The Only Living Boy in New York Page #6

---

- that you don't know that...

- Thomas, don't.

- Don't.

- That you need to know.

Johanna.

You two know each other?

Yeah.

What?

Well, Ethan,

the thing is, is that...

He followed me.

You followed her?

That's not all I did.

I'm sorry, I...

I don't understand.

We slept together.

And not just once.

What?

You slick little sh*t, you!

- I did right by you!

- No, relax!

- You have no idea!

- Relax!

You have no idea!

Oh.

Oh.

I deserve you.

I'm sorry.

We're all sorry, Thomas.

I really do love him.

And he did right by you.

More than you know.

Good-bye, Thomas.

Did you finish it?

I did.

Tell me about it.

Tell me about "the only

living boy in New York."

Uh, well...

It's about three people...

artists...

And great friends.

One of them is

a beautiful young girl.

The other two...

One artist has talent,

the other doesn't.

You know,

no matter how hard he tries,

and no matter

how badly he wants it,

he just...

Well, he wasn't kissed by god

in that way.

But he has the girl.

Yes. And they're married,

and they plan

to start a family.

Only they have

a little problem.

He's infertile.

And they ask

their talented friend for help?

Yeah, you have a knack

for a story, Thomas.

I get it from my father.

Uh-huh.

So...

So, they're artists, and they

don't want to use in vitro,

so they go with

a cheap bottle of cabernet

and, uh, some quaaludes

and a Simon & Garfunkel record,

and the three of them decide...

And-and... the husband's

okay with that?

Well, th-they want to use

somebody that they know,

somebody that they love.

Well, and, of course,

the artist with the talent,

he's, uh, he's flattered,

and, of course, he agrees.

And, uh, he and the...

The beautiful girl...

they...

Uh, they walk the city streets

that night...

For hours.

They're both so damn nervous.

And they end up

at Washington square park...

where they dance...

Uh... to no music.

And the rest comes easy.

And does he love her?

Yeah, he... he does. Mm.

In that moment,

he realizes he does.

Uh, so it turns out that...

That the beautiful girl,

she gives birth

to a wonderful son,

and her husband gives up art,

becomes a very successful

art dealer.

And the other artist?

He watches the boy grow

from afar, huh?

Sees his own talent alive

in this child.

He so desperately wants

to connect with his son...

And tell him everything.

And nurture

his talent, you know?

But, of course,

he never does make contact.

Until...

Until he decides

to make it all his next book.

It's okay.

Mom.

Thomas.

What did he tell you?

Everything.

You here looking for razors?

Empty pill bottles?

Sit down.

What do you know, Thomas?

I know...

I know why you carry

so much guilt.

I know that I...

Already forgive you.

I know you're in love

with someone

you haven't seen

in over 25 years.

And you go to riverside park

every day to read his books.

I know.

I know, and it's okay.

- Who told you?

- He did.

Julian. W.F.

Whatever you want to call him.

Is he dying?

He's not dying.

- No?

- Don't worry, he's not dying.

He's fine. He's just...

I don't know, he's tired.

Think he's lonely.

It was my idea

not to tell you, not Ethan's.

- You have to know that.

- Okay.

You were trying to protect me.

Yes, and...

And I knew that

if you found out,

he would

come back into my life,

and then everything

would go to sh*t.

Well, everything went to sh*t

on its own, so...

Yeah, I guess.

Is he old?

He's messy.

Yeah, he always was.

An unmade bed of a man.

"An unmade bed of a man."

I like that.

You should.

Your father wrote it.

We're closed.

I'm sorry, I thought

i locked the door.

- Hey.

- Hey.

I'll be quick.

I know what book I want.

Sure.

Hmm.

What'd you think?

Serviceable.

You're lying

to make me feel good.

Character that surprised me

the most was the father.

Which one?

The one that didn't run away.

Whatever happened to Mimi?

She's still in Croatia.

She got a fellowship.

I don't think

she's coming back.

Oh.

Did you hear back from viking?

Yeah, it was a pass.

I'm sorry.

You want me to make

a few phone calls?

No.

I want to start something new.

I ha... have an idea.

Well, that's good.

You still speaking to Johanna?

No.

- You lying to me?

- Yeah.

- How's your mother?

- She's good.

She quit smoking.

Started writing

for artnews again.

- That's good.

- Yeah.

She has a date tonight.

Oh, good for her.

Truly.

"The best lack all conviction,

while the worst are full of

passionate intensity."

Yeats said that,

but so did Lou Reed.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote