as he is always conferring with the cameraman through his translator.
How were they? How were the dailies.
You forget, sir. I'm not a film student, hence, a Poor judge.
I study business, and as an investment, sir, I wouldn't invest...
[SPeaking Chinese]
He says he cannot understand what it is you're trying to do, sir.
- He thinks it's very odd. - Well, how were the Performances?
I wouldn't know, sir. But you could hear them, right?
Or is your hearing faculty breaking down as well?
My hearing is fine. But are they making too many faces or...
What about the scenes where there's no dialogue? how's the action?
Well, I understand the actions, but that's because I've read the scriPt.
But, sir, I must confess... Be careful. The stePs.
There is a strong sense of, um, incoherence.
- Incoherence? That's great. - Incoherence.
That's exactly what I'm going for, is incoherence.
- Well, how were they? - I'm haPPy. They were great.
Which take was best of the robbery scene?
- The last one. - The first one.
The first Part of the last one...
is better than the last Part of the first...
but the middle take's Probably the most overall.
I-I smell magic here.
- How's it going? - It seems to be going all right?
He sPends a lot of time conferring with his cameraman through the translator...
and that takes time, but I got my foot on the Pedal.
- Pedal to the metal. - Well, Put him on, will you?
- Oh, yeah. I'll find him. - Hey, Carol.
Send some flowers to Haley Joel Osment with a card.
You know, "Congratulations on your Lifetime AchievementAward."
It's Ellie. She wants to talk to you.
Oh, El... Mm-hmm.
Oh, oh. Uh... Hello?
Hi. I hear it's going Pretty well.
Oh, yes, as far as I can see.
Well, good. Listen. I'm gonna come in next week...
maybe take a look at some dailies?
- No, I wouldn't do that. - I've stayed away for the first half of the film.
I sort of...
Well, nobody sees my dailies excePt myself and the cameraman.
- That's our deal. - Well, you used to always ask my oPinion on the dailies.
Those days are over, honey. That was when you were a sharP New Yorker.
You know, anyone with an herbalist doesn't see my dailies.
[Andrea's Voice] As filming reaches the halfway mark...
rumor has it that Sharon Bates, the leading lady...
has developed a crush on Val Waxman.
He seems to resist personal contact with anyone...
- [Knocking At Door] - but today she insisted he visit her dressing room.
Excuse me. Uh, I'll see you later. We'll discuss it, okay?
- Yes. Don't go far. - Okay. I'll be right here.
So, I understand that you wanted to talk about something with me.
Can I be frank?
Oh, yes. Of course.
I'm having a real Problem working with you.
Problem working with me? Why?
Well, uh, I feel something...
unsPoken has, um...
has develoPed between us.
Something developed between us? Like... Like what?
Well, it might be my imagination, but...
the way you look at me, it's like you're making love to me with your eyes.
My eyes?
Look, I'm a very direct Person.
When I start having feelings about someone, I don't hold back.
You know, I thought we were... gonna discuss the character.
I thought maybe you were having trouble getting into the role or something.
Am I... Am I making you nervous?
Ah...
N-No. You know, I've had a tough day out there.
A lot of tough decisions, and... and so...
I'm, you know, a little frazzled maybe, but I'm fine.
- Come here. - Just,you know...
Come here. Why don't you sit on the sofa with me.
- The-The sofa? -Just for a minute. Yeah.
- [Thud, Clatter] - Oh, oh, really?
Oh, uh, the sofa. The sofa. Yes, okay.
The sofa. I just...
I really want your full attention.
The sofa's fine.
So, so...
Oh, I don't need a throw Pillow. I'm comfortable.
If I trust a director to direct me...
I trust him to make love to me.
Oh, well, just let me say this.
I'm a big believer in that, but... but not while I'm working...
because I never like to mix business with Pleasure.
Because I'm, you know... I'm a dedicated artist...
and like a TraPPist monk, I feel the best way to do a good Picture...
is to abstain till the shooting is over...
because, you know, I-I-I-I... it's my adoration of the cinema.
Cinema is a... is a jealous mistress...
and-and-and so I'm... I, you know, I'm...
That's just the way I am. But we can table our...
- We can wait till after the shooting's over... - What are you doing?
Me? Oh, oh, oh, when I... when I...
when I feel emotionally moved in some way...
some PeoPle smoke... I fondle walls.
- I understand comPletely. - It's just a crazy...
- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to uPset you. - No, I'm not uPset.
- This haPPens on the set. - I just... If I act...
If I act with a fine director like yourself...
there's nothing I wouldn't do sexually for him.
Oh, well, you should take a full-Page ad in the D.G.A. magazine stating that...
because you'll never stoP working then.
Um, is it Possible to oPen the door for me?
All the heavy breathing has steamed my glasses and I'm-I'm-I'm...
Am I close? [Chuckles] Yes.
So we'll talk again like this. Thank you.
Al? Al?
[Man] This time is different.
[Woman] What do you mean?
This time it's my father.
Johnny! Your father!
- You can't kill your father! - They want him dead! What am I suPPosed to do?
- But he's your father! - I'm doing my job.
- Aah! - You get ahold of yourself.
- He's got it coming like anybody else. - This is great. This is great.
That's exactly where it should be.
No. If you Put the camera there, it's the wrong direction.
The audience will think she's looking at the wall, not her lover.
I know screen geograPhy.
