The Hours Page #2

I thought I lost all my friends.

I thought I drove

my friends crazy.

Jesus.

Oh, Mrs. Dalloway,

always giving parties

to cover the silence.

Richard...

You won't need to do anything.

All you have to do is appear,

sit on the sofa.

And I will be there.

This is a group of people

who want to tell you

your work is going to live.

Oh, is it?

Is my work going to live?

I can't go through with it,

Clarissa.

Oh... Why do you say that?

- I can't.

- Why?

Because I wanted

to be a writer, that's all.

So?

I wanted to write about it all.

Everything that happens

in a moment.

The way the flowers looked

when you carried them

in your arms.

This towel, how it... smells,

how it feels.

This thread.

All our feelings,

yours and mine.

The history of it,

who we once were.

Everything in the world.

Everything all mixed up...

like it's all mixed up now.

And I failed.

I failed.

No matter what you start with,

it ends up being so much less.

Sheer f***ing pride...

and stupidity.

We want everything, don't we?

I suppose we do.

You kissed me on a beach.

Yeah.

Do you remember...

how many years ago?

Of course.

What did you want then?

Come closer.

I'm right here.

Come closer, would you, please?

Take my hand.

Would you be angry?

Would I be angry

if you didn't show up

at the party?

Would you be angry if I died?

If you died?

Who is this party for?

What do you mean, who's it for?

What are you asking?

What are you trying to say?

I'm not trying to say anything.

Mm.

I'm saying...

I think I'm only staying alive

to satisfy you.

Well...

so that is what we do.

That is what people do.

They stay alive for each other.

And the doctors told you,

you-you don't need to die.

They told you that.

You can... live

like this for years.

Well, exactly.

I don't accept this.

I don't accept what you say.

Oh.

And it's for you

to decide, is it?

How long have you been

doing that?

How many years?

Coming to the apartment.

What about your own life?

What about Sally?

Just wait till I die.

Then you'll have to think

of yourself.

How are you going to like that?

Richard...

it would be great

if you did come to the party,

if you felt

well enough to come.

Just to let you know,

I am making the crab thing.

Not that I imagine

it makes any difference to you.

Of course,

it makes a difference.

I love the crab thing.

Clarissa?

Yes?

I'll be back at 3:30,

and I'll help you

get dressed.

Wonderful.

Wonderful.

"It's on this day,

"this day of all days...

her fate becomes clear

to her."

Excuse me, Mrs. Woolf.

Mr. Woolf said I was to come

and speak with you.

I've nearly finished, Nelly.

You can tell me in the kitchen.

I'll be down very soon.

Hmm.

What happens is,

she says she wants something,

and then it turns out

she doesn't.

Well, she never does, does she?

She never wants anything.

Mm-hmm.

Especially when she's

particularly after it.

That's a sure sign.

I wish I'd been there.

I wish you had, too.

Did you give her that look?

That sort of look you do?

I said, "Madam..."

Yes, Nelly, tell me.

How can I help?

It's about lunch.

I just had

to go ahead on my own.

I understand.

You chose a pie?

I chose a lamb pie.

That seems suitable.

You being so busy

with your writing...

I had no instructions.

You do remember

that my sister is coming

at 4:
00 with the children?

Yes, ma'am.

I hadn't forgotten.

China tea, I think.

And ginger.

Ginger, Madam?

I'd like

to give the children a treat.

We'd have to go to London

for ginger, Madam.

I haven't finished this,

and there's the rest

of lunch

to get ready.

The 12:
30 train, Nelly,

will get you

into London just after 1:00.

If you return on the 2:30,

you should be back in Richmond

soon after 3:
00.

Do I miscalculate?

No.

Well, then, is something

detaining you, Nelly?

I can't think of anything

more exhilarating

than a trip to London.

- Good morning, Mrs. Woolf.

- Good morning.

We shall publish

no more new authors.

I have to tell you,

I've discovered ten errors

in the first proof.

Lucky to have found them then.

"Passiondale was a...

"charnel house

from which no min returned."

Do you think it's possible that

bad writing actually

attracts a higher

incidence of error?

If it's all right, I thought

I might take a short walk.

Not far?

No. Just for air.

Go then.

If I could walk midmorning,

I'd be a happy man.

She'll die.

She's going to die.

That's what's going to happen.

Huh.

That's it.

She'll kill herself.

She'll kill herself

over something

which doesn't seem to matter.

Let's think.

You grease the pan, Mommy.

I know you grease the pan,

sweet one.

Even Mommy knows that.

This is what we're going to do.

Flour...

bowl...

sifter.

Can I do it, Mommy?

Can you sift the flour?

Yes, you can sift the flour,

baby,

if that's what makes you happy.

Yeah.

Isn't it beautiful?

Don't you think

it looks like snow?

Hmm?

Okay.

Now, the next thing...

The next thing I'm going

to show you... uh, is...

we measure out the cups.

Mommy, it isn't that difficult.

Now, I know.

I know it isn't difficult.

It's just that I...

I just want to do this

for Daddy.

Because it's his birthday?

That's right.

We're baking the cake

to show him

that we love him.

Otherwise he won't know

we love him?

That's right.

I got all the stuff.

I'm going right out again.

My God, what a zoo!

Why do people have to talk

about dry cleaning?

I mean, what is there

to talk about?

I bought you some flowers.

Where are you?

In here.

I got someone at work

to cover me.

I'll be with you all night.

Are you all right?

Sure.

I guess you saw Richard.

That's right.

Well, of course.

I bet he said,

"Oh, by the way,

honey, do you mind?

Can I skip the party?"

Don't worry.

He always shows up.

Oh, sure.

In the end.

What, Richard miss an award?

A chance to talk about his work.

I don't think so.

He'll show up.

You did the seating.

I did.

I don't believe it...

Louis Waters.

Is Louis coming?

Richard's Louis?

He is.

You put him next to me.

Why do I always have

to sit next to the exes?

Is this some kind of a hint,

sweetheart?

And, anyway, shouldn't

the exes have a table

of their own,

where they can all ex together

in ex-quisite agony?

I'm off.

Try not to pass out

from excitement.

Clarissa...

it's going to be beautiful.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Why is everything wrong?

It didn't work.

Damn it!

It didn't work.

Hey, Scott.

Hi, Mrs. Barlowe.

Mommy, Mommy, there's

someone at the door!

Hello?

Hello? Laura?

Hi, Kitty.

Hi. Am I interrupting?

Oh, of course not. Come in.

Are you all right?

Why, sure.

Hi, Richie.

Sit down.

I've got coffee on.

Um, would you like some?

Please.

Oh, look.

You made a cake.

I know.

Didn't work.

I thought it was going to work.

I thought

it would work better than that.

Oh, Laura, I don't understand

why you find it so difficult.

I don't know either.

Anyone can make a cake.

I know.

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