Rebel in the Rye Page #7

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That way, I wouldn't

have to have any

goddamned stupid

useless conversations

with anybody.

I keep picturing

all these little kids

playing some game

in this big field

of rye and all.

Thousands of little kids,

and nobody's around

nobody big, I mean,

except me.

And I'm standing

on the edge

of some crazy cliff.

What I have to do,

I have to catch everybody

if they start to go

over the cliff.

I mean, if they're

running, and they don't

look where they're going

I have to come out

from somewhere,

and catch them.

And that's all

I'd do, all day.

I'd just be the catcher

in the rye and all.

I know it's crazy

but that's the only thing

I'd really like to be.

- Jerry!

- Hi.

Thanks so much

for stopping by.

- Well, thank you.

- It's great to meet you.

- Mr. Giroux, a pleasure.

- Robert. Please

call me Robert.

- Have a seat.

- Thank you.

It's such an honor

to have you here.

Well, I'm sorry for

stopping by unannounced.

I just wanted to speak

to you personally.

No apologies necessary.

I don't know

if you remember,

but a year ago

you sent me the kindest

letter about my writing

asking if you could

publish a book

of my short stories.

Of course.

I love those stories.

Uh, I just completed

my first novel, and, um..

If -- if -- if you like,

I -- I -- I..

I'd like you

to publish it.

Ah, I am honored

you'd think of me.

When can I read it?

You know, the pages

of this book

were with me

when I stormed

the beaches of Normandy.

I wrote them

in Hitler's death camps

and in the hospital,

where I could barely

remember my own name.

I don't think I'd be

alive if it wasn't

for this book.

I'm really

flattered, Jerry.

[sighs]

Is it a war story?

No, it's about

a troubled kid

during

the Christmas holidays.

Well, I know you wanted us

to give you some helpful

notes on the novel

but the truth is,

we both think it has

a lot of problems.

I just don't buy Holden.

That's the whole book.

Well, he seems phony,

as he would like to say.

He's so negative

all the time, it just

doesn't feel real.

And your style is too

writer-consciousness.

I feel you're trying

to be clever

on almost every page.

Well, did you at least

think it was funny?

[chuckling]

Yes, but in a way

where I feel the writer

is being too witty.

You're making

a real name for yourself

and I would hate

for this book to throw

that goodwill away.

The best note I can

give you, is to just

put it in a drawer

for a year or two.

- It's that bad?

- I'm afraid it is.

[lighter clicks]

I loved it, Jerry,

I really did.

Thank God.

But these things

are never easy.

What do you mean?

My boss didn't get it.

But I fought for it

and he said he'd be

willing to publish

if you did

a major re-write.

What does he

want re-written?

He doesn't

understand Holden..

...what makes him tick,

and...I gotta admit

I found him

confusing at times.

He hates everything.

And he -- he's always

so sarcastic.

Is...is Holden

supposed to be crazy?

Are you okay?

Jerry?

Jerry.

No, I've thought

about it, and I can't

do a re-write.

I won't do it, I'm not

gonna change a word.

Holden would

never approve.

You might not have to.

What do you mean?

but I sent it

to one person, just

to test the waters.

- Who?

- John Woodburn

at Little, Brown.

Well, how was the water?

Hot.

- Very hot.

- He -- he liked it?

No, he loved it!

He thinks it's

an American masterpiece.

He -- he --

he said, "Masterpiece?"

That's what he said.

And, wait,

you told him I wouldn't

make any changes?

Yes, I told him that

that could be a problem,

and he still wants

to meet with you

to discuss marketing

and distribution.

Hold on. Marketing?

We also love this one

for the cover.

Holden in his

red hunting hat.

I hate it.

So what's wrong

with this one?

The reader needs to

imagine for themselves

what they want

Holden to look like.

What if we just use

it for the galleys?

- I think

it would be really --

- Unh-unh. No.

I don't want

any galleys sent out.

Advance copies

are crucial

for publicity purposes.

I don't want

any publicity.

You don't want

any publicity?

No.

I don't care

if it's successful

I just want it

to be good.

The less attention

the book gets

the more the story

will affect people.

It won't affect anyone

if they don't read it.

This isn't about me

or publicity, or reviews.

This is about Holden.

Jerry..

...do you want us

to publish this book

or merely to print it?

Because if you

just want a printer

then I suggest you type up

a few hundred copies

and send them

out yourself!

Fine, you can

send out galleys

for advance reviews.

Thank you, Jerry.

That's very generous

of you.

But I don't want to read

a single review, so don't

send them to me, okay?

Receiving rapturous

reviews, the debut novel

of J.D. Salinger

is being heralded

as the break-out

book of the year.

If a body

meet a body

Comin' through

the rye

If a body

kiss a body

Need a body cry?

Every lassie

has her laddie

None they say

have I

Yet all the lads

they smile at me

When comin' through

The rye

And all the lads

They smile at me

When comin' through

The rye

And do you feel peace?

Excuse me. Mr. Salinger?

E -- excuse me.

Um. Uh, I -- I just

wanted to talk to you.

I -- I feel like..

...I'm Holden Caulfield.

An -- and I just..

[chuckles]

Now, I -- I need

to talk to you

a -- about the book.

About Holden.

Why, everything

I have to say,

I wrote in the book.

But..

...how do you know

so much about me?

Well, I -- I don't.

It's a -- it's just

a work of fiction.

I'm -- I'm just

a fiction writer.

Hey, tha -- thank you

for saying hello.

Bu -- but I'm Holden!

Uh.. Um.. Uh..

I -- I'm

Holden Caulfield!

You're a phony!

Like everyone else!

Sorry. I didn't

want to wake you.

No, no, no.

You -- you -- you didn't.

[chuckles]

I was always worried

you wouldn't

be able

to pay your rent.

Now, I gotta worry about

deranged fans

attacking you.

You should

take your photo off

all those book covers.

I never knew

you worried at all.

Since the day

you were born.

When I was a boy, I..

I -- I wanted

to be a pianist.

I loved playing so much.

But my father

was a Rabbi

so he just couldn't

understand how I..

...I would be able

to support myself

and he -- he forced me

to stop playing.

I was upset.

But...I -- I knew

he loved me.

He just -- he just

wanted me to be okay.

I've never even

heard you play.

No.

But I was good.

[sighs]

So..

You're Holden Caulfield,

right?

Yeah.

[sighs]

Your mother was right.

You are..

...very talented.

Thank you.

Now, you just gotta write

another one even better.

No pressure.

[sighs]

Goodnight, sonny.

[indistinct chatter]

I hear people

talking about "Catcher"

everywhere I go.

Everyone just loves it.

I'm so excited

to read your next book.

I'll be back.

Is your steak okay?

I -- I'm just

not very hungry.

Oh. Uh, Could you eat

something else, maybe?

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