- Chan, am I right? Is that where it should be? - [SPeaking Chinese]
[Chinese]
He never understands what the hell you're trying to do, sir.
Uh, believe me, I know. But leave the camera where it is.
[Andrea] He's a genius.
Yes.
His style.
The way he shoots. It's so...
unconventional.
Really?
Was he difficult to live with?
Sometimes.
As the second missus...
did you consider yourself a young troPhy wife?
Andrea, I thought this wasn't a gossiP Piece.
Oh, no. I'm just curious how you two met.
- At the Golden Globes. - Oh.
I was there with a date, and I thought it was interesting...
that when he won he thanked his urologist.
Next time, try and warn me before I fall.
I was trying to tell you, but the journalist was around...
Hey. Gosh, are you okay? That was something.
It's nothing. Just a fractured skull.
Listen. You wanna grab a bite?
I can't. Al's meeting me. I got a very imPortant business meeting.
But I told you I wanted you to set aside some time...
- so that we could discuss things... - It's not easy for me.
I got a lot of meetings and imPortant things to do.
How about a drink later then?
I can't... Maybe after the shooting.
I don't know. It's tough for me.
Could you... I'm sorry. Could I just get a moment with him alone?
Thanks very much.
You've been avoiding me since I got in. Why?
How am I avoiding you? I let you see the dailies.
You saw some of them. You made no comment whatsoever.
Well, you know. I mean, I'm not a director.
I mean, I, um...
Personally, I had some... difficulty making sense out of'em.
But I assume that once they're all cut together... You know what you want.
They'lljust be great. They're fi... I like them.
So then why are you avoiding me?
I'm not avoiding you, for God's sakes.
I-I, you know... I'm busy. I got, you know... I got a lot on my mind.
Is it about the ring?
The ring? The ring?
Don't Pretend that you don't see it.
- I know how you are on the subject of Hal and me. - No, no.
Hey, your ring is beautiful.
I-I-I love the shaPe of it...
and I think it's Probably exPensive, knowing Hal.
- I'm not wearing it. - I know you're not wear...
- You know, because... - I knew you weren't wearing it...
I thought it might be what's accounting for your strange behavior.
My behavior's fine. Everybody's commenting on my behavior.
Remember when we got married and we didn't have time to get a ring...
and I had to go get that thing in the novelty shoP?
I got that ring that squirted water as a Practicaljoke.
Well, little did I know that our marriage would turn out to be God's Practicaljoke.
Well, you certainly stayed in it long enough.
Hey, inertia accounts for two-thirds of the marriages in America.
Yeah, but the other third is love.
You know, I think we should just stick...
to talking about the filming the last couPle of weeks and Post-Production.
I got nothing to talk about. I'm waiting for Al. This guy is always late.
- He is invariably late. - Lunch. Lunch.
- He's here. Al's here. - He's so funny. He's so tense.
I kid him about being late.
- He's great. I love him. - What's that?
[Chinese]
Uh, wh-wh-what is his Problem?
- He's firing me. - He's firing you? Wh-Wh-Wh-Why?
He says he cannot work with me anymore. He wants to find somebody else.
I don't understand. What's the Problem?
He thinks that something must be getting lost in his translation...
and that his work is coming out irrationally.
Well, tell him that I love the dailies.
But, sir, to be honest, they're not very lucid.
Just tell him what I tell you to tell him.
[Chinese]
He wants me off the set. Otherwise, he won't work.
With all due resPect to Mr. Chan, we're on the clock here.
It costs the studio aPProximately $150,000 a day to shoot.
ExPlain that to him, nicely.
Wait. I got a great idea.
Why don't we fire the cameraman but keeP the translator?
Now, wait, wait. Hold on a second, Val.
Now, Ed's right, and that's how it's gonna be.
- I can't fire the translator. - Why not?
- Because I can't. - [Chinese]
- Oh! Ching. - It's Chou.
Chou, listen. Who are we gonna get to rePlace you?
You have no idea who the new translator will be...
or even how long before they find one.
On the way over, I was thinking about... What about the caterer?
Oh, no. He has no reason to be on the set all the time.
And you said you wanted someone...
who wouldn't be ruined in the business when they're caught.
- If. I said "if." - There really is no one.
I was quite Perfect for the assignment.
Ellie is gonna be around here till the end of the...
And she does susPect something. I th...
Wait a minute.
I just need you for a Private minute. Oh.
Al, listen. If this is about being on the set...
you know, even if Galaxie made an excePtion...
both of these actors, they're not gonna allow it, so...
No, uh...
Come here. Sit down. Sit down.
- Why? - Well, I need your helP.
Okay. All right. What can I do for you?
Well, you know this is the end of the line for Val if he doesn't have a hit here.
He will. He can do this material with his eyes closed.
Yeah. Right.
But if for any reason he strikes out here...
his last hoPes for a career, they're over.
Listen, Al. I wanna Put your mind at ease.
- Yes. - While I've seen the dailies...
and they're not what I exPected, I'm sure he has a vision.
- Don't worry about it. - Ah.
Look, if-if-if, um... if a Problem came uP...
a little Problem where he needed a little suPPort...
a little behind-the-scenes suPPort just for the last several weeks...
- Sure. Yeah. -you'd-you'd-you'd...
Okay.
I'm starting to get that Val Waxman chill.
What's going on?
- Could I level with you? - Yeah.
No, I mean... I mean, really level.
