[Door Opens]
It's terrible, but I haven't got it on
My mother conflicted with the whole thing
- [Albert] Well, look at that - Terrific? Minus the skirt
I'm losing quite a bit of weight, but I feel perfectly terrible
(music) You ought to be in pictures (music)
(music) You're wonderful to see (music)
(music) You ought to be in pictures (music)
(music) Oh, what a hit (music)
(music) You would be (music)
(music) You ought to be in pictures (music)
(music) You're wonderful to see (music)
(music) You ought to be in pictures (music)
(music) Oh, what a hit (music)
(music) You would be (music)
(music) I'm still after your brother (music)
(music) I'm never going to give up (music)
(music) I'm after little brother (music)
[Giggling] (music) Oh, what a hit (music)
(music) You would be (music)
Oh, it's a nice day
Isn't it terrible? I've no... [Whispers] I've no makeup on
Mother's fine I just swallowed the last bit of lobster
I stole the cake last night
And she gave me very strong coffee this morning I felt awful
So then I ran all around Two talks with Margie McQuillan left me gasping
I'm so afraid of her anyway She's a friend of my brother's
She's nice, but she's a friend of my brother's Could make a lot of trouble
She said I was having a nervous breakdown I should go to Atlantic City
I'm not that broken-down yet!
(music) You ought to be in pictures (music)
What does he got on?
(music) You're wonderful to see (music)
(music) You ought to be in pictures (music) [Laughing]
(music) Oh, what a hit you would be (music)
I'm sorry about the makeup, but I... [Laughs]
- I haven't been able to find it yet - [David] That's all right You look great
Listen, it's a beautiful day Now the hurricane's coming Did you know that?
(music) You ought to be in pictures (music)
[Giggles] (music) You're wonderful to see (music)
(music) You ought to be in pictures (music)
(music) Oh, what a hit (music)
(music) You would be (music)
(music) I don't know the other words (music)
(music) Is my hat falling off (music)
- [David] No - (music) [Humming]
[Giggles] Imagine, you in blue today
[Giggles]
(music) You ought to be in pictures (music)
(music) You're wonderful to see (music)
(music) You ought to be in pictures (music)
(music) Oh, what a hit (music)
(music) You would be (music)
- I have to go put makeup on, Major - Okay
(music) [Humming, Faint] I think a little hurricane is coming
(music) [Humming Continues]
This is, a, uh, what... a scenario?
[David] It'll be made into one
Well, you know why I like it?
Because someone came here... I won't tell you who it was...
and they said, you know, the man owned a film company
and I guess these people were representing him
And guess what they said
They said Julie Christie could play Edith Beale in the movie
I'm telling you, I almost went crazy
- Hmm - I don't want anybody playing Edith Beale
I don't want anybody playing me
A lot of people wouldn't mind that
[Albert] Who would play your mother?
- Ethel Barrymore? - [Laughs]
Where could you ever get a person to play Mother?
When I saw Gigi, I... I thought, you know
that that was Mother
- Remember Gigi? - Mm-hmm
I never saw the play I just saw the movie Three times
And cried and cried and cried
I was always mad about that girl, Leslie Caron I think she's marvelous
Lois went with me
I don't think Lois likes movies
So, at the end of the movie, guess what Lois said
"I think it would have been better with Audrey Hepburn," says Lois
Imagine... a great actress like Leslie Caron
and Lois comes out and says...
I mean, not that Audrey Hepburn isn't good
But there's only one Leslie Caron
Only one
So, anyway...
So, that's why I let you do this
Because when I thought of the other way
and somebody playing Edith Beale...
And another thing... I can't write anything I realize that now
I mean, about my personal life
I could write it in a novel, you know... if I could write a novel...
and not put down the, uh... my real name and... you know
Not... Not do it under... under the real names
I'm mad about the Maysles
So I do think this is the right way to do it
This was taken for the tropical ball
um, in the late 1930s
um, in New York City
And, uh... [Giggles]
Shall I tell where they put it?
In Macy's elevator!
You know, I wasn't a professional model
but some people saw it and they said that...
that my picture was hanging in Macy's elevator
So I called up Macy's and they said, yes, it was true
And they apologized
But they say they couldn't help using it, it was so good-looking
[Mrs. Beale] They didn't give you pay
They put it in the elevator, and they didn't give you a nickel
[Edie] And it was taken by a very famous photographer
I think his name was Arthur O'Neil
And he wanted me to become a model! A photographer's model!
And I was so terrified that I ran out of the studio
because I wasn't supposed to be going to the ball anyway
I was afraid of my father, and he didn't want me to go out alone
to dances
[Albert] What's this whole thing about the Barbizon? I never could understand that story
- [Mrs. Beale] Edie went there, you mean? - Yeah
Why did she go? What was the circumstances?
[Mrs. Beale] Why'd you go there, Edie? Hmm?
'Cause you gave me all that stuff for my apartment
Didn't like the apartment, did you? You got rid of it
- I was terrified the whole time I was there - It was dangerous... the penthouse
- 'Cause of all your valuables - Well, you lost 'em anyway
So I put them in storage and moved back to a women's hotel
Then they were lost and stolen
I always allowed to do... let Edie do anything she wanted to do Always did
She wanted to go and see that man?
You know, I helped her pack her bag, gave her $25
sent her in groceries from my grocery store
Gould suggested 1,000 jobs for Edie
- At the Traphagen... - Well, what I liked...
At Traphagen School, you learn everything, you know
- What I like... - You can learn television
is that perhaps now women are going to get what they want out of life
They may have the chance now
Why didn't you go to the Traphagen, learn all that stuff?
You could have learned ballet in less than six months
You didn't have to go to that Broadway place
[David] What did you think when she came back from the Barbizon?
I was, uh... I had to build her up She was very sick
And, uh, I was very happy to do it
- [David] She was sick? - Yeah
She was very delicate and very ill
Oh, she thought I was too thin I was fine, just as hungry as ever
No, she was very delicate Very bad
I thought she had "leucrema"... leukemia, whatever you call it
[Edie] She didn't like thin women
No, I don't like delicate women I hate 'em They can't have babies, they can't do anything
Oh, I'm very happy to have her with me I was happier than I've been in ages
[Edie] I didn't know I came back to give Gould a vacation
- Yes He wanted a vacation - Oh I didn't know that!
Yeah, he went everywhere, he couldn't find anyplace to stay
Went right back to East Hampton He says it's the best place on Earth
Oh, New York I didn't like at all
I landed in New York at the wrong time
1946, I went out on my own and...
Well, 1947 I spent in Palm Beach
[Chuckles] Working at Saks
as the only model, with no air conditioning
I didn't stay there long
Then I went back to New York
'cause Mother wouldn't come down to Palm Beach
And then Mother fought my going to New York
She didn't want me to go to New York for the winter
And then I got in there and I moved from hotel to hotel
I couldn't find any comfortable spot I don't know
See, I'd been on the East River
I had an apartment...
an apartment with my father one year
I forget... Well, it was in the 1940s
And I hated that
And then I visited an old friend who had an apartment on the East River
Do you like the East River? Do you boys know the East River?
[Albert] Not very well Never lived on it, but...
Some people like it They have penthouses or places on the East River
l-I... It didn't agree with me at all
You get the air from Long Island, but it's dank... the East River
You hear boats and everything, but it isn't... it isn't real I can't explain it
The Hudson is really real, even though it's got the factories
and the New jersey shore and all the smoke and pollution and everything
[David] I see what you mean
So then I got the call from Mother to come home
- [David] She called you? - Yeah
I'll tell you about the pressure she put on for three months
- [Albert] I didn't know that I thought... - From March until July End of July
- 1952, I had to go back... come back - [David] She has a different story of that
Uh, yeah, but she's not talking about the same thing
She says that I had free time to accomplish something for years
because she was separated from my father
But I was always down here in this house
Y-You know what I'm gonna t... You're not ready, are you? You're not doing anything, are you?
