Rebel in the Rye Page #9

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Look, "Story Magazine"

is going to do

an anthology

of short stories

and since you're

our most famous alumni

I...just thought

it would be fitting

if -- if you did

the introduction for us.

Hello?

Okay.

- O -- okay, what?

- Okay, I'll do it.

Really?

Yeah, you

sound surprised.

No, no,

I'm just thrilled.

I -- I..

Thank you.

Well, thank you

for buying my first story.

Well, it was the best

$25 I ever spent.

When I was 20, I was

a student for a time

in Whit Burnett's

short story course

up at Columbia.

I often have my doubts

whether any good

and conscientious

writing course conductor

can humanly do more.

He was there,

unmistakably

in the service

of the story.

It isn't too quiet

for you out here?

No, it's perfect.

But don't you miss

the action in the city?

It's just a distraction.

It's all a distraction.

It's important

I remove anything

that can interfere

with my writing.

Yeah, but don't you

have less to write about?

You're so isolated.

I mean, look, I liked

"Franny And Zooey."

It's just, it felt

a little bit more like

reading a religious

textbook than a story.

You always told me

to dig deeper.

- Correct?

- Yes.

I couldn't have

written "Catcher"

without the war.

But now I'm seeking

a higher calling

than a boy

and his hunting hat.

Wait a minute, Holden

changed the country.

There's now young people

all over the world

who feel they

finally have a voice

they never had before.

I know, yes,

and they're not afraid

to come here

and tell me.

Sometimes, I wish

I never wrote it.

I know, it's made me

a prisoner here.

I'm shackled by

my own creation.

Oh, come on, does it

have to be like that?

Yes.

If I want to

keep writing, it does.

And that's the only time

I feel any sense of peace.

Alright.

It's nice to see you

again, but I'm..

...curious why

you wanted to come

all the way up here

to talk to me.

It's about

the introduction

you wrote.

Look, I...I loved it.

It's beautiful,

I was very flattered.

Well, I'm glad

you enjoyed it.

But unfortunately,

I can't use it.

- You can't use it?

- No.

Because it's not about

"Story Magazine"

or the other writers.

It's just about me,

and it's just..

...inappropriate to use

as an introduction

for an anthology.

Why are you laughing?

[laughing]

Ever since we've met,

all you've done is

reject my writing.

I guess I was

foolish to think

that would end now.

Well, I never said

life as a writer

was going to be easy.

And as always,

you were right.

Goodbye, Whit.

Goodbye.

[sighs]

[instrumental music]

As always, there are

multiple offers

for the film rights

to "Catcher."

Elia Kazan, Billy Wilder,

they both keep calling.

Tell them no.

And to stop calling.

It'd never

work as a movie.

Why not?

Because I'm the only one

that can play Holden.

I'm too old.

Little, Brown called

about your next book.

They asked if you were

still writing about

the Glass family.

They'll take anything.

Literally anything.

[sighs]

There is something I want

to talk to you about.

It's actually

the reason why

I came back to the city.

[sighs]

What is it?

I don't want

to publish anymore.

But people really love

to read your stories.

You'll have so many

disappointed fans.

Well, writing's..

It's become my religion.

Publishing, it -- it gets

in the way

of the meditation.

It corrupts it.

I don't know how to be

a husband or a father.

Or even a friend.

All I know

is how to be a writer.

If -- if I -- if I

can truly do this

if I can dedicate

my life to writing

and -- and get

nothing in return..

...then I think I can

find some happiness.

Then don't

publish anymore.

I love you, and I want

you to be happy.

And it's like

I always said..

Publishing

isn't everything.

[chuckling]

[dramatic music]

[typewriter

keys clacking]

[music continues]

Dear Whit, so to answer

the question you asked me

all those years ago..

Yes.

I am willing to write

for the rest of my life

and get nothing

in return.

Sincerely yours,

J.D. Salinger.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

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