My Week With Marilyn Page #2

Well, the odd early warning

if you know she's going to be late.

That kind of thing.

Hello.

Colin Clark. I booked a room.

Ah, right. Here you are.

Sign this.

What brings you up this way?

I'm working on a film at Pinewood.

Oh. What film is that?

It's called The Sleeping Prince. With

Sir Laurence Olivier and Marilyn Monroe,

so I'll be working with them.

Room's three quid a week.

First week in advance.

Number two.

And, uh, hope you don't mind,

you'll be sharing with Grace Kelly.

This'll work fine for Marilyn. Oh, and,

uh, Paula will need the room next door.

- I beg your pardon?

- Sorry, who is Paula?

Strasberg. Marilyn's acting coach.

She's nuts about the Method.

Arthur, we've spoken about this before.

Stanislavski and the Method are

perfectly fine in the rehearsal room,

but they don't belong on a film set.

Time is too tight.

Larry! Some good news.

House committee have decided

Miller isn't a communist after all.

Of course he is.

All those pain in the ass

New York intellectuals are Reds.

Which means she'll be flying

in next week on schedule.

- Excellent news.

- She'll have to be met.

Well, naturally Vivien and I

will be there to greet her,

but let's keep it low key, shall we?

- You join us here at London Airport,

where it is absolute mayhem.

Marilyn! This way! Get out of the way!

With her is her new husband,

America's most celebrated playwright

and author of Death of a Salesman,

Arthur Miller.

Beautiful. You're looking at

tomorrow's front page, boys.

- We'll have to get them into the hall.

- Sir Laurence Olivier

and Scarlett O'Hara herself,

Vivien Leigh, are set to greet them.

American acting royalty

meeting British acting royalty.

Gentlemen, it is my especial pleasure

to introduce a woman

who clearly needs no introduction.

Marilyn! How do you like being married?

Well, I like it. I like it a lot.

- Is this third time lucky?

- You bet it is.

Is it true you want to be

a classical actress now?

Well, I want to be

the best actress I can be.

There's a rumor you're going to be in

The Brothers Karamazov, on Broadway.

Ooh.

I'm... considering it.

Which of them will you be playing?

I'll be playing Grushenka.

- Can you spell that?

- Sure. Can you?

Vivien, you created

the role of Elsie on stage.

Have you any advice for Marilyn?

I am sure if Miss Monroe

needs any advice,

she'll get it from her director.

- I hear he's terribly good.

- Marilyn!

Are you happy with your last film?

Marilyn!

Is it true you wear nothing

in bed except perfume?

- Ooh.

Darling, as I'm in England, let's say I

sleep in nothing but Yardley's Lavender.

Smile, Marilyn!

OK, let's get a snap of the newlyweds.

Smile, Arthur. It's not a firing squad.

This is some place you found.

You have my new assistant

Colin to thank for that.

Colin, this is Milton Greene.

You must be very nice to him.

He owns half of

Marilyn Monroe Productions.

- Forty-nine percent, Larry.

- Have a cigarette.

- I don't smoke.

- Really?

- And the studio, they want a new title.

- Nonsense.

Thank you very much.

- Marvelous, isn't she?

- She's all right.

- Larry fell desperately

in love with her in New York.

He's determined to seduce her.

Yeah, but she's only

been married three weeks.

I thought you were a man of the world.

Of course, Larry would never leave me,

but if anything were to happen

you would tell me, wouldn't you?

- I'm sure he loves you very much.

- Oh, don't be such a boy.

I'm 43, darling.

No one will love me for very much

longer. Not even you.

What a wonderful adventure,

Dame Sybil.

Such a lark.

I long to see her.

- Miss Monroe?

Sir Laurence sends his compliments.

He's ready for the read-through.

But Marilyn is not ready.

She's preparing.

Excuse my horrible face.

Ah! Marilyn, my dear.

Everyone is so excited to meet you.

Do... Come along, my darling, my angel.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Miss Marilyn Monroe.

Marilyn.

- How lovely you are.

- Here, I kept a place for you.

- I have to be next to Marilyn.

What a good idea.

I wish we could all bring a friend.

One does get so terribly nervous.

It's just like the first day

at school, isn't it?

So, welcome, dear Marilyn,

to our little fraternity.

We may seem a little strange

and, uh, quaint to you at first,

but I hope that in time,

you may come to find your

method in our madness.

So, my very noble

and approved good masters,

may we strive to create a work of art

that, led by your good graces,

will be cherished

as long as motion pictures

may be remembered.

Were you surprised

to get my invitation?

I'll say I was surprised.

I was so surprised, I couldn't

hardly think you meant me.

Oh, but of course I meant you.

I had your name most carefully

marked down in my program.

In matters of this kind,

I assure you I'm most methodical.

Who would you think I meant if not you?

Gee, Mr. Sir, I could just

listen to your accent all day.

- Oh, you darling, Marilyn.

You're amongst friends now.

Just plain "Larry" will suffice, really.

That's so sweet.

Um, whenever you're ready.

Well, Maisie Springfield.

No, not Maisie Springfield.

She is quite what

I would call "old hat."

Remember why you're

in the embassy, Marilyn.

What does the Grand Duke

want from Elsie?

You came here and you thought...

from experience, Marilyn.

It's only a read-through, Paula.

Marilyn has to begin

finding the character.

Oh, the character's on the page.

The words, maybe. Not the character.

Aren't we going to have fun?

Well, we'll pick it up

whenever you like.

We should talk. Just us.

- Yeah.

Thank you so much.

We can't have two f***ing directors!

- Marilyn wants Paula.

- Why? She's got me.

Paula's costing us two and a half

thousand bucks a week.

We might as well use her.

Listen, Larry.

Accept Marilyn on her

own terms and you'll be OK.

Try to change her

and she will drive you crazy.

- Trust me.

- Christ, what have I got myself into?

- Come outwith me tonight.

- I'm working.

- Well, tomorrow night, then.

- I'm washing my hair.

- But your hair's lovely.

- Look, I've got two rules.

Everyone has a lot of rules around here.

One, never touch the talent,

and two, never go outwith thirds.

Why not?

Because they're all randy little buggers

who just want some fun during shooting.

I'm not like that.

Really.

I'm free on Saturday.

Colin!

Quiet on set, everyone!

How kind of you to meet us.

Dear me, you do look cold.

They're ready for you

in makeup, Dame Sybil.

How exciting. Don't you love

the first day of a new production?

I don't know, Dame Sybil.

I've never had one before.

Oh, to be young again.

She has kept Dame Sybil Thorndike

and the entire company

waiting in full costume

for two hours, Mr. Orton,

and it is simply not fair.

I can't do this.

- What's wrong?

- She's nervous.

I'll deal With it.

Would you like to sit down,

Dame Sybil?

Oh, yes. Colin, how kind.

- Why don't we all sit down.

- Oi!

That chair is a prop.

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