The Last Five Years Page #2

I... Jamie... Jamie, wait!

Did I just hear an alarm start ringing?

Did I see sirens go flying past?

Though I don't know

what tomorrow's bringing

I've got a singular impression

Things are moving too fast

I'm gliding smooth as a figure skater

I'm riding hot as a rocket blast

I just expected it ten years later

I've got a singular impression

Things are moving too fast

And you say "Oh, no, step on the brakes

Do whatever it takes,

but stop this train

Slow, slow, the light's turning red"

But I say "No, no,

Whatever I do I barrel on through

and I don't complain"

No matter what I try

I'm flying full speed ahead

I'm never worried to walk the wire

I won't do anything just half-assed

But with the stakes

getting somewhat higher

I've got a singular impression

That things are moving too fast

I found a woman I love

And I found an agent who loves me

He's like a young Jonathan Franzen.

Things might get bumpy

But some people analyze every detail

Some people stall

when they can't see the trail

Some people freeze out of fear

that they'll fail

But I keep rolling on

Some people can't find

success with their art

Some people never feel

love in their heart

Some people can't tell

the two things apart

But I keep rolling on

Oh, oh

Maybe I can't follow through

But oh, oh

What else am I supposed to do?

Ooh

Hey, Mike, it's Cathy.

Yeah, how are you?

Um, yeah, no, just two quick things.

I'm not going to talk your ear off.

I just wanted to know if you got

the reviews that I sent you

from last summer?

Thank you. Yeah, it's really exciting.

No, the second thing was just...

...if you have anything

you want to send me in on,

I'm sort of suddenly...

free this summer,

I'm, like, available, so...

Yes.

Yeah, as soon as I'm doing something

in the city, I'll let you know.

OK. No, no, no, no, I understand.

OK, thanks.

That wasn't...

that wasn't too painful, was it?

Right. OK.

OK. Bye, Mike.

OK, ladies.

Uh... Mariah, Taylor, Rachel,

Lauren and Sophia.

Follow me to the dance audition.

And everyone else, thank you very much.

I dreamed of writing

like the high and mighty

Now I'm the subject of a bidding war

I met my personal Aphrodite

I'm doing things

I never dreamed of before

We start to take the next step together

Found an apartment on 73rd

The Atlantic Monthly's

printing my first chapter

Two thousand bucks

without rewriting one word

I left Columbia and I don't regret it

I wrote a book and Sonny Mehta read it

My heart's been stolen

My ego's swollen

I just keep rolling along

Oh

Oh, yeah

And I think "Well, well,

what else is in store?"

Got all this and more before 24

It's hard not to be sure

I'm spinning out of control

Out of control

I'm feeling panicked

and rushed and hurried

I'm feeling outmaneuvered and outclassed

But I'm so happy I can't get worried

About this singular impression

I've got a singular impression

Things are moving too fast

Hi, can I help you?

Yes, hi. I'm looking for Alise Michaels.

- Mr. Wellerstein.

- Yes.

Hey, I'm Dade, Alise's assistant.

- Let me show you the way.

- Oh, great.

- Hi.

- Hello. Hi. Jamie.

- Jamie Wellerstein.

- Alise Michaels.

It is an absolute pleasure to meet you.

- Wow, this is great.

- Have a seat.

Would you like a glass of water?

Yes. Thank you so much for having me.

Everyone in the office

is absolutely thrilled to meet you.

Everybody has been so nice,

from just walking in the door.

- Everyone's a huge fan of the book.

- This is beautiful.

- I've never even been this high up.

- It's a great office. Yes, thank you.

That's great. Thank you.

One day we're just like

Leave It To Beaver

One day it's just a typical life

And then he's off on

a trip to Jamie-land

Staring catatonic out the window

Barely even breathing all the while

And then he'll smile

His eyes light up

and deep within the ground

Without a sound

A moment comes to life

And I'm a part of that

I'm a part of that

Next day it's just like

it never happened

We're making dinners

We're making plans

Then he gets on the

mule train to Jamie-land

Handful after handful of Doritos

Circling the apartment, Logging miles

And then he smiles

His eyes light up

And how can I complain?

Yes, he's insane

But look what he can do

And I'm a part of that

I'm a part of that

And it's true

I tend to follow in his stride

Instead of side by side

I take his cue

True

But there's no question,

there's no doubt

I said I'd stick it out

And follow through

And when I do

Then he smiles

And where else can I go?

I didn't know

The rules do not apply

And then he smiles

And nothing else makes sense

While he invents

The world that's passing by

And I'm a part of that

I'm a part of that

I'm a part of that

Aren't I?

I'm a part of that

Hey. How are you doing, babe?

You did...

Not a very good day at the bar?

I'm sorry. Did you at least,

get some good tips?

Get any...

- Sh*t!

- Oh.

You look really nice.

Hey... are you working

on anything tonight?

- Like what?

- You know, your photos? The dress?

Like... Don't you have

an audition or something

later this week that

you need to get ready for?

- I'm not going.

- Why?

Because, I'm not going to get it.

Oh, come on, did you call

your agent or anything?

- He's on a retreat.

- Retreat?

What the hell is an agent retreat?

I don't know. They go into the woods

and sacrifice actresses

to breed more agents.

- That's frightening, Cathy.

- I don't make them do it.

Hey, no, look, I have prepared

a little surprise for you

in the form of the story.

- No, baby, please.

- Come on.

- No, I've had such a shitty day.

- No, listen...

I've literally been doing this for hours,

so you're going to sit up

for, like, five minutes and listen, OK?

You know, if I had known

there were going to be this many stories,

- I wouldn't have ever dated a writer.

- Well, too late.

You're going to like it. I promise.

It's a Christmas story.

You like Christmas.

I call it the Story of Schmuel,

the Tailor of Klimovich.

Schmuel would work till half-past ten

At his tailor shop in Klimovich

Get up at dawn and start again

With the hems and pins and twist

Are you going to touch my dress right now?

Forty-one years had come and gone

At his tailor shop in Klimovich

Watching the winters soldier on

There was one thing Schmuel missed

Are you ready for this?

"If I only had time" old Schmuel said

"I would build

the dress that's in my head

A dress to fire the mad desire

Of girls from here to Minsk

But I have no more hours left to sew"

Then the clock upon the wall

began to glow

And the clock said

"Na na na na, na na na

Oh, Schmuel you'll get to be happy

Na na na na, na na na

I give you unlimited time"

- It's a magical clock.

- I've never been more attracted to you.

"So Schmuel

Go sew and be happy"

But Schmuel said

"No, no, it's not my lot

I've gotta make do

with the time I've got

Oh, look at the time. It's time to go.

Rate this script:4.0 / 2 votes