My Week With Marilyn Page #4

Leave all that.

Go and find Marilyn's script.

Paula thinks she's left it

in her dressing room.

Yes.

- Your script...

- Oh, I found it.

You can go now, Colin.

David wants to know if you're ready

for the extras in the ballroom scene.

Tell him he can start

sending them up. Women first.

I'm looking forward to Saturday.

- Our date.

- Oh, I completely forgot.

I can't do Saturday.

Marilyn wants to go shopping.

Since when do you work for her?

Next Friday instead.

- Yeah.

- Yeah, I'll pick you up. Eight o'clock.

- Gee, it's quiet.

- Sure is.

It's a Saturday, so it's early closing,

but at least she can shop in peace.

That's awfully pretty.

Every building here looks like a castle.

Oh, I think so.

- Look.

- It's Marilyn!

- It's Marilyn Monroe!

- OK.

- It's her!

Slow down.

You'll get your autograph.

- Whoa!

- You're so kind!

- Boy, you're awfully excited.

- OK, guys, let's keep calm.

- Marilyn!

- Hold back a little.

- It's for my son.

Wait your turn!

- This is too much.

- Oh!

- Colin, get in the car!

Stand back a few feet, please.

Jeez, Marilyn, they really love you.

Well, we're still

the first ones, aren't we?

Gee, this is all right, isn't it?

Cut. Uh, the line is,

"Gee, this is all right, too, isn't it?"

It's a tiny word, my darling,

but it does matter. So we'll...

We'll do it again. Once more, please,

straight away. Thank you so much.

- All right, as soon as we can.

- Turn over.

Well, we're still

the first ones, aren't we?

- Gee, this is all right, isn't it?

- Cut.

- Can't we just drop it?

- Well, the thing is, darling,

you've already admired the downstairs

hall in the earlier scene,

and now you're admiring

this room as well.

If you see what I mean?

- Oh, sure.

- Thank you.

- Turn over.

- Paula?

Christ.

I don't get it.

He's such a strange man,

I think she's already figured out

that he only invited her here

to sleep with him.

I... What...

So, what is the...?

The reason Marilyn can't

remember the line

is because she doesn't believe

the situation her character is in.

Then she should pretend to believe it.

"Pretend"? We're talking

about the difference

between the truth and artificial crap.

We're in absolute agreement.

Acting is all about truth,

and if you can fake that,

you'll have a jolly good career.

Maybe we should try for another take.

Marilyn needs time

to give a great performance.

You should give her as long as it takes.

Chaplin took eight months

to make a movie.

Eight months of this?

- I'd rather kill myself.

- Oh!

I can't do this.

- I can't.

- Yes, you can. Yes, you can.

You can do it. You can't fail.

You'll have more pain,

you will suffer more,

but you will create.

All you need is time.

Think about the things

you like instead of him.

Frank Sinatra. Hmm?

Coca-Cola.

Use your substitutions

and make it work for you.

- OK.

- OK.

Two-eight-one, take 17.

Oh, we're still the first ones,

aren't we?

Gee, this is all right, too, isn't it?

Then she goes...

She...

Cut! What is the matter now?

You wait! Marilyn, please.

Please, tell me how I can help you.

I don't know who Elsie is, and I can't

act her if I don't know who she is.

You have her precisely. You understand

her inside out. I'm in awe of your gift.

- We all are.

- She's not real.

Then why not simply rely

on your natural talents?

So are you saying you

don't want me to act?

Marilyn, will you just try to be sexy.

Isn't that what you do?

I want Lee.

I want Lee.

- You've already got Paula...

- I want Lee!

- I'm the director.

- I'm Lee's representative.

It's 5:
00 in the morning in New York.

I want Lee!

Oh, now forever,

farewell the tranquil mind,

farewell content...

Farewell the plumed troops

and the big wars that make

ambition virtue. Oh, farewell!

Paula's not an actress!

She's not a director,

she's not a teacher!

Her only talent is buttering up Marilyn!

Larry, she needs her people.

We're the only family she's ever had.

Do you know what would make Marilyn

Monroe a real actor? A season in rep.

They wouldn't stand for this nonsense

at the Hippodrome in Eastbourne.

Larry, you have to be patient with her.

Trying to teach Marilyn how to act

is like teaching Urdu to a badger!

I better go see her. She'll need

something to help her calm down.

Christ! Pills to sleep.

Pills to wake up.

Pills to calm her down.

Pills to give her energy.

No wonder she's permanently

ten feet underwater!

- Maybe she's scared.

- We're all scared!

I've spent half of my professional life

in abject bloody terror!

It's what actors do!

But you have the training

to deal with it, sir.

I wouldn't buy the "little

girl lost" act if I were you.

Though heaven knows, it's tempting.

I think Marilyn knows

exactly what she's doing.

Look, you better get over to Parkside

and make sure the poor girl's all right.

Marilyn's OK. She's taken

some pills and gone to bed.

They like to keep her doped up.

It makes her easier to control.

They're terrified their

cash cow will slip away.

- Cheers.

Why does everybody

always think I'm crazy?

I'm not crazy.

Marilyn, come back to bed.

It's not about you.

It's not what you think.

It's just a few ideas.

Writer stuff.

Come on, let's get some sleep

and bring back my book.

Don't touch me.

Good morning, Miss Monroe.

- It's nearly lunchtime.

- She's not feeling the part.

It's a light comedy. How much

feeling can it possibly require?

Just give her a few minutes, Larry.

Boy, will you find out what

the hell is going on, please?

It's Colin. Come in.

Are you all right, Miss Monroe?

- How old are you?

- Twenty-four.

Nearly. I'm... I'm 23.

I'm nearly 24.

Do you know you remind us of

the young king in the movie?

- And so...

uh ...sweet.

And innocent.

I'm not sure I'm that innocent.

So, what's your job on this picture?

I'm the third assistant director.

So, it's a gofer, really.

"Go for this, go for that."

But you're Larry's assistant, too.

Yes.

What were you doing

in my house last night?

Did he send you?

He was worried about you.

Are you spying on me?

No, of course not.

Why would anyone spy on you?

Colin.

Whose side are you on?

Yours, Miss Monroe.

Call me Marilyn.

Marilyn's got a new boyfriend.

- Larry will get jealous.

- Nothing happened.

You were there for ten minutes.

Plenty of time for a kiss and a cuddle.

I dreamed last night

that I could hear singing.

And then I realized it wasn't a dream.

There was a male voice choir

serenading Marilyn under our window.

At two in the morning.

It's a circus. Freak show.

I'm going back to New York

for a few days.

I need a break.

I need to see my kids.

- That won't help Marilyn.

- I can't help her.

She wants me to protect her,

but... I can't.

She thought I could smash

all her insecurities.

That I can make her a new person.

She read some notes I made.

They were nothing.

Just... Just a few ideas.

- But about her?

- She took them the wrong way.

You do... love her,

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