Yeah, we're ready whenever you are
Oh, but you mustn't, because I've got to get my bearings here
I wanna get a good picture I don't wanna waste it
- There's 36 of'em - Yeah, but I don't wanna waste one of your pictures, kid
I wanna get all of your neck in, David Could you get further to your brother?
Yeah, that's right Oh, that's much better, yeah
[Al] Push your left hand out a little bit
You want it out that way? That way?
[Al] Push the camera, the left... That's it That should get it better
- I see - You see us in there?
No, you wait now
No better, no I could be backed up more
I wanna get a good one of you
I got your arm all the way down to your elbow You like that?
- [Al] Okay - Now, wait Don't move
You people have to stay still now
- [Shutter Clicks] - Yeah, that was better
- [Al] Okay - [Mrs. Beale] Let's take some more
You can't tell how good I am after all these years
""Are you ready for your steeplechase
""Lorraine, Lorraine, Lorree?
""You're booked to ride your capping race
""today at Coulterlee
""You're booked to ride Vindictive
""for all the world to see
""To keep him straight, and keep him first
"and win the run for me'
""That husbands could be cruel
""I have known for seasons three
""But, oh, to ride Vindictive
"while a baby cries for me'
"But she mastered young Vindictive...
"O, the gallant lass was she!
"And kept him straight and kept him first
"and won the race as near as near could be
"But he killed her at the brook
"against a pollard willow tree
"Oh, he killed her at the brook, the brute
"for all the world to see
"And no one but the baby cried
for poor Lorraine, Lorree"
I cry every time I do that
[Edie] It's better not to have a husband!
Furthermore, he wanted that baby all to himself!
- That's why he did it... he killed the mother - I know it
Aren't men terrible? Absolutely terrible!
- I get very sad when I recite his poems - (music) [Edie Vocalizing]
Edie, you do a little song nicely, will you, babe?
- (music) [Vocalizing Continues] - Edie?
Do it nicely Will you, babe?
Now, where am I? January 10
See, I know all about Capricorn men, David darling
You understand So I know your type very well
Here it is
"These natives...
"These natives possess a bold imagination
"a keen mind
"ever seeking knowledge
and improvement"
That's you, David darling
"Will aid at key moment...
Ever seeking knowledge and improvement Will aid..." Something, maybe more
That's you, David
You're terrific Absolutely terrific I knew it
Didn't you know, uh, your younger brother was terrific, Major?
"Can't get married to a Sagittarius
"They are very compatible so far as physical love goes
"but there is little else that could be
"considered in a union here
"Only a good psychologist
will be able to hold this marriage together"
- Terrible - [David] Could you...
It's Al He can't marry me
I'm Scorpio, and he's Sagittarius
See, Scorpio is physical, really
and they think that Virgo and Cancer are, um...
are mental signs
And they think if you get one partner mental and the other physical
that the marriage will be very good
Now, why they think that... I don't think that at all
Because the people that I wanted to marry, really, were Sagittarians
And they say, above all don't marry Sagittarius
So I think they've got it all wrong
I don't know But, anyway, here's Scorpio...
[David] Maybe that's why you never got married
I'm crazy about horoscopes I wouldn't marry anybody where they said it wasn't right
Isn't that awful?
'Cause I went back to the Catholic Church I shouldn't even be talking about astrology
"If the birthday is between November 1 and November 11
"it will be necessary
to handle the Scorpion pride with care"
Hmm You see, that's what is so often forgotten
Pride!
They don't... Nobody takes that into account
They think you don't have it or something
You know, people are very, very sensitive
No one takes into account how sensitive a person really is
I don't mean just a Scorpion or Libra
Everybody, they're terribly sensitive
And other people don't understand
how sensitive a human being is
They don't understand it
So they run roughshod over everybody
So, where am I here?
Oh, yes
"These natives have dualistic tendencies
"and a very changeable
and unpredictable nature"
[Giggles]
You know what they said? That I was schizophrenic
No Beale is schizophrenic
They're too strong
- That was written down, that I was a schizo - [David] Where?
My God Somebody wrote it in an article
Somebody down in the Village said I was a schizophrenic
No one with convictions is schizophrenic
It's when you get a terrible kind of a... Mmm
I don't know
You don't know what's up or something if you're schizophrenic
- Split personality - Yes! That's it
That's it I never had any... I never had any split personality
I have a hell of a temper It's Southern
God, I never changed my heart, ever, once
You know, if you're born with something, you're born with it
God Nothing schizophrenic about my nature
Uh, "Changeable and unpredictable nature
Their greatest battles will be with themselves"
Correct
(music) [Edie Vocalizing]
[Giggles]
Gonna leave this place very soon
And all the stuff that goes with it
We're gonna have all that awful gang in here today
[Rhythmically] Billy, Jerry, Lois, Marjorie
[Grunting Rhythmically]
[David Chuckling]
[Grunting Continues]
Listen, I feel fine
- Great - Great
But everything is in a hell of a mess My mother is yelling for something
Her little bag of ribbons...
You saw Jerry just put the drawer right on the floor
Everything rolled around, so I had to wash all the silver again
and find all the little stuff
[David] I like your suit I like your bathing suit
Oh, I feel wonderful So, how are you?
Hey, Al, we have to live in, um... in Venice or Milan
[Albert] Wintertime for Venice Wintertime for Venice, okay?
- [Giggles] Al? - Yes?
[Giggling Continues]
Hey, Mother, it's the Maysles!
- Jerry, when did you have your hair done? - Um, Saturday of last week
- You got it bleached, didn't you? - Excuse me?
Your hair's beautifully done
Did you have a hard time having the women let go of your arm when you took 'em up to the pew?
- [Edie Laughs] - I only took up two women
- [Mrs. Beale] Were they squeezing on? - [Edie] Poor Jerry!
[Mrs. Beale] Did they give you the high sign and all that sort of thing?
[Edie Laughs] Mother, it was a wedding!
Yeah Which girl did you like the best, Jerry?
- [Edie] Poor Jerry - Did you see any girl you liked?
- Nah - What about the bridesmaids?
- Hmm? - The bridesmaids Were they pretty?
- They were all married - Well, you can be pretty when you're married
- Well, were they pretty? - She's mad about Jerry
- Who's mad about Jerry? - You're mad about Jerry Mmm
[Mrs. Beale] He still gives me a good smile
Mr. Torre is very attractive
[Mrs. Beale] Wouldn't your father go wild if I fell in love with you?
[Jerry] Why would he? Why should he?
He wouldn't allow it
"I want my son to marry a nice, young girl"
Did you ever take a picture of a man with a better face than that?
Don't lie now!
- [David] He's one of the Medicis, isn't he? - De Medici
[Edie] Yeah, you are... He is
I don't know To me, his face is absolutely perfect
[Edie] Mother, that's enough of Jerry
- No, it isn't I see the face... - She fell for Jerry
He's not...
He's the, uh, typical Italian face
- [David] De Medici - Yeah
I don't think Americans can touch that face Do you?
[Edie] You want one of these? These are marvelous things
The same doughnuts? The same ones? I thought they were hand-made
- [Jerry] They are! - Is that why they didn't make me sick?
I ate two the other morning
They're the only doughnuts that I didn't get, um, indigestion from
Well, I'll give you some when you come upstairs I won't bother you now
And, uh, it goes from north...
- No, no, it goes from Montreal... - On a railroad
to the beginning of Alaska every day
Where did you... Did you just learn this?
Today I called up and I said, well, I lost this job... how about that one?
- And they said, "Sure" - You must come up and tell Mother
- [Mrs. Beale] Marjorie's very worried - [Woman] Are you in your right mind?
She says she can't take any other pictures...
She can't have any pictures taken of herself She promised
- It's in the contract that you will never appear... - [Edie Laughs]
- You mean, her two divorces? - Yes, th-that was it It's all written...
What does she own? RKO? MGM?