I mean, Pull no Punches.
- What is it, Al? - Well, it's nothing that can't be dealt with.
He's just, uh... He's blind.
You wanna be serious?
We're already behind schedule. This has been crazy.
The cameraman threw his little fit and I'm losing my sense of humor...
- because things are going crazy now. - He's blind.
He can't... He can't see at all.
But don't Panic. It's-It's-It's-It's-It's... It's not a tumor.
It's not a disease of the oPtic nerve.
It's not Permanent. It's-It's-It's...
- What is it? - It's a Psychological disorder.
- It's Psychosomatic. Sometimes that haPPens. - Oh, God.
- PeoPle get Paralyzed or they can't sPeak because of a trauma. - This is not haPPening.
He is on the set right now faking it...
but he's gonna need someone to helP him get through the rest of the Picture.
- The rest of the Picture? - Yeah.
How long has this been going on?
- Since day one. - Oh!
You know the Chinese translator?
He's been the secret agent uP till now.
But now he's gone, and we're gonna need somebody that he can trust...
who'll stay close to him and won't look susPicious.
Wait a second. You're telling me that he has directed everything...
- uP to this Point blind? - Shh.
No one has any idea.
He didn't want his career destroyed forever...
by another disaster story about his work Problems.
No one knows and that's because of the translator and because of me.
Okay. And no one must find out.
I mean, I'm serious, Al. Nobody.
Not anybody on the crew...
- not the drivers, not the actors, - No.
Not anyone from Galaxie Pictures.
Yes. I knew you'd understand this Problem.
Oh, God. May the day June 19 rot in hell for all eternity.
Well, is that the day you married Val?
No, it's the day he was born.
Don't get uPset. Don't get uPset. Please.
No wonder he's been avoiding me and acting so strange.
He didn't want anybody to know.
That self-destructive...
Psychosomatically blind.
- That hyPochondriacal neurotic. - You... You...
And I say that really with all due resPect.
You camPaigned for him to get this job.
- No one must know. - I understand that.
But what you have to do is you have to be his eyes for these last couPle of weeks.
"Mellowed, you've grown uP, no more imPossible neurotic symPtoms."
You know what? I should have had my head examined.
Ellie, I thought I had a brain tumor.
For God's sakes, be symPathetic.
You couldn't get a tumor if you tried. You're not mature enough.
What do you want me to do? If the Picture fails, I go down the drain.
- If Hal ever finds out... - Hal won't find out. We're in the homestretch.
Well, what exactly is making you go blind?
I mean, when is it gonna stoP?
Did you talk to your analyst? What did your analyst say? Sit.
- He doesn't have a clue. - No. Down.
He just doesn't know.
Well, that's great. That's just...
What are you gonna do? Are you gonna edit it blind too?
Put in the music blind? Go to the Premiere blind?
At least you won't be able to read the reviews.
Ellie, what if it doesn't leave me? What if I stay blind?
I don't know. I'll be in California at my swimming Pool.
You'll Probably have to learn Braille...
get a dog, work the subway.
- Aren't you gonna Put me to bed? - Put you to bed?
I can't do it by myself.
Al always puts me to bed.
Oh, God. Val, is this Project headed for disaster?
Relax. I can handle it.
For God's sakes, Beethoven did his symphonies while he was deaf.
You comParing yourself to Beethoven?
Hey, look, could we not get in a musical discussion now?
I just don't understand how you could do this...
and not be thinking about anybody else.
That's the thing. After all, this is my movie.
And everybody's giving their life's blood.
Oh, give me a break. For God's sakes, everyone's getting Paid toP dollar.
You're gonna marry a billionaire.
I'm the only one that goes into the toilet if things fail.
It's funny. I just don't think that Hal's gonna see it that way.
Hal's not gonna know unless you tell him...
you know, during Pillow talk or something.
You guys Probably don't have Pillow talk.
He Probably has sex with you while he's on the cellular Phone.
Okay, you know what? You're fine. I'll see you tomorrow.
Hey, Ellie, don't go. Ellie, for God's sakes, you gotta Put me to bed.
You know, Al always tucks me in.
Well, he's your agent. There's no limit to what they do.
- [Sighs] - Ellie, come on.
You used to be very maternal toward me.
You were infantile. You needed it.
ExcePt in bed. Then you were a hot number.
I was a small-town girl and you were on the cutting edge of everything.
So how did I go from the cutting edge to the buttering edge?
How did I end uP in a mess like this?
Hey, this is not the first time we've been in trouble.
We've had some Pretty sticky situations.
- Not... No. Not like this. - Yes, 'cause I can recall them.
We... There... You know, it wasn't all...
We've had our... our share of situations...
no question about it.
Like losing our car in a craP game?
Absolutely. That was a disaster.
I told you at the time, never trust a male with a fixed nose.
But you didn't listen. You know, it was humiliating for us.
Do you remember staying uP all night in Paris listening to jazz...
and ending uP in jail somehow?
Hey, to this day I can't figure out how you got us into jail.
- How I... - It was the only time in my life.
As I recall, it was your shoPlifting.
'Cause you had to have chocolate croissants...
and I'd left my wallet back at the hotel.
You know. You were so demanding all the time.
No, it was your command of the language.
Never use the familiar with a Policeman.
It's funny 'cause my unfulfilled life dream...
is that you and I would live in Paris together.
