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♪ Some glad morning... ♪
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♪ When this old life is over... ♪
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♪ Oh, I... ♪
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♪ I'll fly away ♪
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♪ Listen! ♪
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♪ I want to hear... ♪
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♪ David play the horn... ♪
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Form, content,
both of these play a part,
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but what do you think is more important?
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Well, I think form
should follow content, always,
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but, you know,
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sometimes, form can be
its own kind of content.
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Right, right, so interesting.
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Now, let me take a moment
to ask a more prosaic question.
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How did you each get published?
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Well, I slept with his father.
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Ah!
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Right there,
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the secret to success,
ladies and gentlemen.
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...a more prosaic question.
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How did you each get published?
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Well, I slept with his father.
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Ah!
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Right there,
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the secret to success,
ladies and gentlemen.
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That's how you play the game.
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♪ I'll fly away... ♪
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I'm not doing it.
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Of course you are.
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- No.
- Hank!
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No, I don't see the value of it.
32
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In having a live,
onstage conversation with George Saunders?
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- No.
- Booker Prize-winning George Saunders?
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British prize.
Very pretentious.
35
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Also a finalist
for the National Book Award.
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Mm...
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Named one of the 100 most
influential people by Time magazine.
38
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Time magazine
isn't what it used to be.
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He had a MacArthur Fellowship.
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I have kidney stones, so we're even.
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I'm sorry about the kidney stones.
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Take your pills.
I have some if you want.
43
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But there are other issues.
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With the impending budget cuts,
45
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it's distasteful to be paying
this guy 10 grand for a one-hour talk.
46
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- Ten grand, I wish.
- What, 20 grand?
47
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Thirty? Fifty? For Christ sakes!
48
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This was settled weeks ago.
49
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Why are you bringing this up now?
50
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I'm concerned that I might
accidentally say something
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really consistent
with my personality,
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but inconsistent
with a modern college campus.
53
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- That's valid.
- Yeah.
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And I don't want to talk you
55
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into doing anything
that you don't want to do.
56
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He didn't want you either.
But the public at large does.
57
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Wait, what did you just say?
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He... He wants you
to be okay with this
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because he's okay with this.
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Why wouldn't he be okay with this?
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Look, Hank,
I spoke on the phone with him.
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When he gets here, you guys chat.
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You're old friends, right?
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I know that.
What did you tell him?
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I told him you'd be honored.
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I am honored, but I still want out.
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- No.
- Why not?
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Because there's thousands of posters
plastered all over campus,
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and I know that
you're gonna be great at this
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because there's not
a fiction writer within 50 miles
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who's in your league,
72
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and everyone knows that,
and you're our guy.
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Get Finny to do it.
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Finny will ask a question for 45 minutes
75
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and it won't even be a question.
76
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- Well, who is it?
- What?
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The writer outside of 50 miles of here?
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Okay! Get out of here.
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You get to a certain age
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and you lose all faith in experts.
81
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I know how well I do my job,
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and to think others
are working at the same level,
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that's completely unacceptable,
84
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especially doctors.
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I'm not denying your symptoms,
86
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but their cause isn't kidney stones.
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And as a teacher,
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I see through guys like this.
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I mean, he was right
in the middle of his class,
90
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maybe in the bottom third.
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...in excruciating pain.
92
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I'm looking at a B-minus assessment
93
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of my medical problems.
94
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I mean, I'm sweating.
95
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I almost pass out during racquetball.
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I think you're ignoring
some obvious facts.
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My father had kidney stones.
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You've mentioned.
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And his father did.
100
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You don't want kidney stones.
101
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Little monsters with jagged edges
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that can tear the lining off your penis.
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Jesus.
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What... did you really need...
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You know what?
106
00:05:00,634 --> 00:05:03,220
If it's not too much trouble,
I think I want a second opinion.
107
00:05:04,263 --> 00:05:06,432
- What about you?
- She's not a radiologist.
108
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She's not allowed to evaluate results.
109
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It could be due to stress.
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That's your go-to, right?
