Shadows in the Sun

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[People chattering]

[Knocking on door]

You wanted to see me, sir?

You read The Times this morning?

Avershays Press

announced a deal with Irving Gattinger.

Gattinger said that he was done with writing.

Yes. He hasn't written a book in 10 years.

It's a brilliant move.

Based on name recognition alone,

it'll be an instant bestseller.

BENTON:
Yes.

What do you think about Weldon Parish?

Parish is one of my personal favorites.

Why, are you thinking of signing him?

The man hasn't written anything in 20 years.

All the more reason.

What do you know about him?

Um, Weldon Parish.

He left the United States in the mid-1980s...

moved to a small Italian village,

and, after his wife died...

he simply gave up writing.

He's become a recluse.

- He doesn't even give interviews.

- Hmm.

We could sign Weldon Parish.

We would set the publishing world on its ears.

I want you to go to Italy and talk to him.

Mr. Benton,

with all due respect, and believe me...

no one would like to see

a Weldon Parish novel more than myself...

it's just not going to happen.

People have tried.

The man is just not interested in writing.

Well, I expect you to make him interested.

Have a nice trip. Goodbye, Jeremy.

[Tires screech]

[Bleating]

[Women speaking Italian]

Hi.

[Speaking Italian]

All the rooms have a private bathroom.

Ah, you speak English?

Does it sound like English?

- Yes.

- There you go.

Great. Look, I have some bags in the...

Excuse me?

I have a couple more bags in the car.

Perfect.

Thank you.

[Clearing throat]

What, are you kidding? I carried the bags.

I opened the door.

You opened the door.

[Headboard banging on wall]

[Woman moaning]

- Is the room okay?

- Yes.

The room itself is fine, but...

[Laughing]

There's a...

There's a couple next door to me...

- and they're...

- Screwing.

Yes.

They come here every chance they get

for privacy.

Ah.

Anyway, I'm actually in town

looking for Weldon Parish.

You wouldn't by any chance know him,

would you?

No.

Well, any idea where he lives?

No.

No?

Really? He's lived here for 20 years...

and you don't know him

and you have no idea where he lives.

Yes.

Right.

[Men chattering]

Weldon Parish?

Excuse me, do you know

where I can find Weldon Parish?

[Enquiring in Italian]

Weldon Parish?

[Engine sputtering]

[Speaking Italian]

- Ciao, Bernardo.

- Gustavo, buon giorno.

[Both speaking Italian]

[Gustavo speaking Italian]

[Saying farewells in Italian]

Okay.

[Clearing throat]

Hello, Mr. Parish. My name is Jeremy Taylor.

[Jeremy clears throat]

JEREMY:
Hello, Mr. Parish.

Hi, Mr. Parish. My name is Jeremy Taylor.

Pearce Learner Publishing.

Hey, Weldon, I'm Jeremy.

ISABELLA:
[in Italian accent] He's not here.

I just thought I would tell you...

so you wouldn't waste the whole day

talking to the door.

[Laughs]

Are you a reporter?

Me? No. Why?

'Cause Papa hates reporters.

He says they are

the lowest form of human life.

My name is Jeremy Taylor.

I'm an editor with Pearce Learner Publishing.

That's even worse.

He says that editors

don't even qualify as human life.

Oh.

- Well, it can't hurt to talk to him, can it?

- No. It could hurt very much.

The last editor who came here,

he chased down to the water with an ax.

Okay, well, I'll take my chances,

if you don't mind.

Okay, he's around the back.

In the cellar.

[Stammering] Excuse me.

I didn't catch your name.

Isabella.

[Bottles clinking]

Mr. Parish?

Mr. Parish.

My name is Jeremy Taylor,

I'm with Pearce Learner Publishing.

I have to say this is a great honor for me, sir.

[Speaking imaginary language]

What?

Yes, I know he's here. He's talking to me.

Can't you see he's talking to me?

Who are you talking to?

The king of the elfin realm.

The all-knowing little one.

We're having Spam for lunch.

Do you like Spam?

[Smacking lips] I like mine with raisins.

Um, you are Weldon Parish?

The writer?

[Laughing]

They say I am.

Were you looking for someone else?

Yes, I think I was.

[Weldon giggling]

[Weldon smacking lips]

Okay, okay.

Hold on a second.

Did you find him?

Yes, I found him.

What happened to him?

No one really knows.

His mind just broke.

That's why everybody protects him?

Is.

It's just such a waste.

I'm gonna check out

in the morning, if that's okay.

Bene.

[People chattering]

GUSTAVO:
He just came in.

No, he thinks you're completely crazy, Weldon.

He's leaving tomorrow, okay? Ciao, ciao.

[Oboe music playing]

[Birds chirping]

That was a pretty elaborate ploy

to get me to go away, don't you think?

Apparently it wasn't elaborate enough.

- Mr. Parish, I came a long way to see you.

- I didn't ask you to.

See ya.

Do you know what "go away" means?

All I'm asking for is a few minutes of your time.

[Squishing]

You're not going to go away, are you?

Uh, I'm sorry to be so persistent...

but nobody ever got anywhere

by taking no for an answer, right?

All right, make your pitch.

As I said before,

I'm with Pearce Learner Publishing...

a place where we pride ourselves

on being able to work with creative individuals.

We believe in bringing

the writer's vision to the page.

And as a writer myself,

I understand how important that is.

What do you write?

Well, I'm actually still working

on my first novel.

And, I don't even know if it's any good,

but I have always dreamed of being a writer.

And being a writer,

you think you can understand me?

- Well, yes.

- Well, you can't.

Actually, Mr. Parish,

I think if you were to give me...

Look, you made your pitch, I'm not interested.

- But I'm not finished.

- Yes, you are.

[Whistling]

That's Bruno.

Bruno dislikes strangers more than I do.

[Barking]

- Now would be a good time to start running.

- What?

Oh, my God. Oh, my God!

[Laughing]

[Thudding]

[Groaning]

[Cell phone ringing]

F***.

- Hello.

- Ah, Jeremy.

How's it going over there?

Hello, sir.

[Clicking tongue] Not well.

Well, did you meet him?

- Oh, yes. Yes, I met him.

- What's he like?

Hmm.

The word "unstable" comes to mind.

Well, show me an artist that isnt, eh?

Well, I think I can say

with a great deal of confidence...

that the man is not interested in writing.

Well, it is up to you to convince him.

I'm expecting results, Jeremy.

Jeremy?

Jeremy, are you there?

Yes, yes. Sorry, I'm still here,

but you know what? I've actually...

I've gotta run right now.

Can I call you back later?

Perfect. Thank you. Bye.

[Women chattering in Italian]

[Footsteps clattering]

WOMEN:
Ciao.

- Hi.

- Hi.

I heard about what happened this afternoon.

The dog. Yeah.

Yeah, your father's a very funny man.

I'm so sorry. I tried to warn you.

So, where are you going?

- I was actually just looking for a place to eat.

- Oh. Okay, well, there's only one place.

You would like that I take you?

- Yes. Yes, I would.

- Come.

Have you decided?

- No. We haven't seen the menus yet.

- There is no menu, only specials.

[People chattering]

Okay, then what are the specials?

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