gutter, yet you won't eat with us.
You know where that leaves people
like me? Nowhere!
- It isn't the time. I don't wanna hear it.
- You're going to hear it!
- I'm gonna be a good dancer!
- Just get out of here, please!
- You will not keep me down...
- Leave me alone!
- ...because I can't read stories!
- Don't you think of anyone but yourself?
Hey.
How's your old man doing?
Shit.
Here.
Thank you.
Coco. Bonjour. You made it. Come on in.
- Am I early?
- Don't be silly. Let me take your coat.
- Where's the crew?
- You're looking at him.
I must have total control of
the creative product.
Like Godard.
- Jean-Luc Godard? Ever hear of that guy?
- French?
- You ever see any of his pictures?
- Sure.
Then you know what I'm talking about.
You see, I belong, sort of, to the
auteur school of filmmaking.
It's like the...
It's like the Mediterranean
approach, you know what I mean?
- Do you want a beer?
- No, thanks. I'm okay.
- It might relax you.
- It's all right. I have a lot on my mind.
I understand.
- What?
- Come here.
That's it. I want you to sit right here.
We're gonna do a lovely close-up
of that beautiful face.
I get nervous at first with cold readings,
but then I'm all right.
Don't worry about that.
We'll get to the dialogue later.
- So, you like art movies, huh, Coco?
- Antonioni and those people? Sure.
It beats watching Laverne & Shirley.
Coco, you don't know
what you're doing to my lens.
You have a natural rapport
with the camera.
It's unbelievable. Some performers
can make love to the camera.
Garbo did.
Monroe did.
So could you.
- Yeah?
- Oh, yeah.
Could you take your top off, please?
- What?
- Could you take your blouse off?
- Are you kidding?
- No, I'm not kidding.
What's the matter?
You're acting like some dumb kid.
- I thought you were a professional.
- I am.
Well, then what's the problem?
I can't.
That's better.
That's lovely.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah. Could you arch your back?
Arch your back a little, Coco.
Smile for me, Coco.
Come on, Coco. Smile, smile.
Smile for me.
Now take your thumb...
...and put it in your mouth...
...Iike a little schoolgirl.
You ever notice that
black news reporters...
...get hired because
they have white accents?
They should hire a more natural guy,
a dude from the street.
"This is Rufus X with the news... "
I need something.
Sleep.
- Something to keep me flying.
- Like what?
Like by way of your witch doctor.
I don't see Dr. Golden anymore.
You know that.
Anyway, you've been taking too much.
- Thanks, Marcus Welby.
- I know what I'm talking about.
Why don't you get off my fucking case?
- I'm your friend.
- You're my friend? Really?
I know what you've been
after, you goddamn faggot.
I gotta go to the bathroom.
Good. You do that.
Hi. You got a problem?
Yeah, I do.
We never see you anymore.
You see me plenty.
Drinking with your new friends
after the show.
After the show is when
all the big names come in.
You meet people. That's what counts.
I hate drinking. I'm doing this
for my future. For our future.
You're doing this for some image,
for Freddie because he did it.
- Yeah? Maybe.
- Yeah? Well, he died doing it.
- He could have been a real actor.
- He was!
He was funny and charming
and he made people laugh. That's it.
- That's plenty!
- That's not enough! Not for you!
- Jesus Christ!
- You are good, Ralph.
- You're seriously really good.
- Jesus.
You're full of rage and pain and love.
Not just jokes. You're an original.
The original Ralph Garci.
- You don't have to be somebody else.
- You're bringing me down!
- You're bringing me fucking down!
- I'm sorry!
I gotta go make people laugh, and
you're talking about rage and pain.
- I said I'm sorry!
- It takes fucking wings.
Miss Seriously, let me tear flypaper, huh?
Give me a fucking break, honey!
Give me a fucking break.
Okay, pal? Thank you.
- What's happening to you?
- What's happening to me? Success.
Now, you either