All doctors say that.
111
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I rarely say that.
112
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You have the floor.
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She's not going to contradict me.
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Okay, I guess
you've thought of everything.
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So you're saying there's no way
that this could be stress?
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It's embarrassing.
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We started on the same level.
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In fact,
I think I was better regarded,
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for about 10 days.
120
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My book review
was on a Wednesday,
121
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and then the sales figures
came in the next Thursday,
122
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so eight days.
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Eight days.
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Hank, you...
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You're sharing the stage with him.
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Yeah. The last time I did that,
it sucked.
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It's an honor.
128
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There's a fine line between honor
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00:06:02,613 --> 00:06:05,491
and "I wish
I never met that dickhead."
130
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What is it about writing
that attracts so many dickheads?
131
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I mean, somehow, the need to tell everyone
about your rich inner life
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it's irresistible,
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but why would anyone care
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about somebody else's rich inner life?
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Have a rich outer life
for the rest of us to enjoy.
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"The warm wood on her forearms."
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Oh!
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Oh, yeah, I did use that.
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I'm so sorry.
I plagiarized myself.
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No, no, no, no, no. No.
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Don't pass judgement.
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You just...
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You have to press yourself.
144
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You have to think past
the images that you already own so that--
145
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That's the way--
146
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Why don't we take three minutes?
147
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I swear I don't even remember
writing that.
148
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Dickhead.
149
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I don't understand
why you don't just talk to him.
150
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Professor Rourke
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00:07:17,604 --> 00:07:20,941
is not the kind of man
who responds to reason,
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especially not from someone like me.
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Hmm.
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He's a misogynist, isn't he?
155
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Sometimes, the male brain
isn't developed enough
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to understand its cruelty.
157
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He bullies you.
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Right here.
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- George.
- Hank.
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Hey, man,
thanks for inviting me.
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Yeah.
162
00:08:03,609 --> 00:08:04,818
My students are so excited,
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00:08:04,818 --> 00:08:07,029
they've been talking about
nothing else for weeks.
164
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I mean, they can't believe
that I actually know you.
165
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Oh.
166
00:08:10,824 --> 00:08:12,618
Well, my students
can't believe I know you.
167
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Your students
don't know who I am, do they?
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A couple do.
You know, I told them about you.
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Oh, okay.
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I gotta introduce you
to the department
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or they'll kill me.
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"I am not exactly dressed
for standing on the moon,
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which, as I understand it,
is super cold."
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That's from my New Yorker--
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Your victory lap, yeah,
New Yorker, October 2009.
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- Yeah.
- Yeah.
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00:08:36,934 --> 00:08:38,685
- Well, thanks.
- Oh...
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Your editor's wife
is our friend's sister.
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Oh. Well.
180
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How's your hotel?
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00:08:45,609 --> 00:08:47,361
I take it they have you
at the Moderna Center?
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00:08:47,361 --> 00:08:49,488
No, it was all full.
183
00:08:49,488 --> 00:08:50,989
There's a field hockey team
staying there.
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00:08:50,989 --> 00:08:53,033
- Big game tonight.
- Oh.
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00:08:53,033 --> 00:08:55,786
Uh, yeah, they have me
at The Drake, which is really lovely.
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Although there's a crane
outside my window,
187
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and I had a dream last night
of a talking wrecking ball,
188
00:09:01,208 --> 00:09:03,877
and it said I was going
to be late for the presentation,
189
00:09:03,877 --> 00:09:05,921
that I suck,
that nobody likes me, like...
190
00:09:08,382 --> 00:09:10,259
- Grace DuBois.
- Oh, nice to meet you.
191
00:09:10,259 --> 00:09:12,094
You must leave there at once.
Come stay with me.
192
00:09:12,094 --> 00:09:13,929
- We have a guest room.
- I have a guest house!
193
00:09:13,929 --> 00:09:15,013
You do not.
194
00:09:15,013 --> 00:09:16,556
It's above the garage.
You've seen it.
