The Man from Elysian Fields Page #5

-My blood is on every page.

Now goddamn it, you tell me

what's wrong with it.

-You know why you're a great writer?

-I thought we agreed it was genius.

That helps. But it's the characters

that you actually write about.

They are so real that the reader

actually feels their flesh.

-Thank you.

-Yes, but this is 800 pages...

on the fall of the Roman Empire,

for God's sakes!

-It's well researched.

-Who cares?

Goddamned! Who the f*** are you

to criticize my work?

-I am nobody.

-Yes. Exactly.

But a nobody can still be right.

Wait a second.

Are you supposed to be drinking?

No, I'm not. My doctor says it'll

kill me. Let's hope he's right.

Look, I'm not saying that what

you have here is not great.

-What are you saying it, then?

-You might've taken a wrong approach.

What is the main theme you actually

wanted to write the book about?

That every social structure makes

slaves out of one group or another.

-That's terrific!

-Thank you for your approval.

So what do you need

Roman slaves for?

-What's wrong with them?

-Nobody can identify with them.

just wasted 12 years of my life?

-No!

-What, then?

Prove that with another oppressed

group. There's enough to pick from.

This could be the greatest novel

that you ever wrote.

I already thought it was.

You just gotta get rid of the Roman

slaves and find yourself another...

microcosm.

Blacks?

Jews?

Homosexuals?

Who, then?

Migrant workers.

Migrant workers.

Migrant workers?

Son of a b*tch!

When did you get contacts?

The editor said that...

the glasses, they're probably what

hurt the sales of Hitler's Child.

I thought he said that

about the goatee.

He sprung for the contacts because

glasses make me look intellectual...

and scare people off. Nobody wants

to read a book and look up a word...

Why don't you just take a picture

without the glasses on?

I guess maybe the public appearances.

I know you like them. If you want...

Not really. I just liked you

with all your defects.

You wanted to see me?

You know when I was here last?

No.

Neither do I.

Beautiful, isn't it?

Makes you feel

as if anything's possible.

You know,

I was a bit of a child prodigy.

-Played Mozart by the time I was 7.

-Really?

Not the same as being Mozart, but

it's not bad for a start, isn't so?

What happened?

I grew up.

Wolfgang never stood a chance.

I'm finding that regrets

don't do a person much good.

You know, Byron,

this is a tricky business.

You're very lucky to have

a wife and family.

Don't let their love slip

through your fingers.

Do you know why

I brought you here?

No, my darling, why?

This is where I took you

on our first date.

-No, it isn't.

-Well, the location is the same.

They tore the restaurant down.

LA is a tough place

to be romantic in.

You do all right.

You remember that new guy

I was telling you about?

I cut a deal for him that'll bring in

more money than I've seen in years.

That's wonderful, darling!

-And I've been thinking...

-I love when you think. It's so sexy.

Not using success to enrich your life

is to put failure into Gucci shoes.

-I don't know what you mean. Thanks.

-No, let me get this one.

Thank you.

Here.

What's this?

It's the check I made out

to you last month.

I don't want it.

You're the only woman, in 30 years,

I felt I could be myself with.

I don't want your money anymore.

I just want you.

I don't understand.

I want you to leave your husband.

I want to marry you.

You must be out of your mind.

Why the hell would I do that?

Here, take this back!

What the hell are you thinking

about? Come on, let's go.

You're silly.

That was a good one!

Very nice. This is wonderful.

You eat like this every night?

Thank you.

Not every night.

Tonight's a celebration.

Welcome to the family.

And I must say, it was a most

generous offer. I thank you.

Well, I don't know

how much time I have left.

But I wanna spend it seeing

my beautiful wife happy.

-I'll certainly do whatever I can.

-No. You'll do whatever she wants.

Right.

-Darling, you should tell him.

-Yes, darling.

So Byron...

I'm going to need

your help, too.

-0kay.

-With my book.

-Any suggestions I can offer...

-No, I don't want any suggestions.

They'll only annoy me.

I want you to help me to rewrite it.

Yeah, okay.

-You mean, like... together?

-You won't be sitting on my lap.

No. I like your ideas.

Andrea seems to...

trust you. And Luther says

that you're a Yale man.

Well, you can't be all bad.

-Co-authorship.

-Co-authorship?

My name next to...

...next to your name?

-Possibly in the same letter case.

-Byron, what are we doing here?

-Acclimating.

Acclimating. We're even gonna have

your father over for dinner.

-Follow me.

-This is crazy.

How can we afford this?

Tobias Allcott wants

to write with me.

With me.

Dance with me.

Let's put him in a zoot suit.

Hello, Byron.

I was out last night with a woman

who had me sucking on her toes.

-Does this look normal to you?

-Cold sore.

There should be places on a person

where they don't want company.

Guess what new words Nathaniel

learned today?

-What?

-What the hell happened to my daddy?

-That's not funny.

-It wasn't meant to be.

-I just need to finish this chapter.

-You can do it tomorrow.

-You gotta spend some time with us.

-Dena, I need a few minutes.

-Byron, please.

-Don't you understand what I'm doing?

-Believe me, I've been trying.

-I just need some time.

-This is our big break!

-We were fine with the little breaks!

Do you think that I enjoy

having to do it this way?

How many chances happen in

a lifetime? lf there is one, grab it.

Even if you hate

everything that comes with it!

And I hate this! I hate it!

But I'm doing it for you!

I'm doing it for Nathaniel!

Who is it?

-Thanks, darling. They're beautiful.

-Are you feeling okay?

Tired.

You need to get some sleep.

I'm only tired when my eyes are open.

When they're closed, I just feel...

scared.

Where are you going?

-I'm going to the office to see...

-No, you can work later.

That's the problem.

I can't work.

When I think, it's like walking

into an empty room.

If there's anything good

filling the pages...

...it's because of him.

-Don't talk like that.

They say the saddest thing

is to outlive your children.

My talent was my child.

You're weary.

You have no respect

for the truth. None.

It's what I love most about you.

Well done. Well done.

I haven't heard any laughing.

What's wrong with her? There's

some funny stuff in there.

Yeah, well...

she seldom laughs out loud

when she's reading.

It's her only imperfection.

You know, Andrea is

the only one of them...

who I believe

ever loved me completely.

She overlooked my faults...

and I'm sorry she did.

If she hadn't, I probably would have

done something about them.

Be careful of women who love you

just the way you are.

It's a sure sign they

settle too easily.

It's...

wonderful.

Thank you, darling.

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