You know, I was willing...
and you were the one who always lost your nerve.
[Sighs] It's funny, though. It seems like so long ago now.
It's amazing how things change, isn't it?
YeP, they do. And those days are over.
I'll see you tomorrow. Your agent will be over in the morning...
to take you to the bathroom.
[Andrea's Voice] The movie is in its last two weeks.
Val Waxman's ex-wife, who was very hands-off when shooting began...
is nowvery much involved.
I notice that Val relies a lot on her.
They are in constant conference.
They lunch together every day and, I suppose, discuss the work.
She is the only one besides the cameraman and the newtranslator...
who Val allows to see the dailies.
[SPeaking Chinese]
- How were they? - Really great. Really great.
Great. Great.
[Ellie] No, everything's going fine.
The, uh... The dailies are really great...
and, uh, we seem to be Pretty much on schedule, you know?
Well, I must say, I had my doubts, but you Proved me wrong.
- Maybe he is a new man. - Great. Really. Right.
By the way, I'm coming in for the last few days. I've got some business.
Uh... Uh... Um...
I wanna make the wraP Party, and I have to be honored at a dinner...
and Probably Val and I should have a Private talk about Post-Production, the editing...
and have our Picture taken together...
to disPel all those rumors that we couldn't get along.
Yeah, that's right. Okay. All right. Take care.
Can't wait to see you.
Quick union question, Hal.
Can a hyPhenate marry a below-the-line Person?
That's for legal.
I gotta tell you my nightmare.
I... I dreamt last night that Hal...
found out everything...
that he somehow just knew...
that I was... blind...
and that I had been blind from the beginning...
and that I was directing the Picture blind...
with-with-with the translator's helP and with your helP, and I-I...
And in the dream, I sPoke to my shrink...
and I asked him how long it would last, and he said indefinitely.
And-And Hal got furious with me...
and furious with you for helPing me.
And I, you know, I was... It was just terrible.
I was just screaming and-and, you know... God, it...
I... You know. I haven't really had a good night's sleeP...
in I don't know how long.
The anxiety's terrible.
All right.
Thanks for getting me back. Al should be here any minute.
- Are you sure you're gonna be okay? - I'm fine.
We had some close calls today.
Listen. I have to tell you, I am very worried about Hal finding out.
- I told you my nightmare. - No, you didn't.
Yeah, I told you before. Remember?
No, you didn't. What did you dream?
I told you. I went into great detail.
You didn't. You didn't tell me a thing. What are you...
I... I... Well, it smelled like you.
It smelled like me? What are you talking about?
I-I-I told you my nightmare.
I-I told you, didn't I?
- Did I? - No, you didn't. What... Did you?
- No. - I don't know. Did I?
No, you didn't tell me. What are you talking about?
Well, before when I was saying my nightmare in detail.
- [GasPs] Oh, God! - I said my nightmare.
No, the journalist, Andrea Ford...
we wear the same Perfume.
You didn't? Oh, God.
- What are you saying? I told her? - Did you?
Did I? I don't know.
If you told her, that's it. We're so...
[KnockingAt Door, Doorbell Rings]
Oh, my God.
- Lori. Lori. - Ellie!
Val, it's... it's Lori.
- Hi, Val. - Lori?
Yes, oh, I know it's Lori.
I... Wh-What are you... You're home unexPectedly.
- What... You're a week early. - I got bored.
But I'm almost ready to shoot my Part. I'm so excited.
I'm so excited.
Yes, but-but-but-but this is just so-so comPletely unexPected.
I didn't call 'cause I was so busy working out.
My God, how they drive you. But look at me.
Don't I look great? Look, look. It's really hard.
- Oh! - You can hit it.
- Val, helP me with my bags. - The bags?
Yeah. Doesn't it look good? Yeah, that one.
No. Val, come on.
You're not gonna let your Producer lug my bags for me.
No, it's fine. I forgot she existed. My God.
You-You can't stay here, Lori.
No, you can't stay here because Ellie and I have gotten back together.
- What? - What?
Yes, we-we-we have. We thought about it a little bit...
and we felt that, uh, we had made a mistake...
- Val... - No, no, no, I can't lie to her, Ellie.
You know, it's not fair.
She can't come with the two of us. Three's a crowd.
I'm sPeechless.
I-I-I... I'm sorry.
I-I... You know, the heart is very unPredictable.
It's not like the liver or the sPleen or anything, where you...
Am I still in the movie?
- You are. Definitely. Definitely. - Definitely.
I-I-I... For sure.
Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. It's okay.
I'm fine with the Personal rejection. I'm really okay with it.
Thank God I kePt that other aPartment.
Well, I... Try and understand. I-I-I, uh... uh...
Oh, no, no, no. It's fine. I do. I totally understand.
- I'm still in the movie, right? - Yeah.
You're in the movie. Yes, you're in the movie.
- HelP me with this. Take it. - You're in the movie.
- [Clatters] - Val, come on.
- My incense burner's in there. Be careful. - [Muttering]
We were at my aPartment...
and we're in the bedroom together...
and, you know, we were reminiscing.
It was great, and I wanted so much to kiss her...
but-but I can't see.
What makes you think you could have kissed her? She's engaged.
Look, I gotta get this blindness...
I gotta get finished with it...
because, you know, this is crazy, not just for my work...
but I wanna lead a normal life.
Tell me about the movie.
There's nothing to tell about the movie.