[Mrs. Beale] Your face is so ugly! Look at that!
Woman's supposed to be pretty! Did you ever see such an ugly face?
Thank God for Jerry!
He smiles, he's beautiful, he stays beautiful
Oh, God
- [Jerry Sneezes] - And then there you go, once again
- Do you want a handkerchief? - Okay
Well, it's too late now All the germs are around the room
But I'll give you some part of this, just to be sanitary
- I'm going up to Canada to work for a railroad - [Mrs. Beale] Alone?
- Yep - No chaperone of any kind?
- No - No overseer?
- No - What if you get drunk and they throw you in a pile of snow?
- I don't wanna have to cut my hair - What did you say, Jerry?
They don't like long-hairs I don't wanna have to cut my hair
So it's gonna have to be a pretty unique job
- On Wall Street you couldn't get a job? - [Edie] Oww!
- [Water Running] - I don't think so, with long hair
- No? - No
And I don't have to cut my hair
I don't wanna have to go... I didn't wanna... I wanna get a job I like money I wanna make it
- [Edie] Jerry, don't go on that switch thing - I don't wanna starve
I don't wanna starve the rest of my life
I wanna make money I wanna have nice things
[Edie] You will
And then we had a phone call from Jerry
His brother is bringing him over to...
to take him back to the family...
family gathering or something
They didn't want him wandering around I think they're worried about us
I don't think they like Jerry to stay here They think he's going to stay here
I think Mr. Torre thinks it
[Whispers] I think he thinks that we're fast
You understand He thinks we're too sophisticated for Jerry
He doesn't want him moving in those circles
You understand
Because I think whenever Jerry... They think that Jerry’s going to stay here
They sent a brother... Or Mr. Torre comes down to get him
I think his family's rich I can't make...
He tries very hard to work and escape the family
but the family arm is always reaching for him, if you get what I mean
I can't explain it
Jerry's quite an... quite an amazing character
[Mrs. Beale] You gotta get practical in your old age, Edie
If I wasn't practical with that poor little Jerry
why, he would have left here long ago
Mother, I think that's about the worst thing you ever got into
I'm telling you right now, the outrageous prices...
Thirty-five and 25?
No, Mother You were completely impractical with that kid Let's face it
Oh, no They all get 25 and 35 Everybody told me that
I know, but he did a little bit of work in a great house
No, he was the greatest worker I ever had in my house
- She's mad about little Jerry I don't know why - No, I'm not
- l-l-I think he's very handsome... - I feel terribly sorry for him
I have a terrible feeling that something terrible is going to happen to him
You know, because he looks so much like the marble faun
and that had a very, um...
that had quite a disastrous ending
[Whispering] Something terrible happened there
Nathaniel Hawthorne He always wrote these thrillers and everything
Something terrible happens to the marble faun
[Mrs. Beale] Edie, I think I'll go and lie down I'm getting a backache
I have a terrible feeling that Jerry may fulfill his destiny in some way
You know, tragic destiny I don't know what it is
[Mrs. Beale] Enough said! Come on Quit it
- I can't quite figure it out... - Gonna be here when he dies?
He may not come back I don't know
And she pretends that she doesn't like Jerry
[Edie] Oh, she doesn't want you to go
- I think she's madly in love - No Don't go! It's too dangerous
- See? - I thought of you last night
I said, if Jerry’s going to Canada, he may never come back
- Do you want to speak to Jerry? - Well, yes
Just a minute Here's Mother You want to speak to him?
- Where is he? New York? - Yes Isn't that funny?
Hello, little Jerry
Oh, I'm just fine here I missed you very much
Well, of course, dear We miss you terribly
Well, wh-when are you coming?
[Albert Chuckles]
Well, listen, dear, I'll pay for the call when I see you
And... And good luck Let me know when you're coming
- Pay for the call when you see him - Good night Give my love to everybody Bye
So, what are you doing since I went... you went away?
- Well, I'm staying at my parents' house... - I didn't know they were going to put the bright lights on me
- What, babe? - My mother's not feeling well at all
Your mother? Sorry What's the matter with your mother?
Um, she has trouble breathing
- She does, dear? - Yeah, a really hard time
Sorry about that
What happened to the Canadian trip?
- Didn't take it then? - It's too far...
- You didn't take it, did you? - Yeah, right I just forgot it
[Mrs. Beale] What was the put-off on that?
- (music) [Humming] - Well, my roots are in New York City
- I didn't want to leave - Your what?
My family's there, my friends are here I don't wanna leave New York
I don't blame... Wouldn't it be awfully icy up there all winter?
Yeah, it gets really cold There's no jobs There's very little entertainment
There's really nothing to do
[Mrs. Beale] Put them on, will ya
[Edie] What for?
[Mrs. Beale] Spin my record
- She doesn't like any of this - [Mrs. Beale] I do I love them
Wouldn't Lois go crazy? She should have seen this She would have almost died
(music) [March, Loud]
I want to, uh, dance
(music) [Continues, Loud]
[Mrs. Beale] You should march to it, Edie
[Laughs]
I think you can dance to this
- (music) [Continues, Loud] - Pardon me!
- Clean that up! - [Mrs. Beale] Why don't you move on?
To women
She's marching
- What happened? No! - (music) [Continues, Loud]
The spirit of VMI!
(music) [Continues, Loud]
Why don't you go away?
(music) [Continues, Loud]
[Mrs. Beale Gasps] Oh! God! Edie, please!
- He doesn't get any part of it! - You scared the cat
- Don't break the table - (music) [Continues, Loud]
- (music) [Ends] - Well, that's it!
- Little Pippy You want to get Pippy? - God, David You're too wimpy
That's the one for the dance, don't you think?
- Hello, Pippy Face the gentlemen - Don't you think?
Face the gentlemen
Pippy and me together
- You get Pippy? - [David] Yes
They are some of the most beautiful kitties in the world
I just wanted to elope with those kitties
Put 'em in a big basket and elope with 'em
Their faces... They have a face like Jerry, you know
[Giggles] Lots of pathos, expression
Oh, what beautiful expressions they have in their faces
Gorgeous
All Angora, you know Long-haired kitties
- He's been sick too, you know - [Mrs. Beale] He's got those horrible things, Jerry
Oh, it's tragic We lost six cats We don't know what happened to them
He's got about 12 of those things right on the back of his neck
I can't take them out I haven't the courage Will you do it for me, Jerry?
Oh, don't be silly! Jerry's not going to do anything like that!
- Would you take them out? - Jerry's not... Don't touch him, Jerry!
- I'll have to take him to the doctor - Jerry, don't touch the kitten
- [Jerry] He has ticks? - No, they're not
- No, they're not ticks, babe - They're things that have got...
- They're the same things you complain about - Fleas have gotten underneath the skin
No, dear What you complain about when you use that spray
- You can't do it The doctor will have to do it - Oh, no...
Jerry is not going to do it!
[Mrs. Beale] Well, when h-he's asleep... she sleeps...
- We're not going to have Jerry do that - You come in at half past 7:00
[Jerry] I'm not listening, because I'm not gonna do it
and I don't wanna be disrespectful
[Mrs. Beale] Well, I can't do it I haven't got courage enough
But if Jerry starts pulling the kitten's neck, the kitten's gonna bite him!
No, you don't do that
Well, it isn't right for the kitten to go through that!
Well, Jerry darling, tomorrow will you come over here?
I'll show you when Edie's sleeping We'll do it together
[Jerry] Sorry, I'm confused I don't know who to listen to now
[Mrs. Beale] You listen to me She doesn't pay the bills I do
Baby, wh-where have you been?
[Makes Kissing Sound] Hey, jimmy boy
I can't figure out whether it's jimmy or Pinky Has it got one eye or two?
[David] One
Well, then that's Pinky How did he get out?
