Set Fire to the Stars

New York. Columbia. Cornell. Yale.

Boston, Harvard. Mount Holyoke.

Philadelphia. Washington. Chicago.

Iowa. Hobart. Florida.

Pomona. Santa Barbara. San Francisco.

You won't lose me to a ball game.

- I'm here and committed.

- Oh, please John,

we're in no doubt you're our man

to captain this ship.

Jack has told us all about you.

Jack I... I told them you were

a boy scout after my job.

Yale. Boston. Harvard. Mount Holyoke.

Philadelphia. Washington. Chicago.

Iowa. Hobart. Florida. Pomona.

Santa Barbara. San Francisco.

So, as incumbent of the Chair of Poetry,

how are you finding our students?

They have all the answers.

Read all the books and listened intently

but... sometimes it feels like

I'm teaching the same student.

And that's a bad thing?

New York. Columbia.

Cornell. Yale.

This man is a good writer.

What he doesn't know about

the written word...

Well, that's why I suggested him.

Look at you now, John. You have tenure.

It only took five years.

New York. Columbia. Cornell. Yale.

Boston. Harvard. Mount Holyoke.

Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago.

John and I met at Vassar.

I was Chair of the Editorial Board.

John ran a...

a kind of writers workshop.

I proofed his first poem in Helicon.

Boston. Harvard.

Mount Holyoke. Philadelphia.

Iowa. Hobart. Florida.

Pomona. Santa Barbara.

San Francisco.

Now, what of this visitor

you're proposing?

Now, I understand it's a little cavalier

to undertake a tour of

this scale in my first month

but the idea isn't new to me.

I've wanted to show him off

to America for an age.

So you're a fan.

I believe him to be the purest lyrical poet

in the English speaking world.

We're all a fan of his work...

But?

Jack here tells me

your man has a reputation...

for 'roaring behaviour'.

Stories of pub-room escapades

that brought wives,

mothers and the London police running.

It is true that friends and colleagues

of my own in London talk of this...

man-child.

Terrorizing events

and functions with his mischief.

Sounds fun.

Not when your job is at stake.

I think what the Dean

is trying to say is...

How do you propose to handle him?

I'll improvise.

Flippancy is the most hopeless form

of intellectual vice, Mr. Brinnin.

With all due respect, sir...

I am not naive to this.

Wasn't it Mark Twain who said,

"A lie can travel halfway

around the world

while the truth is still putting

on its shoes."

Get to the point, Mr. Brinnin.

It's just that the stories

we hear about him

this side of the world must be inflated,

otherwise how could they travel so far?

Yes, I'm excited and yes, I'm a fan,

but this is a great opportunity

for us all.

How many venues are booked?

Twenty-five so far.

New York. Columbia, Cornell.

Yale, Boston, Harvard, Philadelphia,

Washington, Chicago...

- Okay, okay...

- And more on the west coast.

We get it, Mr. Brinnin.

Well?

All hail, McBrinnin!

Thou shalt be king hereafter!

- They said yes?

- Yeah, no thanks to you.

"I'll improvise"? You son of a b*tch.

I thought Loomis was going to

have a heart attack.

Congratulations, champ.

This is your moment

in the sun, go for it.

You know what the best part is?

We get to work together after all.

Together? What do you mean?

Easy, Ahab, you still get

to reel in the big fish.

I'll just be riding shotgun

once in a while.

You know, a kind of

part time confederate.

Lighten up. It was either that or have

the old man ride your ass like Sea-biscuit

I'll calm any stormy weather

and keep the old man off your back.

Stormy weather?

You know what I'm talking about.

You make him sound like a monster.

No smoke without fire,

that's all I'm saying...

Just be careful,

and if I can dare to say,

"Tread softly because

you tread on our dreams."

Thank you.

How much trouble can one poet be?

John? What the f***'s that maniac doing?

Get him off me.

Now you know exactly

what you've brought to America.

It would seem that

"the purest lyrical poet

of the English speaking world"

is plastered.

- What's he doing here?

- Come on, party's over.

I was just warming up.

No, I think you've had enough.

Let me take you back to your hotel.

Dylan, please.

I believe it's time to go...

And I believe in naked women

in wet mackintoshes.

I believe in the moon... the stars.

I believe in Third Avenue...

I don't believe in New York.

Jesus Christ, John.

You invite this lunatic into my house...

he broke my crock pot, John.

My crock pot. It's a Double-Dipper.

We can't have Harvey's crock

not working now, can we?

Good night, John.

Mr. Thomas, the pleasure was all ours.

- You're mad at me.

- No, I'm not.

Yes, you are, you're mad at me,

and embarrassed for your friends.

- I'm a sh*t.

- No, you're just drunk.

Excuse me.

I miss you.

We... We need fresh towels.

Are you okay? What's wrong?

Just my 'froth corrupted lungs'

It doesn't sound good.

Death isn't meant to.

Who was at the door?

The manager.

I didn't think this hotel

suited you anyway.

I'm hungry for something John.

Would you be a pal?

You are my pal, aren't you?

Would you fetch me one

of those milkshakes?

Oh, I... It's very late.

A big fat yankee-doodling

milkshake and candy bars and

chocolates and a comic of some sorts.

Would you?

Give me ten minutes.

You can stay tonight and tomorrow

then we have to change hotel.

It's very decent of them.

Dylan, I'm back!

I couldn't get you a milkshake but I...

I got you some candy,

I took the liberty of getting

you a 'Superman'.

Dylan?

Watch it!

Don't be angry with me, John.

Don't be mean.

I was lost without you.

- I have never been so...

- Pleased to see me?

So angry and upset, actually.

Let me introduce you to Mickey.

Screw you, fairy.

Please, my fully developed friend.

Be nice. We just arm wrestled for money.

Oh? How did you do?

I came second.

So... you're buying then?

My goodness. You're very strong.

Two stouts for me and my new pal.

That's the black stuff, isn't it?

- Eggs?

- You are going to love it.

But I don't need the...

To all the lights that guided us.

To all the women that guided our wrongs.

To the lost...

and the ones who still wait for them.

Cheers!

Drink, drink!

- Drink, drink...

- Come on, John!

I've always been strong. Like an ox!

We're pit men with dirty nails.

Chest thumping Neanderthals

with songs in our hearts.

Oh, Christ, I've got to put you down.

It would be at this time in the evening

at Browns, my local,

Dai Jenkins would shout

"Does anybody want a fight?"

Hey, buddy, keep it down!

Down, down?

I have enough trouble getting it up!

What did you say buddy?

Want me to come and break your head in?

- Well that's rich.

- That what you want?

Come and try it.

But I warn you,

with me you're out of your depth!

Isn't that right, John?

Where does it all come from?

The words.

From which spring do they pour?

- Don't.

- No one is that mysterious.

We're having fun, John.

Don't take it away.

- I'm not taking it away.

- Why do you have to ruin it?

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