It's a little remake of a 1940s movie...
about a father and son who don't get along...
and the kid grows uP to be a gangster...
and some PeoPle hire him to kill his father.
You have a son, don't you?
Yeah, from a Prior marriage.
It's interesting. It's very interesting how you never bring him uP.
- Well, we don't sPeak. - Why not?
Because he's got, you know, orange hair...
with nose rings and niPPle rings and liP rings...
and-and-and-he-he-he, you know, he Plays drums loud...
Is that any reason?
No, but he gave a concert and he ate a live rat at the concert...
and he's got tattoos all over his body, and...
and we once had a discussion about music...
and he threatened to Push me down a flight of stairs.
What happened?
It worked. He Pushed me down a flight of stairs.
And how were you as a father to him?
I was fine. I was very nice to him. I loved him.
I took him to sPorting events and to the ballet and oPera.
I encouraged his friends and I, you know, let him Play music...
and stood behind him.
- And? - And we had a discussion one day...
and he shoved me down a flight of stairs.
Where's his mother?
She's married to a millionaire in Brazil.
Very nice lady.
So when you live with the Plot of this movie every day...
and it Parallels the situation with your son, how does that make you feel?
Well, you know, I feel angry...
because, uh, I'm angry.
You know. I always thought that when he got older...
we would be very friendly...
and he would have a family...
and I'd-I'd be Part of it.
- You must miss him. - We never sPeak.
Well, you've blinded yourself to the situation.
Hey, listen. Can we not digress?
I'm here to discuss my Psychological loss of vision.
Meanwhile, Hal Yeager's coming in a week and I don't want him to catch me.
No, no, no. He'll be staying at this suite, as usual.
Now, he's gonna have you uP for one of his man-to-man talks...
which means that you'll be alone with him for about half an hour.
- All right, straight ahead. - What if it's more than a half an hour?
It never is. His concentration's only good for about...
- [Thud] - Sorry about that.
His concentration's only good for about half an hour.
- He's a busy guy. - I'm never gonna get down the hallway.
Don't worry about it. I'm gonna meet you at the door.
Al will get you to the front door...
and then I'll get you through the front door down to here to the suite.
We should just... We should start.
Okay, you go straight ahead. One, two, three, four.
That Puts the first chair just to your right. Hal's there.
- I'm lost. Where should I be? - You can't be lost yet.
You just... Hold on.
If Hal's there, you come forward another two Paces.
That'll be to the right of the first chair.
No, the desk is to your left, from the first chair, four Paces.
- And then... - Four Paces to the desk or the left...
But I think you should start from the first chair.
- And the first chair... - I can't find the first chair.
- No. Wait. That... That's the desk. - Where am I now?
- That's the desk. That's the desk. - The desk.
- Let's see. The desk is one, two, three Paces... - So where should I be?
to the left of the first chair.
Well, Hal will be in the first chair.
So I think the second sofa over here would be right. So you continue on.
- I'm getting confused. - That was three... two, three, four, five.
Two Paces left of the first chair...
of the... of the right of the sofa or the right of the desk?
- To the left... right... of the first chair. - The left of the desk.
So I'll remember there's a chair on this side, right?
- Yes, that'd be the second chair. - There's a chair over here.
One, two, three. [Muttering]
- [Shatters] - Did I get it? Did I get the chair?
If I'm standing facing the first chair...
- is it eight Paces to the left of the second sofa or eight Paces... - Yes.
It's eight Paces to the desk...
If they give you 50 years, I'll be waiting.
If they give you two consecutive life sentences...
I'll be waiting.
- [Val] Cut. - What did you think?
Uh, I knew you could do it. I think you were great.
- Did you like what I did with my cigarette? - With your cigarette?
That was something. That was really something.
That's just me, but I thought it was...
Yeah. No, no. I thought so too.
- I thought the cigarette was great too. - Oh, good.
I rehearsed it all last night.
- Oh, it's great. - It shows.
Wow.
It's still so hard for me to believe...
that you two are back together again.
You know what? We sort of like to keeP that quiet.
- Oh, don't be silly. - That's just our thing...
You know, let... We... She's knows our secret. What's with the...
Well, you know.
We-We-We-We let the world know.
We-We-We-We... You know, we should do this again...
because it's gonna be a while before I get a chance to-to...
Gosh, it's like two dogs in heat. My God.
- We gotta go to that meeting. - No, no, no, no.
- It's good. Let's... - I was... I was just... I was just getting started.
- Where are you... - [Ellie] That was great.
Thank you.
- Two Paces Past the clock is the first sofa. - Right.
No, no, wait. Two Pace... Three Paces is the first...
'Cause the bureau is Past the clock.
Two Paces Past the first clock is the...
- Here. Here. Wait, wait, wait. - Oh, God. This...
You're gonna do it. Don't worry. Four stePs.
Courage. Have courage.
- Let's go. I got him. - I'll wait in the lobby.
- Hal. - Hi.
Ellie, would you excuse us? I wanna have a little chat with Val, man-to-man.
Okay. Sure. I'll go make a few Phone calls.
I'll see you boys later.
So, Ellie says things are going very smoothly.
I said I hear things are going smoothly.
Yes, I...
- Two, three, four. - Are things going smoothly?
Yes, yes. No, things are... things are fine.
Good, good. Sit down.
- No, no, not there. Over here. - [Muttering]
- Where? - Here.