Here, Pinky Here, Pinky
It's Mother's favorite cat
Here, Pinky Here, Pinky boy
There's somebody walking in here I guess the cat
You know, I think our cats are gonna come back [Makes Kissing Sound]
One yelled around the house three nights ago I meant to tell you
Yelled under Mother's window all night long
You know why it didn't come back? 'Cause it smelled Jerry
Now, if Jerry would stay away about a month, I think we'd get at least two back
Somebody's gonna see us! [Giggles]
[David] What is it?
I used to come out here and sit here just for hours
I found out it annoyed everybody in East Hampton
so then I never came on the front porch again
See, I swept the porch, morning...
morning and night for about 20 years
And all the children used to come by
with their mothers and fathers in the station wagons
and they'd all scream, "Cats! Daddy, where are the cats?"
And the cats would always walk around like this
I used to feed them over there
So then, after doing this for 20 years
I found out, you know, finally
uh, th-th-that we'd annoyed the East Hampton village
And annoyed everybody!
And one woman said to me...
"Haven't you got any pride? Don't you ever get sick?" she said to me
[David] Really?
But I did stop it after
All these people came in here
investigated how we lived
I never, never went out on the front porch again
I put the cats out in the back, and they were stolen
So...
I don't know when I'll ever start it aga... Well, I'll never let the cats out again, ever
They're in for the duration
'Cause we only have six cats left
- [David] Oh - I'll never let one of them out again
Hello! Look at this one
My God, he's the image of Champ
Look at him He has a cold in his nose this morning
This is the biggest of all, Edie
I think he's definitely the father
because it, uh... you know, it's, uh...
- Look out, Edie Get out of the way - It's completely, uh, you know...
What am I trying to say?
Hey, look up Look up and have your picture taken
Look up Look up, kitty
[Edie] We're not starting in with the cat thing again Don't worry
- Look up, kitty Look - I just couldn't go through it
- Five is plenty - Well, you have to take care of these
- You didn't know you were gonna have babies - We may have to sell them
- I don't think we should have more than five cats - Look at that funny thing on top of its head!
Don't think we're gonna breed again, 'cause we're not
I think they oughta each have one of these
- I'll bring them up... - They're too little! Don't give them away yet!
- The mother will go insane! - Oh, I think about, uh, three...
- Please don't - Three weeks, I think, would be plenty of time
Don't you? Three weeks? I think that would be...
- I don't want to become attached again - Can you see them, Al?
- [Albert] Yeah - I'm so afraid of becoming attached and start breeding them again
Oh, come on Be good
Come on
[Albert] Who could that be out there?
For goodness sakes! This is Miss Lois Erdman Wright
- Hello, Edie - The psalmist of the Hamptons!
- Hello
- [Albert] Hi - [David] Lois, how are you?
- Lois darling, I have your $500 right here - Oh, thank you
- Hello - [Albert] Hi
I thought the boys were Charles, the grocery boy, or you
- Well, this is a surprise - Mother's asleep
Here's another... This is an old magazine That's five
- [Edie] These are my bell bottoms - You look stunning
- You know where they came from? - Where?
Brill's
Not another article on Jackie! Not another one What? Another one?
- [Lois] No - Another... [Scoffs]
Just a magazine this time
Getting a little bit better
[Lois] However, you have a fabulous head line
It's very, very long That's the gauge of your intelligence
- That's it right here? - This is your head line
And that's the line of Apollo... that's a talent line
- Right here? - No, this line right there
- This little one? - No, no, this line right here
- Oh, that one there? - You want my magnifying glass?
You know, I had an aversion I stopped reading palms
I started in nineteen-forty... when was it? Forty-seven
And then I stopped reading palms and did everything in writing and painting
So I decided... I got egotistical and decided that I wanted to do...
I was tired of telling everyone else what they should be doing
- [Mrs. Beale Giggles] - I got too, uh... too egotistical
- That's why you gave it up? - Yes, that's why I gave it up
- Lois, don't you want to show your paintings? - No
Take that painting out, Edie, behind the icebox I want it photographed
Turn it towards Mr. Maysles
[Edie] See, that's mystical
It's the desert, the pyramids...
[Lois] It has water in it too
I was unhappy I was in Montauk
- [Mrs. Beale] Oh, you were in Montauk? - Yes, so heaven knows what I'd paint
[Mrs. Beale] Well, it does look like Montauk
- There's one spot on the back - We use it as a window shade
Lois painted that
[Albert] Yeah?
[Edie] I suppose it's a flying angel
And, um, I wasn't sure whether it was the devil, you see
So I didn't take any chances
So all the animals who were in here...
And I thought that was a wonderful, uh, thing to put up in an animal room
- You know, about St Francis of Assisi - [Albert] Hmm
When you consider what... what's going on today
and then you compare Lois
she's very gifted
[Whispering] She really is She's very gifted
[Normal Voice] She, um, uh, exhibited
at Guild Hall quite a bit
I mean, they recognized her talent
She had quite a few exhibits
This is all art
This is another painting of Lois's
I had that hanging over there
[Giggles] But probably...
- [Mrs. Beale, Faint] They're here! - Desert sheik
Maybe it goes in here I don't know Maybe I should put it in the...
- Only a present for you! - A present for me? How wonderful!
- I said your mother came from Kentucky... - [Edie] Isn't that something?
[Lois] Isn't that wonderful? I cherish anything from Kentucky
[Mrs. Beale] See? I'm gonna cry right away
- Can I take that? - [Edie] Can you take it?
[Mrs. Beale] Yeah, she can take it It has bourbon
- Will the AA allow you to take that? - Oh, Edie, don't spoil that now
- [Lois] "Bourbon" - She can't take that
- [Lois] It does have bourbon in it - The AA won't allow that
We're in the presence of an AA, uh... [Giggles]
- Lois, don't you think you could take that? - Monitor or something
John Kennedy by Lois Erdman Wright
- I don't think I'm holding it the right way - [Mrs. Beale] You got it upside-down, darling
But aside from that, it's a very pretty picture
[Lois] This was about a couple of months after the assassination
[Mrs. Beale] Now, tell me what I'm to look for
I haven't seen this in so long, I don't know which way...
- [Mrs. Beale] See, Lois? You can't even recognize your own work - Well, that's ridiculous
Uh, let me see Explain it to me, Lois, will you, please?
[Mrs. Beale] Oh, I see the two eyes l-I see the two eyes
Uh, the two eyes right opposite me
- The frame got kind of... - Yeah, l-I...
No, it's dirty It just needs to be washed
- Raccoons! - The picture's fine
[Lois] I can read Edie's palms some other time, when you're not busy
No, you're gonna read it right now
[Edie] Just a minute, Lois I must see what you're reading
That's one of the widest spaces I've seen
- [Giggles] - What would you say about the head line?
It doesn't look too strong and it looks short?
Well, it has a little droop down to it
[Mrs. Beale] I don't really think we need anything they say, you know, uh, David
[Lois] Accordingly, you were born to have two marriages
- [Edie] I wanna do David's after - [Lois] You're supposed to have two marriages
One's David, and the other's Al
- [Edie] She's starting again - [Lois] We'll see how many you actually have
- Very good, Lois Isn't she, Mother? - You never told me about my marriages, Lois
[Lois] You have a marriage line here You rubbed the other one out
You know, you can change your marriage line
But in distance they go from the heart line up this way...
This marriage line's way up here in time
So that would indicate marriage
The one who has to have the heart is the man who marries you
Well, somebody told me I was gonna have seven husbands I've only had one, but...
I know Perhaps l... Perhaps I can have one a year for the next...
[Lois] Seven great loves, maybe
- [Edie] Did your mother teach you? - [Lois] No No, no I started...
[Edie] I read a book on it
I read a book on palmistry
Oh, well, back to the ancient...
