The Man from Elysian Fields Page #4

I wasn't sure how much milk.

I usually don't make any one.

Doesn't your husband

like hot cocoa?

He has diabetes.

You seem so very young

to be married to someone like him.

It didn't matter at first...

but in the last couple of years,

you know...

I'm sure it's very tough on him,

being a writer.

-What would you know about that?

-I'm sort of a writer myself.

Really?

Yes, really.

Are you surprised?

Actually, no.

You're not the sort of man who'd be

satisfied taking lonely women around.

There's nothing lonelier than

watching the man you love slowly die.

"Death. The only immortal...

who treats us all alike, whose pity

and whose peace and whose refuge...

are for all."

-Very beautiful.

-Mark Twain.

The reality is less poetic.

Sorry.

Hello, darling. What are you

doing up so late?

I forgot to take my insulin shot.

I just went down to get it.

But you feel okay?

Yeah, I'm all right.

to meet Byron Tiller.

Byron?

Hello, sir.

-Byron's a writer, too.

-Is that a fact?

Yes, I write a little bit.

Certainly not in your league.

Well, at least that's comforting.

-Would you like some food?

-No, thanks, darling.

You just continue on

with what you're doing.

-It's an honor to meet you, sir.

-I'd say "the pleasure's all mine"...

but that would be foolish,

wouldn't it?

Good night.

Sh*t!

Byron Tiller...

you're simply inspiring.

-Morning.

-Good morning.

Did you sleep well?

Not a wink.

Neither did I. Seems we're

a couple of insomniacs.

Well, Lottie got me going

with some strong coffee.

Lottie, you shouldn't give him

a mug! He's not a tradesman.

I'm not hungry. Thank you.

It's not for you!

Mr. Allcott wants you to bring

him his breakfast.

Me? Why?

Well, it'll come up

in conversation.

Come in.

-Come in!

-I heard you typing, but...

I didn't want to disturb you at work.

Your breakfast is getting cold.

Well, it doesn't make any difference,

anyway. I'm not allowed to eat it.

A soft-boiled egg is all I get.

And the rest of it's just for show

so I don't feel deprived.

-It ends up in the dog's tray later.

-Yes, sir. Enjoy.

Did you have a good time last night?

It's quite all right.

She has my blessing.

A man should make sure

his wife is taken care of.

Any way he can.

Don't you agree?

-Yes, very much, sir.

-Perhaps it was a mistake...

marrying a woman

much younger than me, but...

I was very robust until

just a few years ago.

-I've heard all the stories, sir.

-0nly believe the outrageous ones.

I was blessed to live a life

without boundaries.

In the end...

only God gets to do that.

Genius should be afforded privileges

not handed out to ordinary men.

-You think I'm a genius?

-Yes, sir, I do.

Well, you're probably right.

But even that...

becomes more difficult with time.

You know, when I was your age...

ideas used to flow out of me.

Now I have to squeeze them like farts

before I can string them together.

-You're probably just in a slump.

-Slump?

A slump happens in the middle

of your life, not at the end of it.

-But you're working now.

-It took me 12 years to write that.

I was just going through,

tidying it up a bit...

killing all the

unnecessary adjectives.

-I can't wait for it to be published.

-Yes, I...

don't think I'll be able

to wait either.

All my organs turned against me.

These little bastards!

Would you like to read it?

-Really?

-You're a writer.

I'd like another

professional's opinion.

-My wife thinks it's wonderful.

-Yes.

But she is my wife, and you can

never trust a value system...

where true love is involved.

-What are you doing?

-Reading.

My editor gave me the latest

manuscript from Tobias Allcott.

-Is it any good?

-None of it is any good.

Then put it down

and pay attention to me!

It's about time a man spent time

with his wife instead of his editor.

You ready?

Yeah...

-What do you think?

-Very nice.

I spent a lot, but you need a suit

now that you're an important author.

-Where did you get the money?

-Daddy sent us US$ 1,000.

-Won't give more until you apologize.

-I'm not gonna apologize.

I told him it'd be a cold day in hell

until you did. Give him some time.

Now it says right...

here that it's made out

of 80% of the good stuff.

-Right.

-And only 20% of the cheaper fabric.

So you don't even notice.

And...

I had them put extra room

on the crotch.

Do you like it?

I told the salesman that it was for

a very important novelist...

that the Book of the Month Club

was after.

Dena, I told you...

that...

it's still in the talking stages.

-I'm sending out positive vibrations.

-I can see that.

Make love to me.

Tobias brought me here

on our first date.

How did you meet him?

I went to interview him at the

house, and I never left.

Must've been one

hell of an interview.

Tobias likes to have youth around

him. Says it keeps him young.

What were you gonna say?

It doesn't seem

to be working anymore.

His eyes are still young

when he looks at me.

I guess that's all that matters.

My husband says he's given you

a copy of the novel to read.

He doesn't usually do that.

He must think very highly of you.

He doesn't even know me.

What did you think?

-It's wonderful, right?

-The best thing he's ever written.

-Piece of sh*t, isn't it?

-Yes.

Will you do something for me?

Tell him.

-Tell him what?

-Tell him that it's no good.

-I can't do that.

-Well, then the critics will.

And it'll kill him. The only thing

he has left is his reputation.

And when he dies,

I want him holding onto it.

-I don't know.

-Please, Byron.

Mind if I sit down?

Mind if I don't stand up?

Nice ducks.

I think we're just...

contributing to...

their lackadaisical attitude.

Most people would like to come

back as a bird in their next life.

They don't know what they're talking

about. It's a miserable existence.

I mean, living on handouts...

and leftovers, for God's sake.

-I guess flying represents freedom.

-Birds don't know that.

Flying to them is work.

Unless, of course,

you're an eagle or a hawk.

Soaring. Soaring, though.

Soaring could be pleasurable.

-What would you like to come back as?

-I wouldn't.

I'll never have it better

than I did in this lifetime.

Never.

-Most people can't say that.

-Yeah, well...

doesn't make it

any easier leaving it.

We'll feed the ducks.

When I was working, I could still

feel that calling, you know?

And now that the book is finished...

I just can't find a reason

for me any longer.

Did you read it?

Yes, I did.

And?

It's wonderful.

For a first draft.

-Can't you take a little criticism?

-What do you mean, "a first draft"?

-What didn't you like about it?

-Can we just talk about this later?

It stinks, okay?

It stinks? It stinks?

The whole thing?

I can't get too specific at the moment.

I've got other things on my mind.

Jesus Christ.

Might have broken my nose.

Well, show me.

Show me!

Not your nose!

Come on!

All right, you just show me what's

wrong with what I've written.

-I don't want to bleed on it.

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