195
00:09:17,474 --> 00:09:18,600
It sounds lovely, but I--
196
00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:20,811
But there's no lock
strong enough to make you feel secure.
197
00:09:20,811 --> 00:09:23,647
It even has its own fridge,
198
00:09:23,647 --> 00:09:26,858
and a hot plate
if you are a tea drinker.
199
00:09:26,858 --> 00:09:29,403
I'm so sorry.
200
00:09:29,403 --> 00:09:30,904
They have me
on a bit of a schedule,
201
00:09:30,904 --> 00:09:32,698
but I hope to see you all
at the talk later.
202
00:09:32,698 --> 00:09:34,032
Oh, yes, yes.
203
00:09:34,032 --> 00:09:36,034
I might make it.
I have stuff to do.
204
00:09:38,870 --> 00:09:39,913
I hope you can come by.
205
00:09:41,123 --> 00:09:42,249
I probably won't be there.
206
00:09:46,545 --> 00:09:48,338
All right, well,
I'll just, I'll walk you out.
207
00:09:48,338 --> 00:09:49,548
Yeah.
208
00:09:51,842 --> 00:09:54,469
{\an8}"Charming eagles was a family trait.
209
00:09:54,469 --> 00:09:55,929
He didn't know how he did it,
210
00:09:55,929 --> 00:09:57,264
he just looked at them
211
00:09:57,264 --> 00:09:59,349
and thought about them
crashing into a cliff's face.
212
00:10:00,058 --> 00:10:01,852
The white-chested eagle,
213
00:10:01,852 --> 00:10:04,604
commanded by a mysterious force
it didn't understand,
214
00:10:04,604 --> 00:10:06,189
smashed itself."
215
00:10:09,693 --> 00:10:10,694
Interesting.
216
00:10:11,069 --> 00:10:12,070
Should I read more?
217
00:10:12,070 --> 00:10:13,530
No, no.
218
00:10:14,781 --> 00:10:16,366
- Go ahead.
- Uh, okay, thanks.
219
00:10:16,366 --> 00:10:18,994
Um, yeah, you're always escalating.
220
00:10:18,994 --> 00:10:20,662
I love that.
221
00:10:20,662 --> 00:10:22,039
That's a very rare thing,
222
00:10:22,039 --> 00:10:23,623
and it seems to come
very naturally to you.
223
00:10:23,623 --> 00:10:25,208
Yeah, yeah, it does.
224
00:10:25,709 --> 00:10:29,129
So we want to enforce escalation,
225
00:10:29,129 --> 00:10:31,173
even on the line level.
226
00:10:31,173 --> 00:10:32,966
If the eagle has a white chest,
227
00:10:33,675 --> 00:10:36,887
we can assume the reader
already knows that, right? Cut.
228
00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:40,557
And if the force is mysterious,
229
00:10:40,557 --> 00:10:43,101
do we need to say
the eagle didn't understand?
230
00:10:43,101 --> 00:10:44,936
That's implied. Cut.
231
00:10:45,854 --> 00:10:48,315
You know,
and a lot of this is just habitual.
232
00:10:48,315 --> 00:10:50,317
Yeah, he's just saying edit yourself.
233
00:10:51,735 --> 00:10:54,571
Yes, but if you want to be excellent,
234
00:10:54,571 --> 00:10:57,324
you have to reject the habitual.
235
00:10:57,324 --> 00:10:58,950
That is where mediocrity lives,
236
00:10:58,950 --> 00:11:00,035
in the habitual.
237
00:11:00,369 --> 00:11:03,872
That is how you will distinguish yourself
from other writers
238
00:11:03,872 --> 00:11:06,375
and start to sound more like you.
239
00:11:07,376 --> 00:11:08,460
Holy shit.
240
00:11:08,460 --> 00:11:10,545
Uh, yeah, I kinda always knew
241
00:11:10,545 --> 00:11:11,880
there was this whole other level,
242
00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:13,507
but just didn't know how to get there
243
00:11:13,507 --> 00:11:16,051
because no one ever really
taught me how to do that before, but--
244
00:11:16,051 --> 00:11:17,594
- Okay, that's enough.
