Interiors Page #2

You never knew.

Before her breakdown, she was a very

successful woman, very demanding.

She put Dad through law school and

financed the start of his practice

so, in a sense, it was like

he was her creation.

We kept getting shuffled

around to aunts and cousins.

I guess Joey had the worst of it 'cause...

As a kid, Joey was very high-strung.

She was a bright kid.

She was very sensitive.

We'd spend some time with Dad,

mostly long Sunday breakfasts.

I always resented his relationship to her.

I always felt that he favored Joey.

It just seemed that they were very

close and that I was left out.

I like Frederick.

He has dignity,

and promise as a writer.

My own strength is visual.

Your images are visual, Renata.

But, in all candor,

I much prefer Frederick to Mike.

Mike's fine, Mother.

He uses a very strong after-shave.

It permeates the house.

I don't want to talk about it.

Do you think, if I bought him another

kind of cologne, that he would switch?

Can we talk about something else?

Well, let me give him some.

Then we won't have to talk about it.

It'll just be my gift.

Could we please talk about something else?

I want to say something.

I'm going to be very direct.

I think the occasion calls for it.

I've done a lot of thinking

about this matter,

and a great deal of soul-searching.

Now that the girls are all on their

own, I feel that for my own self

I must come to this decision,

though I don't take it lightly.

I feel I've been a dedicated husband

and a responsible father,

and I haven't regretted anything

I've been called upon to do.

Now I feel I want to be

by myself for a while.

So, consequently, I've decided

to move out of the house.

I don't know how I'll feel

about it when I finally do it,

and it's not irrevocable,

but it's something I have to try.

Though, as I say, it's not

an irrevocable situation.

It's a separation.

It may be for the best.

I mean...

I wanted to lay it on the

table in front of everyone

so that everything is open

and as direct as possible.

Will you please not breathe so hard.

I'll move out.

What does that mean?

I don't want to live in this house anymore.

Eve, think about it.

Move out.

Look, it's not irrevocable.

It's a trial separation.

I can't be alone.

I don't want to

discuss the details just now.

It's a very bad time for me.

My impotence set in a year ago.

My paralysis.

I suddenly found I couldn't

bring myself to write anymore.

I shouldn't say "suddenly." Actually,

it started happening last winter.

Increasing thoughts about death

just seemed to come over me.

These...

A preoccupation with my own mortality.

These

feelings of futility in relation to my work.

Just what am I striving to create, anyway?

To what end? For what purpose, what goal?

I mean,

do I really care if some of my poems

are read after I'm gone forever?

Is that supposed to be

some sort of compensation?

I used to think it was,

but

now, for some reason,

I can't seem to...

I can't seem to shake

the real implication of dying.

It's terrifying.

The intimacy of it embarrasses me.

Are you still thinking about your mother?

I can't believe Renata encourages her.

She fills her full of false hope.

She's just trying to keep her spirits up.

I want to quit my job.

Joey.

I can't keep my mind on it.

I can't concentrate.

I sit there reading

other people's manuscripts,

and halfway through I lose interest.

I get headaches from the words,

and then I'm supposed to write an opinion.

It's not fair to the authors.

A month ago you said you'd finally

found something you enjoyed.

Well, I was wrong.

I think about going back to acting.

I'm not an actress.

Can't do that again.

Flyn's the actress in this family.

Why don't you work with me?

Because political activity

is not my interest.

I'm too self-centered for that.

That's my whole point.

It would get you off yourself.

Sometimes I think if we had a child...

God.

That really makes me anxious.

It's totally irrevocable.

Whatever happened to your photography?

You have so much potential.

You used to be so hot on that.

I hate it. It's stupid.

I feel a real need to express something,

but I don't know what it is I want

to express or how to express it.

It's always so difficult getting

Mother a birthday present.

It's impossible.

Let's not stay long at the party.

I want to finish proofreading those galleys.

Come on, Frederick.

I hardly ever see Mother.

I hardly ever spend any time with her.

It won't be so terrible. Flyn will be there.

Terrific. We'll get caught up

on her latest Hollywood gossip.

Come on, Frederick. You know Flyn likes you.

And don't behave condescendingly.

She senses that you talk down to her.

I don't talk down to Flyn.

I love hearing about her hair, her weight,

the latest TV junk she's done.

Well, that's her life.

Anyway, you have to admit

she is a sexy little girl.

No. Flyn is the opposite of sexy.

What about a scarf?

Flyn suffers from the same thing

my last book suffered from.

She's a perfect example

of form without any content.

That's very profound.

You haven't even started drinking yet.

Yeah, I am profound. And I'm

not the award-winning writer.

You're the one who's supposed to

be giving me insights into sex

and other world-shattering phenomenon.

- Really.

- Let's go.

Come on.

You look fabulous, Mother.

But the main thing is

that you're feeling well.

But I tire so easily.

Can I help you with something?

Joey says you're thinking about taking

on decorating projects again, Mother.

Yes, Joey pushes me.

But I won't accept anything

until I'm sure I can maintain the

level that I expect of myself.

Mother, I can't believe this view.

It's just beautiful.

I'm getting used to it.

- I miss the sea.

- Yeah.

I can't get over how sexy Flyn got.

Yeah. She looks beautiful, doesn't she?

Your new film is in Arizona?

No, it's in Denver.

I leave tomorrow morning.

I have to shoot on Monday.

I have so many lines to learn. But

it's just a television movie.

Did you speak to Dad?

Yeah, I spoke to him on the phone once.

Did he mention anything?

He said he visits here.

Just now and then.

Mom.

I have nothing to live for anymore.

Come on, Mom, don't say that.

It's true.

You know that's not true.

It's all right, Mom.

What's the matter?

Nothing. She's fine.

Mom, it's a trial separation.

Of course. We've been through this before.

It just takes time.

Everything will work out.

It's her birthday. Let her enjoy it.

I don't think that's exactly the right way.

Do you like it?

That's beautiful.

That's lovely.

That'll be really good for you.

It's exactly like yours.

Very nice. Thanks.

Lovely.

I hope it fits.

I think it... I'm pretty positive it will.

Frederick has finished what I've already

told him is his best work by far.

You said that about the last one.

But I feel this one really comes off.

It's terribly concise.

Yeah. You said the same thing.

What?

"Concise." "Spare," you said.

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