Well, it's time... It's as old as recorded time
- [Mrs. Beale] You get tired talking all the time? - Ever since I've had this teeth trouble
- Oh, they say the Gypsies are wonderful - I'm not a Gypsy
You'd better tell them that You should have worn a costume
No, Lois had not been converted then
She was converted much, much later All her friends died from alcoholism
And she decided, in self-defense, she had to find some new friends
So the only place she could go was the AA and get the ones that were still alive
You know, that hadn't succumbed to the bottle
and the terrible orgies that go with it
You know, the intense agony of the, uh... the bursting, um...
the hemorrhaging of the liver
It blows up, finally
And all the other horrible things
that alcoholism produces
Sometimes, uh, when they have these seizures
the blood comes out of the ears, nose, eyes and every place all together
And, um, there are other ways to kill yourself
I really do think, than swigging down that rotten stuff
You know, it's fine if you just want to smoke
But if you really want to enjoy good food
and you take that awful whiskey and that awful stuff... firewater...
[David] Maybe that ruined Lois's teeth
Lois Wright never liked to eat
Mrs. Wright was... was the most terrific Kentucky cook
but Lois didn't like to eat at all
I don't know why, but she didn't
She was crazy about cake I think... She has Polish, Austrian blood
Lois just liked very, very gooey stuff
And she lived on black coffee She was always very thin
And Mother couldn't change her Just couldn't do anything with her
- [Mrs. Beale] Oh, is that the famous one? - For goodness sake
[Mrs. Beale] Is that the famous diner?
Lois, I hope I didn't make you mad I'm just fooling
- [Lois] Yeah - But you know me Don't you know me by now?
[Mrs. Beale] We know how rude you can be at the drop of a hat
You were so rude to Jerry the other night he went home crying
I saw him Tears in his eyes
Lois, my unselfish days are over Let's face it
[Mrs. Beale] Well, you won't have any friends if you're not sweet
- Absolutely no - Oh, sweet Yes, I must be sweet
That's it
[Mrs. Beale] Well, I'm glad you're a little tiny bit more content than you were
before they splashed you in the ocean
- [David] I heard you went swimming, Edie - They didn't splash me in the ocean
[Mrs. Beale] Why don't you go with her, Jerry?
No, I like to swim alone, Mother darling I don't want to go with anyone
- I would have gone in... - [Mrs. Beale] I wouldn't dare go alone!
- I would have gone in with Al though - I'd drown in one second!
- [Mrs. Beale] Get the cat - [Lois] I am leaving now
- Get the cat - I'll go with her
- Lois darling, thank you for coming - Bye, Mrs. Beale
And, uh, come again tomorrow
No, thank you, but I will not be on the beach
- You're not going? - No
Why? Why won't you be on the beach, babe?
[Lois] Because Edie doesn't want me to be on the beach, and I understand that
- She doesn't own that beach That's a public beach - It's Edie's beach Absolutely
- No, it isn't, babe - It's your beach, Edie
[Mrs. Beale] We owned 36 feet of it at one time
[Lois] No, I understand, Edie
[Mrs. Beale] Well, you'd better not be so understanding
- [Knocking] - That's Jerry
- I'll see you all, but not on the beach Bye - Thank you for the present, babe
[Edie Giggles]
You wanna come up to the porch? [Grunts]
- You wanna come up? - [David] Yeah, okay Okay
[Edie] You remember what I did before we went to the Wainwrights'coming-out party?
[Edie Laughing]
You said I laid down on the floor! [Laughing Continues]
We were coming down the stairs
and Mother said that I lay right on the floor up there
- [Mrs. Beale Shouts, Faint] - [Laughs]
- What? - [Mrs. Beale Continues Shouting]
I feel fine What?
[Mrs. Beale] How's David's eyes?
- Oh, David darling, are you all right? - [David] Yep
Lois has called up
I didn't tell her you were sick I think Lois has a crush on you
But I did try to get rid of her I said, "You must go over to the 777 th Air Squadron
They're all from New York City, Lois"
I said, "With your car and all those clothes
and those new teeth and that hair dress of yours, you must go right over there"
That's how to get rid of the other woman
(music) [Whistling]
[Edie] Better put some makeup on
[Footsteps Ascending Staircase]
- David, please help me - It's burning
The house is on fire, and I don't know where it is
- Okay, we'll find out We'll find out - I can't find it!
I should have called the fire department a long time ago!
- I couldn't find it! I couldn't find it! - [Footsteps On Stairs]
Here it is! Oh, my God!
- Oh, we'll get it - You want blankets? You want a blanket, David?
[Albert] Okay Yeah, call the operator
- [David] I'll get it I'll get it - [Mrs. Beale] What is it?
My blanket! Wait for my blanket
Oh! The house is burning down!
- Come, please! - What's on fire?
- [Albert] There's a fire right here - There is?
- Yeah - Please call immediately on this... Water!
We need water We need water
Call, Mother, call!
[Albert] They're coming They're coming
Please, Mother, call the fire department! Fire department! Please call!
- Watch out Watch out, Edie - What do you want me to...
Let me move this I'll do whatever you say
David David You want more water?
- You got it going? Is it running? - Yes, it's running
- Open up all the windows - [Edie] Where is it?
For God's sake, what is the matter with you? Are you crazy?
[David] No, it's okay, Edie
- It's smoldering now - [Siren Wailing]
[Mrs. Beale] Did you get the kitty?
Oh, Edie Who's back there, firemen Hello?
[David] It looks good now
- How did it start, do you think? - [Man] We don't know
[David] I'm gonna go outside here Be careful
Ugh
Open up some more windows
- There goes the fire truck - Yeah?
Yeah Going now You see it?
[Edie] They're much more polite than they used to be
They used to go in every room
[Mrs. Beale, Faint, Indistinct]
We have to finish... you know, fix the house up because they can arrest me
[Mrs. Beale] Yeah
My brother's gonna make us leave now
He pays the taxes on the house
I must say, David and Al, your nerves are made of steel
Did you thrill the firemen with that skirt?
Nobody would believe that, Al They'd put you away, wouldn't they?
Did you thrill 'em with that skirt?
Because it wouldn't pay for them to come up and save the fire if you didn't thrill them
- Did you make it pay? - I've lost a lot of weight, thank God
Did you make it pay, saving the fire at the house?
- God, I got some of this fat off - You made it pay, did you?
Well, I got out in plenty of time to be saved
- The room was full of smoke - You know what I'm sitting on?
I'm sitting on one of those bags, you know, for the bed
- David and Al have nerves of steel - I thought it was a cushion
Oh, David and Al were absolutely superb
And they... Nerves of steel
Why did you frighten them so?
- I go crazy - What?
- I go crazy - You never told me
- When I see fire, I go out of my mind - Get back, Edie, down there
- Put your chair back a little bit - I go absolutely out of my mind
- Put your chair back - I always do the blanket trick
Did you have to do it with Jacqueline’s $300 blankets?
- Didn't work - It didn't work?
It didn't work Burned a big hole, and the fire kept on going
It's inflammable
I knew she'd give me something inflammable that wouldn't put the fire out
Is that why it didn't put... Oh, no No
Head of the fire department, Mr. Gale, explained
Inflammable, probably
No, he explained about the copper pipe heating the dry boards
He said no blanket would put that out
- He did say that? - Yeah
[Mrs. Beale] Yeah, those boards were awful dry
They can put a chemical Guess you have to have new copper pipes put in
You'll have to move out of the house, and Buddy will find out
and we'll all be arrested yet
(music) Arriving (music)
(music) In my lonely world (music)
(music) Over here (music)
(music) Oh, spring will be (music)
(music) A little late (music)
(music) This year (music)
(music) A little late (music)
(music) Arriving (music)
(music) [Humming]
(music) Or too fine (music)
(music) So I can say (music)
(music) Spring will be (music)
(music) A little late (music)
(music) This year (music)
- [Chuckling] - [Albert] Competing with Mother, huh?
Oh, I can't
Mother says she was trained
The raccoons got at this, and I had to put tape...
