doing?

- Don't yell at me! | - He treats you like a child.

- She's a woman, Henry. | - I know she's a woman.

- I'll bet you do. | - What the f*** do you mean by that?

I'm leaving.

How can you treat her this way?

You're drunk.

So what?

You're weak.

I hate when you get weak. | Be a man!

God, that's it!

Violence.

I hate your violence.

Men.

Anais, don't go.

I love you.

You're cruel and clever.

You're both cruel and clever.

I'm afraid of both of you.

Oh, God.

I'm the wrong woman for you, Henry!

I'm the wrong woman for you, Anais.

Leave me alone. | Don't touch me.

I'm so terribly sick.

Give me peace.

I love you.

Get some sleep, Anais.

I don't know why I keep thinking of | this little Chinese restaurant...

Henry and I used to go to | after I got off work.

He'd wait for me outside the dance hall | at 2:00 in the morning.

And we'd rush through | the freezing cold...

holding each other tight.

We'd get there | just before closing time.

Sit in the booth by the window | eating chow mein...

watching the snow swirl by.

There was some kind of unbelievable | thrill in the air between us.

I feel kind of honored by it now.

Chin Lee's.

It's funny.

It seems like a dream.

Your eyes make me shy.

Don't be shy.

You're so lovely.

So small.

I burnt myself out.

June, I worship you.

I don't want worship.

I want understanding.

I understand you.

We should go away somewhere together...

where there's lots of snow.

How little you are.

So thin.

I could break you in two.

I feel innocent now.

Let yourself go.

Relax.

You're still holding back.

Let me see your body.

It isn't beautiful enough.

Beautiful June.

I heard a noise out there.

Henry was listening.

No. Once Henry falls asleep, | nothing can wake him up.

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