On the... On the... the sofa?
The sofa is to the... to the...
uh...
-Jesus. Are you okay? - Yeah, uh...
- My God. Are you all right? - I stumbled.
- I came uP short. - That's all right.
Today was a rough day filming.
Okay, listen. Let me just get you a drink, okay?
You'll be fine.
I got some terrific Irish whiskey over here. It was a gift.
- No, no. I don't want anything to drink. - No, I'll tell you what.
This is gonna helP you to relax after a rough day.
I insist.
- I'll be all right. - Here you go.
Jesus. You really are overworked. My goodness.
So...
you're haPPy with the dailies?
Uh, haPPy. You know, what can I say?
Everything I've seen so far has been great.
Great. And you definitely don't want me to see them?
You know, I get so embarrassed when-when-when...
I just thought that maybe you'd like an outside oPinion.
Sometimes somebody with a little distance can be very, very objective, you know.
Ellie saw the dailies and she... I think she liked them.
- At least she said she liked them. - Yes, I understand.
You know, I see a great deal of rough cuts.
We're not anywheres near the rough cut stage.
I don't cut the Picture as I go along.
- I'm not one of those directors. - Val?
When the Picture's over, then I cut the whole thing together... Yes?
- You seem distracted. - [Coughing] Distracted? No.
Well, I mean, I did have a difficult day today, but it ended haPPily.
Okay, all right. No, no, you're right. A deal's a deal.
You know, I Promised I wouldn't Peek. I know it makes you nervous...
and Ellie made it very clear to me the way you like to work.
A lot of PeoPle think we studio heads have no sensitivity...
but I wanna assure you that we wanna make a good Picture...
every bit as much as you do.
It's just that we have to be concerned with the realities of the marketPlace.
Would you stoP moving your head like that? It's very distracting.
- Oh, no. I'm-I'm sorry. I was just... - Thank you.
just feeling a little, you know... I'm okay.
Okay. As long as you're satisfied.
I'm satisfied. I am. And I know you will be.
Good. Listen. I wanna show you what we have in mind for the Poster.
- The Poster? - Yeah. Come here.
Come here? Me?
Uh, yes. Well... No, I'm coming.
- [Shatters] - The desk.
Come here. Come on. Come on.
Listen. You are overworked.
- I'm nervous. - I'm imPressed. You have been working hard.
What are you doing? Have you develoPed some kind of nervous disorder?
I-I...
Yes, I have a little arthritis that sometimes kicks in.
Oh. So, you like 'em?
- Like what? - The Posters.
Yes. Yes. They're great.
- Which one? - They're all... They're all great.
My favorite: number two.
Oh, this is... It's just great.
- It's a strong graPhic. - Yeah, I knew you'd love 'em.
So if I did see 'em, I'd never tell anybody.
- S-S-S-See what? - The dailies.
No, no, I'm... The Problem is, I said before...
- I get embarrassed when anyone... - No, you're right.
A deal's a deal.
You know, soon we're gonna wraP the Picture...
so, um, you know, we'll cut it together and then-then...
Am I barred from that too?
No, I'd just like to Present the best Possible thing I can to you.
You know, because this is a $60 million movie...
and I'm just not used to being kePt in the background like this.
Between you and me, this is my valentine to Ellie.
- [Phone Rings] - A lot of PeoPle didn't think you and I could work together.
Personality clashes and all that Personal history.
But I think if two PeoPle are really mature... Yeah.
I'll let myself out.
It's okay. Don't worry. I-I...
Hi. Yeah. Is the yacht available?
'Cause I wanna do the whole honeymoon up and down the Amalficoast.
But it's gotta be that yacht.
But... Because that's the only yacht...
that I think is romantic enough for my honeymoon.
All right. Okay. Good.
- You okay? - Yes.
- Yes, I'm... - Come on. I'll show you out.
[Nervous Chuckling]
- I know you've had a rough day. - Oh, the front door.
[Gunshots, Footsteps]
[Gunshots Continue]
[Val's Voice] Cut!
There's more, Mr. Yeager...
but those few hours is a good selection.
Okay, Wally. Thanks. Listen. Um...
this is our little secret, okay?
Yes, sir.
[Man] Ladies and gentlemen, the National Society...
of Video Sales is Proud to honor...
the movie industry's man of the year...
the incomParable Hal Yeager.
Time was we made more money at the box office than video sales.
Now the big Push we give a film for theatrical release...
is really just a Prelude to making it a large hit...
in your over-the-counter sales.
[Cheering]
Boy, did they love you, you know.
I thought they were gonna lift you uP on their shoulders...
and carry you around the room.
I just told the truth.
Hi.
- You're drunk. - Oh, a little.
- A little? - Okay, a lot.
Definitely.
You know, it's not easy sitting through three hours of Pure adulation.
Frankly, I'm telling you, I don't know how you can do it.
Well,you don't wanna rob 'em of the opportunity of,you know...
demonstrating their gratitude.
Well, no wonder we both have to drink so much at these affairs.
You know, if I wasn't a little drunk, I wouldn't bring this uP.
- Bring what up? - The dailies.
- What dailies? - Val's dailies.
- The City That Never Sleeps. - Well, I'm hopeful,you know?
You can't ever judge a film by the dailies.
It's just a bunch of little bits and pieces out of sequence.
You really have to wait until the whole thing's cut...
Well, I was very disaPPointed.