[Edie] Sing "Around the World in 80 Days"
- Hmm? - Sing "Around the World in 80 Days"
"I found my world in you" Please
- (music) Around the world in 80 days (music) - That's right
(music) [Both Humming]
(music) Around the world in 80 days (music)
He said, "My God This isn't Beale dancing that dance"
(music) [Vocalizing]
Would you open that drawer, Edie, get my other glasses?
(music) Around the world (music)
(music) In 80 days (music)
(music) [Vocalizing]
(music) Around the world (music)
- (music) In 80 days (music) - (music) [Vocalizing]
(music) And then I found my world (music)
- (music) In you (music) - (music) In you, Jerry (music)
[Mrs. Beale] I found my world in you, Jerry
- (music) Around the world (music) - You're not going around Go round
- (music) In 80 days (music) - Round and round 10 times without stopping
Ten times around the world We want to see you fall down
(music) Then I found my world in you (music)
[Men Laughing]
Ooh, that was my favorite one
"I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me
"But what can be the use of him is more than I can see
"He's very, very like me from the heels up to the head
"And I see him jump before me when I jump into my bed
"But the funniest thing about him
"is the way he likes to grow
"Not at all like other children
"which is always very slow
"For he sometimes shoots up taller
"like an Indian rubber ball
"and sometimes he's so little
"that there's none of him at all
One night"...Something "before" "The moon was up
I went and saw the shine on every buttercup"
Oh, yes, that's it
"But my lazy little shadow
"like an arrant sleepyhead
"had stayed at home behind me
"and was fast asleep in bed
There was no shadow that night, you know, when..."
- That's Robert Louis Stevenson, I think - I know [Chuckling]
- Oh, God I used to laugh at that - That's nice
- Yes And there was no shadow that night - Yeah
He didn't say it
So he just made up an idea He had this terrific imagination, you know
Don't you know a lot of those songs, Edie? I mean, those poems
[Edie] Mmm, Alice in Wonderland
"In winter I get up at night and dress by yellow candlelight
"In summer quite the other way I have to go to bed by day
"I have to go to bed and see the birds still hopping on the tree
"and hear the grown-up people's feet
"still going past me in the street
"And does it not seem odd to you
"when all the sky is clear and blue
"And I would like so much to play
To have to go to bed by day?"
- Isn't that terrific? - Makes me cry
- That's terrific Who wrote that? - Robert Louis Stevenson
- The most marvelous man
I would cry I felt so sad... little children had to go to bed by day
Made me cry
[Edie] David, darling
You're a cross between Rudy Valentino and, uh, the Great Gatsby
[Giggling]
[Albert] What's the story? I don't understand
Am I your alter lover or what? Who is it, David or me?
It kept me awake all last night I can't make up my mind
I wasn't kidding when I said "design for living"
I... Did you ever read that story called "Wings"?
After the first World War
this girl's in love with these two aviators
And after World War I ends
they just decide to go away together
to get over the war
So I've forgotten who it was played by, but it's a very famous story
made into a movie called Wings
And they start off around the world... this girl with the two aviators...
and they have a hell of a time
But ever since then, I've had this desire, you know
to find somebody that I liked...
I mean, not just one, but two
Now, I'm not talking about the group travel they do nowadays in the space age
You know, my aunt, she's a widow, and she went with seven other widows
Now, I don't mean that kind of stuff
I mean, really to have fun
You know, not with one, but with two
And I don't mean women either
My days of pleasing men are over
You know, I've said how I used to sit in bars and learned how to drink
'cause they wanted me to drink with them and all that
This is the end I'm not gonna do anything anymore for anybody
Except Mother and the cats, of course
And I like Al and David
As far as being pleasing to men
Well, yeah, I would try to cook up nice costumes
and sing songs that they like
But I mean, as far as the social life being pleasing to the opposite sex
I'm not gonna waste the time
But then I don't think American men are a bit romantic
I like foreigners for some reason
I like Russians, Italians, Greeks, Poles
They're romantic
What's romantic about an American stockbroker
who you play tennis with at the age of 12
down at the Maidstone Tennis Club?
What's romantic about that?
I mean, I don't want to hear about his Yale days and everything
(music) Or should I just be hot for a spot in the South and sing of it (music)
(music) I do both and that's just the hell of it (music)
(music) Should I be sweet or hot (music)
(music) It's up to you (music)
[Mrs. Beale] I don't know any of those songs anymore
(music) So I repeat (music)
(music) Should I sing (music)
(music) La-da-da-da-dee, da-da (music)
- Her voice is better - (music) Or just be hot for a spot in the South (music)
(music) And sing of it (music)
(music) I do both And that's just the hell of it (music)
(music) [Humming]
- That sure is funny - (music) I like the black stockings (music)
Never learned that from me
(music) Should I be sweet or hot (music)
(music) It's up to you (music)
That's for David
- Where's your bust protector? Where is it? - I haven't found it
You think it would look sexier with the bra underneath?
- Oh, yeah Much - It would Isn't it terrible? I haven't found it
- I think I know where it is - Modesty is the sexiest thing you can do
I say modesty is the sexiest thing you can do
- I found one - Put your clothes on, boy, you're really sexy
(music) [Vocalizing]
[Mrs. Beale] Don't you find her that way, kid?
(music) Should I be sweet or hot (music)
- (music) It's up to you (music) - You want that, do you?
- (music) Don't ever leave me (music) - [Chattering]
(music) Now that you're here (music)
[Mrs. Beale Chattering]
- (music) [Humming] - [Jerry] If you're losing your summer coat
She said that I said to get it for her
- Al, darling! - [Mrs. Beale] Is that the waitress or the cook?
- This is the waitress - I don't know who...
- Eeny, meeny, miny, mo - Would you eat this dessert?
I mean, meals, whatever You eat...
[Jerry] Sure I'd eat them I eat almost anything
[Mrs. Beale] Then would you get up and get something
or would she get up and get it for you?
[Jerry] She usually makes sandwiches for me
You went out, David Eeny, meeny, miny, mo
- [Jerry] Remember in springtime you used to make those sandwiches? - Yes, I do
- Could you make me one now? - David! - Yeah, I sure will
[Giggling] Al, darling!
Well, I'm gonna have Edie escort me to the front door
- Electronic eyes upon me - [Mrs. Beale] Who are those people?
[Jerry] Let's see The second maid's Susan
[Mrs. Beale] Oh! Is that the one that loves you so much?
- I guess - Gonna give up her job for you
- The footage... - Yeah, that's what she said
The footage you've got on this...
I don't think I'm doing it justice... the whole thing
[Chattering]
I think I better take a bath tonight
and get out a lot of clothes
And really make a big thing I really do
[Jerry] Right You told me you carried this all around
[Mrs. Beale] I got terribly hurt
I love having men look at me again like this
[Giggling]
[Plane Engine Hums]
It never would have happened in South Hampton, I'm telling you
The police wouldn't have gone along with it, I don't think
Or it would have leaked out, and somebody would have come and said something
[Albert] What about Mother? What is she doing?
My father educated her out of the Catholic religion
but he was so cruel to me
that
I had to go to other sources to get what I wanted
and I got it from the Catholic Church
They told me there was nothing wrong with me
and there was nothing wrong with my mother
and there was no reason why I couldn't get what I wanted out of life
I wasn't a dirty dog
My whole life, I'd been ground down and insulted
every single minute
And I got strength and courage from the Catholic Church
and I can't give them up
That's the answer
I got protection, faith
But my faith is quite weak though 'cause I'm a negative nature
[David] So what's with Father Huntington? What's he gonna find out today?
