The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) Page #12

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had you over to our house

when you were in town,

I didn't hear from you afterwards.

Maybe it was because

Karen and I insulted you in some way

or Karen maybe had too much grappa?

No, it was nice.

I went back to L.A. I don't know.

Were you bored?

Most people find us interesting enough.

- We've had no complaints.

- It's nothing like that. It's just life.

It's not more than that.

Well, even in life,

you can make an effort.

Write an email on one of your phones.

- You say you feel guilt but...

- I'm here now!

I'm in f***ing rhinebeck.

I was just in pittsfield.

- I've been here.

- It shouldn't have come to that!

If dad survives, you'll go back to L.A.

And I'll be taking care of him

for a very long time!

- We'll all help out.

- No, we won't all.

It'll be me and Jean.

And mainly me.

- I'll come more often.

- You made your priorities clear.

I'm tired of apologizing for doing well!

Ptolemy always asked me

why you never talked dad's work up

to your wealthy clients.

He says you could be really helpful.

It's all about perception.

Now, dad's a good artist, you know.

There's no reason

he's not as well-known as l.J.

Maybe it's not my responsibility

to help dad, maybe that.

- No, it's what you do.

- Hey, and also, maybe he's not so great.

Maybe he's undiscovered for a reason,

maybe that.

Truth is, we don't know, Danny,

because we were brainwashed.

Why are you so angry at him anyways?

He loves everything you do.

Oh, does he? He doesn't tell me that.

He tells me!

I should be the one who's angry at him!

I should hate him... for treating me

and Jean like second-class citizens!

Then why don't you? You should.

Listen, you and Jean

are gonna get some money.

We got a great deal on the house

and all the art,

and I'm gonna give you both my share.

It doesn't make up for everything,

but you guys really deserve this.

Dad said this was a family discussion.

Wait, did this happen already?

Yes, it's done.

No, he told me we'd decide together!

And you do this

when he can't say anything?

He told me, Matt! You weren't there!

If we didn't do something,

we'd be spending the next few years

throwing his work into dumpsters.

This way we get something for it.

I don't care about the money. That house,

that work means something to me!

You should embrace this.

I should be the one who cares.

I grew up there, it's my house.

I should care.

- Then why don't you?

- Because I don't know.

You're probably right, I should care,

but this makes sense.

How could you do this to him?

Who could even dream up such a plan?

Me! It's what I do for a living.

Ptolemy says you guys

make yourself indispensable

- to vulnerable rich people.

- Tell me more about my business.

I really want to know what you,

or dad, or f***ing ptolemy thinks

about what I do every day for a living.

You kicked me in the shin!

I was disappointed in you

for quitting piano.

What the f*** is wrong with you?

I know it's hard! It's hard for all of us!

Get it together!

You are doing with Tony

just what dad did with me and Jean!

We want to thank bard for making

this show happen

and thank many of you for making the trip.

My dad, and I'm sure every artist involved

in this show, would be really pleased.

My father was a teacher here for 33 years,

so this is particularly special for him.

And... this piece is special for me

as it's called "Matthew."

My father tells a story

of how this piece came to be.

How I would sit

on the hardwood floor of his studio,

getting nails in my ass and...

Hand him tools and make suggestions.

And he would let me help,

or let me think I was helping.

And when it was done,

he'd said we'd made it together...

Even though I don't remember it.

But, uh...

I remember...

That feeling of being very proud.

You know, of wanting to...

Be an artist like my dad.

And that was a good way to feel.

I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm, uh...

I've just been angry at him

for so much of my adult life.

[Crying]

I guess I was trying to outrun him...

But I didn't.

I'm still his son.

And...

I've given away his life's work.

I'm sorry.

And if...

If dad doesn't make it,

he and I aren't okay.

We never got to be okay.

- Danny, do you want to say a few words?

- Yes. Thank you, Matthew.

No, I was giving it to you.

Okay.

[Humming]

[Jean] why don't you sit here?

You'll have to bear with me.

I'm not a good speaker,

and also, I've never done it.

It's something I've gone

through great pains to avoid.

When I used to perform music

in front of an audience,

it was too excruciating.

The... reward wasn't...

It just wasn't worth the self-hatred.

Not to mention,

unlike my brother Matthew...

I find this particular piece

to be painful,

because it was during a time

I wasn't really speaking with my dad.

He had just left my mom, and Jean, and me

and remarried Matthew's mother,

whom we really did not like.

Again, unlike Matt,

I was not included

in the art-making process.

It was not mine, too.

This piece isn't called "Danny."

In fact, there are no Dannys.

[Jean] or jeans.

[Danny chuckles] Uh...

Um...

Yeah.

Hey, some of you know my father

is in a hospital in pittsfield right now.

And we don't know how that's going to go.

Our doctor's in China,

- and the only really good nurse we had...

- Excuse me.

Just got reassigned

to a different floor.

Maybe...

Maybe I need to believe

my dad was a genius

because I don't want his life

to be worthless.

And... if he isn't a great artist,

that means he was just a prick.

But I think the work's good.

I think it deserved

more attention than it got.

I think that's true. Matt?

I wish he had more success,

because that would've made

his life easier,

even if that kind of thing doesn't

ultimately mean much.

I don't know. L.J.?

I don't know either.

If I did, I'd tell you.

Also, I'm really proud of my daughter,

Eliza, who's a freshman here.

And really, a talented filmmaker.

Whoo!

Thank you...

How are you feeling?

Wow, look at this.

- I love your hair.

- Thanks. Robin cut it.

- I wish I had the guts to do it.

- Oh, hey, Robin.

- Do it! Robin will do it right now!

- I've got scissors in my bag.

Okay.

How's the hip?

I'm bionic now.

That's a reference for Jean only.

I know what bionic is.

- I don't.

- It's a show.

You taught me well.

[Eliza] with a head full of dreams

and a backpack filled with candy,

I set out on my journey.

Sometimes when you least expect it...

Are you going my way?

You may meet a new friend. Slap!

Slap! Slap!

[Growls]

Boing.

- Jean, that's you with the rabbit.

- You're gonna miss it.

Kiss. Slap.

Something changed inside me that day.

The end?

Jean, you were so good.

- She's got real chops.

- I was well-edited.

That's wonderful, honey.

I don't know that I've seen

a sex scene shot quite like that before.

I used deliberately

very harsh, direct light.

I wanted to appear very unattractive.

Wonderful mise-en-scne.

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