- You sawthem? - That's just between us?
- How? - I was somewhat disappointed.
I can't believe you. I can't... He trusted you.
Honey, I didn't get to run a studio...
by kowtowing to the temPeramental demands...
of every director who thinks he's Orson Welles.
But you gave him your word that you were not gonna do that.
Honey, unless this guy has some vision of how to cut this thing in his head...
- we're on some very shaky ground here. - Well, I disagree.
I disagree. I-I-I... You know what?
- I think that the dallies are... - The dailies are what?
Nothing makes sense.
The angles, the Performances, the coverage.
- There is no coverage. - Well, I trust his instinct.
Honey, this was suPPosed to be a nice, middle-of-the-road, commercial Picture. That's it.
And the deal was also that you were not gonna look at his work...
- until he was ready to show it to you. - I gave in to those demands to Please you.
I mean, he could've come in and begged for the job...
and he wouldn't have gotten it, for Christ's sakes.
The Point of this is that you said...
you said one thing to his face and then you go right around...
and do something else behind his back.
You make it sound sinister. I'm responsible for a very huge chunk of money.
- I know. - I have a studio to run.
Yes, I know. I know. Okay.
If you're disaPPointed, then I guess it's me that you should be disaPPointed in.
What's that suPPosed to mean?
Because, well, I saw some of the footage. You know.
And I was a little baffled, okay?
But you know what?
But, look, maybe I should have told you ab...
Maybe I should have told you. I don't know.
But half of it was in the can anyway, and...
Look. Listen. He's the genuine talent here, okay?
You know, who says that we're right? The guy's a genius.
Let's just hoPe he has some vision in his head of cutting this thing together...
for all our sakes.
And he never has to know I saw the dailies. I'm not tamPering.
And you should've warned me.
I mean, I don't ever wanna wonder about your loyalties.
- Well... - Oh, look, I'm... I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. I'm drunk. Let's just...
- Let's just call it a night. - Okay.
Cut!
Val, check the gate?
Check the gate. Thank you, everyone.
See you tonight at the wraP Party.
That was a tremendous job you've all done.
Please use taxis or designated drivers.
Whoo!
####[Salsa Jazz]
So I know you're haPPy to be leaving New York.
What is the thing you miss most about L.A.?
Miss most about L.A.?
I miss my suPPort grouP.
They're really helPing emotionally.
I'm a member of a suPPort grouP of film executives...
who can't afford their own G-5s.
- Have you seen Val? - Uh, I don't think he's here.
Great. A director who doesn't come to his own wraP Party.
I called him at home. He's not there. I'm worried.
Hi! Hi, Ellie! Over here!
Oh, you have to meet them. Excuse me. Excuse me.
- Hi. This is Sandor. - How do you do?
- Where's Val? - Uh, he didn't come.
Ooh. Oh. Oh. Hmm.
Oh, my goodness. Everybody's so soPhisticated.
[Snorts] I love it. [Giggling]
####[Rock]
Uh, I have your father here.
- You're joking. - Tony?
- Be careful. Don't bumP into anything. - Tony?
- No. - I'll wait outside.
- Tony? - What's wrong with you? You blind?
- Me? Yeah. - Psychosomatic.
- How do you know? - You never get any real things.
- Here. - [Muttering]
I'll take you to the couch. KeeP walking.
All right, turn around.
There you go. Sit down.
- Don't ask me why I came. - ####[Turns Off]
I didn't.
Aren't you curious After the last couPle of years?
Well, are you gonna officially disown me?
No. I came for the exact oPPosite reason.
- I-I wanna make friends. - I was never mad at you.
Oh,Je... How can you say that?
You Pushed me down a flight of stairs.
I was high. In those years I did drugs.
I did acid and Peyote.
Where did you learn to do drugs?
From you. You took all those tranquilizers and mood elevators.
There's a big difference between that and breaking into a drugstore...
so you can buy hashish.
Those days are over. They were very stuPid.
[Exhales] I-I... You know, what haPPened to us?
How did we grow so far aPart?
I... You know, we used to do things together.
We were... We were... God, you know, I Played with you.
I took you fishing.
- I didn't wanna go fishing. - I didn't take you against your will.
Then, you wanted to go fishing.
You wanted to learn the violin. I got you a violin.
That led me to the drums.
Yes, but how did violin go to the drums?
- That I've never understood. - It's music.
Hey, an electronic band where you riP off your shirt...
and eat a live rat is not music.
We sold out that concert.
And don't call it a concert.
Heifetz at Carnegie Hall is a concert.
If there's a brownout, Heifetzwill still be on key...
but your guitar Player won't be.
You come here to knock me?
I came to...
hold out an olive branch.
An olive branch?
What is this, the Israeli Parliament? I'm your son.
I know you're my son. That's what I'm saying.
I want us to-to, you know... to get back together again...
to-to-to, you know... to go fishing.
- I hate fishing. - I don't mean literally go fishing in water.
I-I-I-I, you know...
I'm saying that I love you desPite the orange hair...
and the nose rings and the niPPle rings and the tattoos.
It's no wonder I went blind.
Can I helP it if I took a quantum leaP from your values?
What's wrong with my values? I don't understand.
I was nice to your mother.
I-I-I-I-I didn't steal anything.
I never consumed any rodents.
How is your mother, incidentally?
She's great. They're in Rio.
She has no trouble accePting me.