- Father Huntington? - [Edie] I can't tell him anything that will upset him, David
- He's very sensitive - She's only going to show him how thin she got
That's the only reason Not going for any other reason
- I haven't been since Lent - She's got less religion in her than any girl I ever met in my life
Mother doesn't like the Catholic religion 'cause they poured it right down her throat
All her old relatives, they dragged her to church
I loved it when I was little I walked to church three miles with my father every Sunday
- That's why she doesn't like it - I do I love it
They didn't do that to me I had to get it on my own and fight for it
- Listen, he allowed it - I got it the hard way
He didn't approve of my going to the confessional after I got married
He didn't think it was anybody's business
to find out about my sexual life
Nobody took any religion away from me or did anything to me
since the day I was born
- He wouldn't let her go to Mass - He certainly would
I went to Mass up until the time I was 28 years old
That's how she got so fat... not getting up on Sunday to go to Mass
What a whopper that is
Keeps you very thin
I'm not going to church to keep thin
I'm going to go because I love the Lord
- If it's Father Gary, I can tell him... - Be sweet to your mother
more of my difficulties 'cause he's young and everything
But Father Huntington knows my brother
and I wouldn't tell him anything to upset him
Then what are you going there for, to show him the new skirt the boys bought you?
Hmm? What you going there for?
Unless you got the right priest, you don't have a good confession at all
You don't have a good time That's what you don't have
No, it's very serious, but you've got to get an understanding person
- It's very difficult - You're starting too late in life, babe
- It's terribly difficult - I made my holy communion at 10 years old
- I'm not talking about holy communion - I'm just talking about holy communion
Got to have someone that really understands
[Edie] I fought very hard for my religion
I don't think I should have given it up so easily, no matter what they did to me
I think I should have gone to church, no matter what
Even if I did hate the taxi drivers and everything after the raid
You know, I didn't want to be seen down in that church
sitting with all those people
I fought so hard to get it I should never, never have given it up
So I'm gonna go back to it
- I know what David thinks - What?
- But he's wrong - About what?
- [Edie Giggles] - [Albert] About the confessional?
Yes, he thinks that... I didn't confess any of that
- Confess what? - What you think I should have told him
I have no idea
[Mrs. Beale Muttering] I don't know...
She thinks I shouldn't have danced that way in front of them and everything
- And not signed and everything - [Mrs. Beale] Not signed, yes
I didn't do it for that reason I was just trying to be...
[David] That wasn't on my mind at all
I was wondering if you thought I should confess...
How bad you were?
Enticing you or something, you know?
- I was wondering if he thought... - [Mrs. Beale] That's a nice scarf you got on
- [David] You sound very guilty, Edie - Looks like it
I didn't confess that because I didn't do it for that reason
I just wanted to look...
while I sang it
But he did seem very embarrassed He kept turning away the whole time
- [Mrs. Beale] Who is this? - David
- I don't think he turned away - Well, you didn't see him
- I don't think there was anything naughty - Was that bad?
- Didn't seem bad to me - I didn't think it was
Not unless she stripped completely and then went around naked
She never will put lipstick on for you again It's a sin now
Now that she's going to church, she can't use makeup anymore
[Edie] They said WLNG made an erroneous statement
They said about five plots have been hatched
I guess they had spies in the Democratic camp
Don't you think that was it?
And probably working in her house too
[David] Still doing that thing?
That's the way they do here
Well, everywhere with politics
They put spies in your bedroom practically
If you're in politics, you can't be too careful
I got two grapevine reports
Guess how many people they had at the Republican meeting just lately?
Guess how many
I mean, you know, East Hampton Town and Village Board
Republican meeting Guess how many people They only had 30
Uh, the Democratic party is coming up again
Guess how many were there
From 75 to 100 people
The Democratic party
Means the fight for the East Hampton Village has begun
between the forces of good and the forces of evil
And I needn't tell you who the forces of evil are
Who's the party of special interests
that always grinds down the little people?
Who's the party that doesn't give a damn
as long as they make millions to put in their bank?
Who's the party that... that scrounges around
to find out all the dirt they can and use it against the opponent
to destroy the two-party system
that made America what it is today?
Who's the party who delivered a crooked president?
Oh, I'm mad about New York State Aren't you?
Don't you adore New York State?
The Catskill Mountains and the Bear mountain?
And the Hudson River What?
[David] I like the colors around
I'm insane about New York State
It's Dutch, you know, and I always think of Rip van Winkle
dowry town and everything
A lot of old families used to live up there
Do you know, my friends are dead that used to live in Tuxedo Park?
- Who? - The Barbays Isn't it terrible?
- Time goes on - As you get older, your friends just fade away
You two haven't reached that yet, have you? I don't think you have
- Your contemporaries fading out? - Parents
Oh, yeah Well, relatives, yes
It's awful though
Nearly all of my... Well, the war took nearly all the boys I danced with
They died in World War II Terrible
You know, the very best
They all died
You know, the great heroes
All dead Best families
I suppose they were the bravest
Awful
What did they call the people that didn't go? The Four F-ers?
They always sent the best to fight
instead of the, uh...
They should have sent the sick ones, and the whole thing would have been over
The ones that had physical, uh, things wrong
Then the wars wouldn't have lasted They wouldn't have...
They just couldn't have done it with people that weren't absolutely feeling wonderful
War's gotta be outlawed Don't you think?
- It should be - War should be against the law
I remember I wrote that
- You're right - Isn't that funny?
- Okay Where are you? - Here Which way?
Oh, you're with Biggy's grave
Mother just lost her eyebrow pencil
That's Biggy's grave
He had concussion
I was terrible not to lock him up last summer I didn't know where to put him
They added every single room, so I had to let the cats out
Of course, he might have been run over, but I don't think so
I think he was clubbed
Well, I guess we better go
I never came out I didn't go swimming
See, uh, I usually go swimming
Well, if I don't go during the week, I always got there on Sundays
because I went to church on Sundays
This looks beautiful, doesn't it?
I didn't see the path
- You took the path yesterday? - Yeah
- Isn't it terrific? - Lovely
Isn't this wonderful? I'm losing a little weight
Especially with this
It's quite soft
Now, this is the walk I used to take to the beach
And I don't know whether it's changed or not
I always went over the fence right here
And somebody followed me home
I took notes and everything
'Cause a big black car used to go round all the time, round the house
And they looked like hoods
Here's where I'd go through, right here
And I think the black car used to follow me and see me going to the beach
I think they followed everybody
They had a mammoth dune over there that we called the Treasure Hole
It was the most tremendous dune you ever saw, and we used to go in it when we were little
And the Coast Guard had a little hut sitting...
I think the little hut was sitting right there
Just a little tiny hut A man used to sit in it
Then during the war, they had lookout towers and everything
You know, Coast Guard stations during the war
'Cause they had to report on the planes
That's what they were here for really... to track the planes
But now you have radar
This was made into a private beach
I think you have to pay $10 and have a sticker
You can't park in here otherwise
- [David] You're giving us a real tour - What?
You're giving us a real guided tour, like Jackie in the White House or something
- Yeah Guess so - [Laughing]
Thank God There's a boardwalk under here
My goodness
It's out of this world It's terrific
Absolutely terrific
The only thing I need are my sunglasses I forgot them
They made that into, you know, a regular beach with a lifeguard
He isn't here now
I guess after Labor Day, he leaves
Imagine having no sunglasses
My God
This is the Mannheims' house It used to be my land
We used to say that we owned right into the middle of the beach
but I don't know whether you can say that nowadays
You know, everything is for the public nowadays
Times have changed
Private property is not long for the, uh...
For anybody Hate to tell you this
I don't know where it all went
The private property rights and everything?
I can't understand what's cooking
I really see better with the whole thing over my face
I hope I frighten all these people
I'm gonna go in as soon as I get warmed up
Oh, this is terrific
Well, I'm celebrating the Kennedys' wedding
September the 12th, 1953
- Twenty years ago - Yeah Newport
I told my brother I hadn't been invited
I think I told him afterwards, and he said, "Oh, that was just an oversight," he said
But I don't know
The one in Oklahoma got an invitation
I don't think my brother in Glen Cove got one
Mother got one
I don't think she would have gone anyway though
Well, there's one thing that remains the same
- What? - Nature
Yeah
Man changes and is variable
but nature remains the same
The sun and the moon and all the things go on
In spite of man He crumbles
It's fairly calm, isn't it? Or am I... What?
