Love and Mercy Page #3

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Yeah, it was really nice,

except for when my dad

was beating on us

- all the time, you know?

- Like...

He was a really hard, hard guy.

You know, like, um...

There's a spanking.

You know that sound?

You know a certain

kind of spanking,

and it sounds like a...

you know, like...

But the way we had it, you know?

When it came out of him, it's...

You know?

Really hard.

Come on, let's give

these guys some privacy.

- You know, we laugh about it.

- Babe, I can't just...

- Doug, come on.

- You know, back in those days?

We laugh about all that, but...

it was pretty tough business.

Pretty tough business.

Hey.

- I'm so sorry.

- No, what? About what?

They're okay,

they come here all the time.

It's their favorite spot.

No, Brian, about your dad.

Oh, yeah.

You know, spare...

spare the rod,

spoil the child.

You know I'm 96% deaf

in my right ear because

my dad whacked me all the time?

He was a really hard man

and he was a not very happy man,

but, uh...

in some ways I love my dad,

you know, because...

he scared me

and he scared me so much,

I think he actually scared me

into making good records.

- Hmm.

- You know? I mean, he had this, like,

competitive spirit

that really blew my mind and...

What about your mom?

She stayed out

of all of it, mostly.

I think she drank a lot.

You know?

That's how she...

she... she dealt with it.

I haven't seen her in...

three years?

- What?

- Yeah, Gene doesn't think it's a good idea

for me to be in touch

with my family right now.

I haven't seen

my daughters in...

two years.

You have two daughters.

Yeah. Yeah.

I wasn't a very good father

to them, you know?

Because I was drinking and drugging

when I should have been...

you know, a parent.

And, uh...

you know, I made a

mess of my life,

lost control of my life.

It's a weird trip,

but...

anyway, they live in

Encino with their mom.

Well, sh*t.

Yeah.

But it's not so bad now anymore.

You know?

- Good.

- Uh-huh.

Good.

Look, listen to me, I'm

just going on and on.

- It's my boring life...

- It's not boring.

It is,

but what about you, Melinda?

I mean, my God, you're so...

You're such good fun

and you're... you're so...

so tender and so sweet.

I mean...

why don't you have

a... boyfriend?

Oh, well...

There was someone.

He was no good.

He broke my heart.

He shouldn't have done that.

Well, I shouldn't have let him.

Aww, sh...

F***. Tony, you holding

those keys down?

- Yeah, yeah.

- Okay.

Can I have another

bobby pin, please, Hal?

Okay, keep the keys down, Tony.

Here we go.

Yeah, so, uh, right here.

No, give it, uh...

like...

There's like a gasp in between.

Cut! I think we got it.

Chuck, mix that in, uh,

with the sound of the

train going by at the end

of "Caroline, No."

- You got it, Brian.

- Hey, Chuck,

you think we could

get a horse in here?

Hey, kid.

Brian.

Brian!

Brian! You got a light?

- I spilled coffee on my matches in there.

- Yeah.

Tough day at the office?

Well...

my family's coming in tomorrow,

the band, they're...

well, sometimes they're

tough, you know?

Let me tell you something.

We're all pros, you know?

We've played with everyone.

Heard it all.

You name 'em, we've

played with 'em.

Sinatra, Dean Martin,

Elvis, Phil Spector,

Sam Cooke, everyone!

And we all studied in goddamn

conservatories, for Christ's sake.

But...

but you...

you gotta know

that you're touched, kid.

You've blown our minds.

- More than Phil Spector?

- Ah, Phil's got nothing on you.

Oh, man.

No, the band's gonna love it.

Every note of it.

You're a talented young man.

Hang in there, man.

I'll see ya.

I'll see ya tomorrow, Hal.

Wow, nice place. Yeah, come on in.

Let me show you around.

- Oh, wow.

- This is my room.

This is my room.

- Oh, nice!

- Yeah, I got to pick it.

What do you mean?

Well, you know,

I got another house

a little bit

up the coast, you know?

- You do?

- But Gene wants me to live, you know,

in a more

controlled environment.

So he's living in that

one and I'm living here.

You know, not so many

distractions and memories.

But I got to pick the room.

- Wow.

- Ch... ch... check this out.

Look at this.

That's absolutely beautiful.

Thanks.

What is it?

Oh, that's just something that I

came up with when I saw you.

What are you gonna do with it?

Nothing, it's gone.

That was just for you.

That's so incredible.

Oh, my God,

that just, like,

came out of you.

Is that how it works?

Or just...

Yeah. Sometimes.

Sometimes your inner voice

wants to express itself

and every once in a while,

every blue moon,

your soul... comes out to play.

- You know?

- Wow.

Can't be rushed.

It's like a kid,

it's just nature,

but... yeah.

Can I ask you

something personal?

- Personal?

- Kind of.

Sure, I'm an open book.

Did you really spend

two years in bed?

No...

more like three.

At least, that's what

I tell people.

I got out at night

sometimes in my bathrobe.

Do you like matzo ball soup?

I don't know. I don't think...

- I've ever had matzo ball soup.

- No?

It's really good.

My ex-wife was Jewish,

did I tell you that?

- No.

- That's when I first had it.

- Oh.

- At Marilyn's parents' house.

They're really nice parents.

She saved my life.

- Marilyn?

- Mmm.

Mare.

I wasn't a very good

husband, I told you,

but...

we were only kids

when we got married.

- She was 16. 16.

- That's crazy.

I think it's an acquired

taste, you know?

- Marriage?

- Matzo ball soup.

We should go one day, you know?

- Go to Canter's and try it.

- Sure.

- Do you wanna try it?

- Yeah, I would. Why not?

- I don't wanna force you to.

- You wouldn't be.

I mean, it's not gonna

kill you or anything.

I would hope not.

You know, I mean,

just have a little bit.

- It's good to try new things in life.

- Okay. I will.

I will try to keep an open mind.

- It's important to try things.

- Good.

- New things.

- New things.

I agree.

Brian,

time for your pills.

Come on.

- One minute.

- Oh.

Melinda,

you ever hear of the, um...

"Underground Dictionary"?

Thank you, sweetheart.

- Uh, no.

- Well, I published it.

- 1971.

- Huh.

It's an amazing book.

It's a, uh...

lexicon for subcultural speak.

It's a reference book

for professionals

of all kinds to learn

how to talk to...

the subcultures of the time.

- Bikers, hookers, surfers...

- Hey.

- Are you okay?

- ...junkies, blacks...

- Yeah.

- What does he have you on?

I get allergies. I get

allergies, so, um...

I get a little drowsy.

And believe me, they're

the toughest ones to talk to.

Right, Brian?

I'm... I'm... I'm hungry, Gene.

- It was a real bitchin' concept book.

- Gene, I'm hungry.

Kind of ahead of its time

and it got a lot of attention.

- Frankly.

- Gene, I'm hungry.

It's coming.

Uh, far out, right on,

out of sight,

uh, smokey tits, bonnaroo.

Uh, super wicked, wiggy.

How about that? All right.

We got one ready here.

Mmm. Guest of honor first.

- Oh.

- There you go, ma'am.

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