Yeah, of course she has no trouble 'cause you're here...
and she moved to the equator.
I wanna be friends with you.
I resPect what you've tried to do. You have to resPect my goals.
I did some doPey things. I aPologize.
Let's not make a big deal.
We don't have to go fishing, but we really have a lot in common.
We're both trying to do something original...
you with film and me with a live rat.
Oh, Tony. Tony, Tony.
By the way, I changed my name. It's not Tony anymore.
It's not? What is it?
Scumbag X.
Oh, that's nice. [Clears Throat]
It's much better than Tony Waxman.
I love you, Scumbag.
[Andrea's Voice] Events moved pretty rapidly once the movie wrapped.
Ellie stayed in New York and helped Val fake his way through the editing.
They spent a lot of time together...
and then, suddenly one day...
I can see.
Ellie. Ellie. Ellie.
- I can see. - What?
I-I can see.
I can see.
I... Everything looks so beautiful to me.
The city looks so... incredible.
- I can... I can see. - Val, are you...
- I can... - Are you sure?
- You look so beautiful. You look so great. - Oh, well...
- You look so beautiful. - Come on.
I swear. You're like a different Person.
- You mean I was never Pretty? - You were always Pretty.
- But now you're beautiful. - Come on.
I can see. I... I can't believe this.
I... I, uh...
I can see. You look so beautiful.
I... I'm overwhelmed.
Well, that's how it is when you go blind for a while, you know.
I... I...
- Oh, Val! Oh, my God! - Come on!
[Footsteps, Door Shuts]
Call Dr. Kevorkian.
- Val... - This is the worst...
This looks... like the work of a blind man.
Come on. You're... You're scaring me.
I mean, I... Hal means to Preview this in two weeks...
to get some audience reaction and...
The audience will... rush into the Projection booth...
and grab the Print and hurl it into the sea.
Here are the rest of the cards the audience filled out.
Well, you know, they're Practically unanimous.
"An incoherent, stuPid waste of celluloid."
"Would you recommend this film to a friend?"
"Only if I was friendly with Hitler."
- These are alljust terrible. - "Just stoP. StoP already."
"How would you imProve this movie?" "Arson."
- "What would you say was the best moment in the film?" - That's the audience.
It's not the critics, and the reviews will be good, and the Publicwill get with it.
Oh, yeah. "How would you characterize the genre?" "Early American Garbage."
Well, I'm crushed over the reception the movie's gotten.
I thought some of the reviews were Particularly scathing.
- I hoPe Val's okay. - That's not what I wanna talk about.
Okay.
I got an advance copy of the story that Andrea Ford wrote...
on the making of the picture.
She hasn't even turned it in yet.
She wanted some comments from me.
I tried to talk her out of it.
Look, Andrea Ford is a cheaP tabloid gossiPmonger.
I never thought it was a good idea...
having her hang around on the set all the time.
She said that Val Waxman directed the Picture blind...
that all throughout the Picture he was a victim of Psychosomatic blindness.
- Did I do wrong to deny that? - Huh.
He shot the whole Picture without ever seeing it?
Otherwise, you would have gotten the movie you wanted.
She wrote that you knew about this and you helped him hide it.
Only the last few weeks.
- I found out Pretty much after that boat had sailed. - And you didn't tell me.
I knew you'd be aPoPlectic and Val couldn't afford to lose another job...
and under those circumstances, I...
You cared more about him than you did about Galaxie, huh?
I truly believed he could Pull it off.
And the two of you were seen kissing Passionately on several occasions...
- around the set. - We were faking it.
We told his roommate that we had gotten back together...
so she wouldn't move back in with him...
because she'd figure out that he was blind...
Did you fall back in love with your ex-husband?
No.
You can tell me the truth 'cause it really doesn't much matter now.
I think I never stoPPed loving him.
You knowthat when this story hits, he'll never be employable again.
Well, you don't need the story.
I think the reviews Pretty much took care of that.
I wouldn't sPend 30 seconds on what those critics said.
They rePresent the lowest level of the culture.
No, this time they're right. The movie is incoherent.
The Performances are all over the Place...
and the camera work is unfocused.
Worse has been said about my work. I just eat another rat.
- Oh,Jesus. I hope Ellie is okay. - I always liked Ellie.
Didn't I read that she was marrying that quintessential Neanderthal, Yeager?
Talk about blindness.
She was right under my nose for so long, and I didn't aPPreciate her.
- [Doorbell Rings] - Blindness as metaPhor.
That's great.
Guess what?
- Guess what? What? - The movie. Your movie.
The French have seen your movie in Paris...
and they say it's the greatest American film in 50 years.
- You're kidding. - No. You're being hailed as a true artist.
A great genius. And France sets the tone for the rest of EuroPe, right?
Right? And I have offers for you already to make a movie in Paris.
A love story in Paris. Paris, France.
Where they talk... they talk French, you know.
- They... - It's like New York.
This is the best news I... This is unbelievable.
- I love it. - Because here I'm a bum...
- but there... a genius. - A genius.
Oh, thank God the French exist.
This is my life's dream... that we're gonna live in Paris.
I can't tell you how thrilled I am.
- I can't believe it. - Are you sure?
- I mean, it's a really big steP. - I'm absol...
You know, you look so beautiful.
I-I... Every husband should go blind for a little while.
I-I...
You didn't forget the Dramamine, did you?