- It's fairly calm? - Oh, yeah
If I go in there and I'm knocked down...
All right
Absolutely icy
Whoa
You had to wait a long time
- It's terrific, Al - Yeah
I'll sleep here It's not too bad
[Chuckling]
I don't know whether I better do any swimming [Laughs]
(music) All I want you to know (music)
(music) If I loved you (music)
(music) Words wouldn't come in an easy way (music)
(music) Round in circles I go (music)
(music) Trying to tell you (music)
(music) But afraid and shy (music)
(music) I find my golden chances (music)
(music) Pass me by (music)
(music) Soon you leave me (music)
(music) Off you would go in the mist of day (music)
(music) Never, never to know (music)
(music) How I loved you (music)
(music) If I loved (music)
(music) You (music)
- I just ate too much pie - [Edie] Very good! That was terrific!
[Mrs. Beale] I don't think that's funny, Edie
Listen, what... could you put on that black thing I love so much?
From Pearl River Could you do that for me?
- Oh, no, Mother That's a nightgown - Oh, no Looks like an evening dress
- Please put it on - Oh, never even think of it
Why not? They wear those things They look like evening dresses
It's transparent
It doesn't look any more like a nightgown than this looks like a nightgown
- It's very cute - Don't you want to put it on?
[David] How many times does Edie have to change costumes to make you happy?
- Oh, about 10 Yeah - A day
Yes, you're absolutely right, David
She keeps the same costume on too long, you know
- It gets very tiring - [David] What's your favorite?
Well, I like this black thing It's a gorgeous thing in black
- And it's got... - It's a nightgown
I could get something to wear underneath
No Wear the black... Wear those...
- Oh, I know what I can wear underneath - Wear those stockings
- Panty hose - Don't get them excited Put the damn thing on
- [No Audible Dialogue] - [Woman] (music) Perhaps I dream (music)
(music) Too much alone (music)
(music) You cannot guess what loveliness (music)
(music) Belongs to you (music)
(music) If you would dance we'd have a chance (music)
(music) To share it too (music)
(music) I am not gay enough (music)
(music) To share a waltz (music)
(music) Tonight I boast one of my most (music)
(music) Unhappy faults (music)
(music) I dream too much (music)
(music) But if I dream too much (music)
(music) I only dream to touch your heart again (music)
(music) I close my eyes (music)
(music) To see (music)
(music) Your hand, your smile (music)
(music) Your joy in loving me (music)
(music) We dance and sing We steal a touch of spring (music)
(music) I dream of everything (music)
(music) We two have known (music)
(music) And yet my dreams have shown (music)
(music) Perhaps I dream too much (music)
(music) Alone (music)
(music) We dance and sing (music)
(music) We steal a touch of spring (music)
(music) I dream of everything we two have known (music)
(music) And yet my dreams have shown (music)
(music) Perhaps (music)
(music) I dream too much (music)
(music) Alone (music)
(music) [Humming]
(music) [Humming Continues]
(music) Perhaps I dream too much (music)
(music) Alone (music)
[David] What about your dancing career, Edie?
Terrible Had the urge at the beginning of the summer, and I didn't get anywhere
Lois moved in Mother got very, very nervous and demanding about everything
And, uh, we had three more litters of kittens
That's why I have to leave
I really do I have to leave
I'm gonna leave anyway
You know why
I have to have another operation on my left eye
So what do you think about the way the world is going, Edie?
I think it's awful I think oil will be cut out, then gasoline
There's gonna be electric trolleys all over
Are they electric? They're trolleys anyway I saw pictures
They're gonna have them in every city Trolleys
I guess we'll see nearly every...
Well, you might see nearly everything give out What do you think?
Gasoline, oil
Everything will give out
[David] Tell us, what are these plants?
[Edie] Trumpet vine
They grew all over the back
They pulled them all down three years ago They've grown up again
I guess they grow from the ground up
That's why Mrs. Hill sold it You know what she loved
She was one of the world's greatest, uh, feminine horticulturalists
She was a landscape gardener and a very famous horticulturalist
Mrs. Robert C Hill
And she said to Mother, "I can't grow my delphiniums
"on account of the northeast wind
and the hurricane... the storms have ruined my garden every year"
You know, in the fall
And that's why they named this Grey Gardens
Eventually everything will grow back
Then they'll rush in, pull it all down again
They do it to everybody
They want everybody to be the same
You can't have anything different
There's great jealousy if you have anything...
anything that everybody else hasn't got, you know
[Chuckles] Conforming
It'll take a long time to get this house right You have no idea
To get it back to where it was
Mother says it will never make a comeback
It's been completely purged, brainwashed
How will it ever make a comeback?
Well, It grows very quickly 'cause they pulled every single bit of it off
three years ago
[David] Who's "they"?
Lee's workers, those horrible people
that put the rubber asphalt shingles on
We have rubber asphalt shingles They're terrible
They crack I don't think they're any good
They're very cheap You know, people said that the raccoons wouldn't eat them
But they crack They have other things wrong
And you can't hear the rain
They're not porous They're not healthy
You know, water's porous, and these rubber asphalt shingles are not porous
It's like having a road on top of your roof
I finally realized that I don't think Mr. Onassis knew
that we didn't know he paid for everything
You know, my brother told us Mr. Onassis paid for everything
So I think if we'd had some direct kind of contact with Mr. Onassis
I think all these terrible things wouldn't have been done
I never wrote him a thank-you letter or anything
I just thanked Jacqueline
Wasn't any of her money at all It was Mr. Onassis
I think he was the one that wanted to help us
But we didn't know all that
I think if we told him how we hated rubber asphalt shingles
he would have put on the wooden ones
But we didn't know
[David] But you say East Hampton wanted to make you conform?
Well, I think so I think they did it through this terrible thing
of not letting one little flower bloom
in this strange place or something
'Cause we had a chauffeur about 10 or 15 years ago
and he went back to Great Britain
He told me he had a couple of wildflowers
blooming along his poor little road and little cottage on a little back road
He said the authorities came and took those two or three little wildflowers away
from this poor little road
Said he couldn't have any flowers that were down too far on the lawn
So that's the first thing I heard about what they were doing...
to make everything look alike
All places the same
[David] Edie, what do you think of
Grey Gardens for the title of the film?
[Edie] Swell... Wonderful! Yes, I think that's wonderful
[David] Do you have any other ideas?
I think Mother liked the names Just a minute
Would you rather have it changed to Grey Gardens, Mother?
- Oh, Kim said veal and... - [Mrs. Beale, Indistinct]
- Why? - [Mrs. Beale, Indistinct]
- She says she'll have to think it over - No, I did not!
I said, come back and talk to me about it
Yeah She says she better talk to you about it
They might think it was a, uh...
They might think it was a movie about flowers
You know, Grey Gardens
[Giggling]
I think they're Caroline's pants
Aren't you cold, David? How are you? Do you miss...
How bare everything is in winter, Edie Lookit Up there
Well, you know, uh, the sea and everything
- How bare it is - Yeah In June it's all right
Somebody was trying to get in the cellar
this, uh... this, uh, winter
I guess they were hurling these cans at the windows
They come around in winter and do terrible things
Vandals And they're all very young kids
That's the terrible part They're babies
One of them lives across the street
He goes to the East Hampton public high school
And I think he's in a gang
And that's why we have all this trouble
So Edie's here another winter?
It's my last winter I'm too old
I need a nice, warm little island
A hot little island
I do hate a mess I don't know where this came from
Maybe it was our garbage bags
Now, this came from...
This is old stuff from the holes in the roof, I think
Mother's Vaseline
Mother's old tube of Vaseline
I guess I better go in
It's gonna snow, I think It's horrible
Oh!
Here Okay Get it?
- Yeah - 663
{{{the end}}}