Rebel in the Rye Page #4

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he's an alcoholic.

No, but...he's not

an alcoholic, he's..

He's just getting drunk

because he's depressed

about the girl.

Well, they think

that's unclear.

I don't, I think

that's perfectly clear.

Well, maybe you can make

a slight adjustment

so it's not confusing

for some people.

Also, they think it would

be nice if, in the end

Holden and Sally

got back together.

They specifically said

we don't need to see it

we just want the reader

to have a sense that

they'll end up --

But they don't

end up together.

That's not what happens.

- Why not?

- Because people

don't end up together.

It usually

doesn't work out.

Okay, look, I know

in every goddamn story,

and every goddamn magazine

the couple always

falls in love

with a stupid kiss

to make us feel

all warm and fuzzy

and full of

Christmas cheer,

but that's not

what happens

in real life.

Someone always gets

their heart broken

and has a hard time

getting over it.

Sometimes, they drink

because they're upset,

even though they're

not alcoholics.

I just want my writing

to be truthful.

That's all.

So, what would you like me

to tell them?

Tell them I'm very

open to notes

but Holden's not

an alcoholic, and they

don't end up together.

Those are the only

notes, Jerry.

Well, tell them I won't

make those changes.

You're so talented.

Give Oona

a little twirl?

So, get this, I told Oona

about "The New Yorker.."

- And?

- We've already

been out three times.

- To "The New Yorker!"

- To "The New Yorker!"

Did they have any notes?

- Who?

- "The New Yorker."

Did they have any notes

on the story?

No.

Well, I'm not surprised

they loved it.

That Holden character

is fantastic.

It's exactly what

I've been telling you

about digging deeper.

Yeah. Yeah, I -- I felt it

when I was writing him.

It...just flowed out

of me.

I want to keep

writing stories about him.

You should.

Well..

Another.

- You okay there, boss?

- Ah..

Well..

Between you and me, things

aren't great at "Story."

Money is tight.

I mean, Martha watches

the finances, and me.

Apparently, I'm still

spending too much money.

You'll have to

shut it down?

No, no, we'll be

alright for now.

But it's been

tough on us.

I got an eye.

I can spot talent

coming a mile away.

Saroyan, Cheever,

Caldwell

I discovered them all.

Of course, it would

be nice if somebody

discovered me.

Hey, come on,

you've been published.

I not only

discovered them

I shaped them.

I challenged them.

This is me.

You should..

...continue to write

about Holden

but not

as a short story.

Well, hang on, wait.

Wait, wait, wait.

What do you mean?

I think Holden Caulfield

is a novel.

No.

No, I -- I couldn't

write a whole novel.

I'm a dash man,

not a miler.

You only say that

because you're lazy.

Holden Caulfield..

...deserves an entire

book, all on his own.

Well, a novel

is a lot of words.

It's just more words.

Imagine the book

that you would

want to read.

And then go write it.

[thudding]

[sobbing]

Hey! Mom.

What's wrong?

Mom.

Hey, what is it?

What's happened?

We interrupt this

broadcast to bring you

this important bulletin

from the United Press.

We have witnessed

this morning

the attack

of Pearl Harbor

and the severe bombing

of Pearl Harbor

by army planes.

Undoubtedly Japanese.

It's no joke.

It's a real war.

I don't care what you say,

I'm sending you socks

every week, and you had

better wear them.

Please, you'll

embarrass me.

They're gonna supply

everything I need.

Everyone, can I have

your attention, please?

As you all know,

tomorrow morning

our son, Jerry,

is going off to war.

Perhaps this will turn him

into the man

I know he is

destined to become.

And I would like

to propose a toast

to the best student

I've ever had.

To Jerry!

A wonderful writer,

an inspiration

and a great friend.

To Jerry!

- To Jerry!

- To Jerry!

This may not be

the best timing

but I have

some bad news.

Really? What?

"The New Yorker"

isn't going to run

the Holden Caulfield

story.

Um, why not?

They think

it's too frivolous

now that we've

entered the war.

I'm sorry, Jerry.

No. It's fine.

Promise you'll

wait for me.

- I promise.

- Really?

Of course, Jerry.

Well, she is an actress.

Hey, hey, mark my words,

I will marry that girl.

Well, it's a good thing

her father is

a comedy writer.

[laughing]

Anyway, how's everything

at the home front

with you?

You, uh, good with Martha?

Chewing your ear?

Everything in my home

is fine

because what you'll learn

about having a wife

is that, occasionally,

she just needs to yell

to feel better.

Oh, and by the way,

I'm awfully sorry

about "The New Yorker."

How'd you know

about that?

Oh, please.

They canned

the Caulfield story

because you wouldn't take

any of their notes.

You know, you cannot be

a pain in the ass

until you're a success.

Oh, yeah?

Well, to hell

with "The New Yorker."

You know what?

I'll put it in

an anthology

with the other short --

No, no, no! Don't do that!

Don't do that!

Don't do that

to Holden Caulfield!

He deserves a novel!

- You really think so?

- I know so!

He's a fantastic

character.

Listen to me.

While you're over there,

you know, uh

getting the clap from

all those French whores

do me a favor..

I want you to

write about him.

I want Holden Caulfield

to be your best friend.

And listen to me.

Stay alive! Alright?

Stay alive!

No matter what!

After I enlisted

in the army, I bounced

from base to base

until they finally

shipped me off

to England.

I knew army food

would be bad

but they promised us

a steak dinner

the night before

the big invasion.

I just couldn't start

the Caulfield novel.

That's why I kept

sending you short stories

for the anthology

I was writing instead.

I had never written

anything so personal.

That's why he was

a first-person character.

I didn't want to

begin Holden's story

because I was scared

I wouldn't live

long enough to finish it.

[dramatic music]

Hey, Jerry.

How's your girlfriend?

I wish they'd all just

forget about it.

- Bye, lover boy.

- Come on, Jerry.

You're the first guy

to ever get dumped

on the front page

of every newspaper

in the country.

It's pretty nuts.

Chaplin's old enough

to be her father.

Well, what can I say?

Everyone loves

that little tramp.

In a scandal that has

rocked the nation

the biggest movie star

in the world,

Charlie Chaplin

has married

the 18-year-old daughter

of famed playwright

Eugene O'Neill,

who has declared that

she has finally met

her true love.

[Oona chuckles]

It's just more words.

"Holden Caulfield,"

she said.

"It's marvelous to

see you. It's been ages."

She had one of those

very loud,

embarrassing voices

when you

met her somewhere.

She got away with it

because she was

so damned good-looking

but it always gave me

a pain in the ass.

"It's swell to see you,"

I said.

I meant it too.

"How are you, anyway?"

"Grand," she said.

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