- I appreciate that.
245
00:11:17,594 --> 00:11:20,514
That's good from you...
We do have other...
246
00:11:20,514 --> 00:11:22,516
You know,
we're almost out of time.
247
00:11:22,516 --> 00:11:24,559
I have plenty of time, actually.
248
00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:26,103
Well, we're running out of time.
249
00:11:26,103 --> 00:11:27,437
Are you sure?
I thought you said we had--
250
00:11:27,437 --> 00:11:29,064
Yeah, my watch...
I don't know if you--
251
00:11:29,064 --> 00:11:30,315
It's earlier than you said it would be.
252
00:11:32,109 --> 00:11:33,235
I'd like a word, Paul.
253
00:11:34,903 --> 00:11:35,904
Paul.
254
00:11:35,904 --> 00:11:37,823
You don't have to say my name
every time you talk to me.
255
00:11:38,990 --> 00:11:41,576
I've spoken to you
about the loudness of your car...
256
00:11:41,576 --> 00:11:44,746
- There's nothing wrong with my car.
- ...before and nothing has changed.
257
00:11:44,746 --> 00:11:47,165
Or ever will change.
258
00:11:47,332 --> 00:11:49,000
It disrupts my class.
259
00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:51,586
Huh. Not more than your teaching.
260
00:11:55,632 --> 00:11:57,134
How did you get like this?
261
00:11:57,134 --> 00:12:00,470
What mis-turn did you take?
262
00:12:01,680 --> 00:12:04,599
I am allowed to drive the car that I want.
263
00:12:04,599 --> 00:12:07,185
I'm allowed to take care of it,
264
00:12:07,185 --> 00:12:08,770
and it likes to be revved.
265
00:12:08,770 --> 00:12:09,855
It's good at it.
266
00:12:09,855 --> 00:12:11,064
What I don't understand
267
00:12:11,064 --> 00:12:12,691
is how anyone has come to think
268
00:12:12,691 --> 00:12:15,360
that they have the right
not to be impacted by others.
269
00:12:16,486 --> 00:12:17,821
How about that wrong turn?
270
00:12:17,821 --> 00:12:20,157
Basic consideration wouldn't kill you.
271
00:12:20,157 --> 00:12:22,617
Well, it so happens
that I am an at-risk individual
272
00:12:22,617 --> 00:12:25,203
with regards to basic consideration.
273
00:12:25,203 --> 00:12:26,288
I can't risk it.
274
00:12:31,001 --> 00:12:32,335
"Paul..."
275
00:12:34,963 --> 00:12:36,465
"Paul..."
276
00:12:41,803 --> 00:12:43,263
Why'd you say that to George?
277
00:12:44,723 --> 00:12:47,142
- Do you think he noticed?
- Yeah.
278
00:12:48,560 --> 00:12:49,644
Oh...
279
00:12:49,644 --> 00:12:51,313
I don't know why I do this.
280
00:12:51,313 --> 00:12:52,898
It's only people I admire, you know.
281
00:12:52,898 --> 00:12:54,983
Rude stuff just, bleh, comes out.
282
00:12:55,650 --> 00:12:56,776
Mmm.
283
00:12:56,776 --> 00:12:59,404
- You want some advice?
- From you? No.
284
00:12:59,905 --> 00:13:01,323
Ah! Sorry.
285
00:13:01,531 --> 00:13:04,117
I'm like a freight train
that can't stop with insults.
286
00:13:17,088 --> 00:13:19,382
Excuse me, is Myrna here?
287
00:13:20,091 --> 00:13:21,426
Myrna.
288
00:13:22,552 --> 00:13:24,012
Professor Du-Boise.
289
00:13:24,763 --> 00:13:28,225
Green Subaru Outback,
RBG bumper sticker.
290
00:13:28,558 --> 00:13:31,144
Green Outback,
RBG bumper sticker.
291
00:13:31,728 --> 00:13:34,064
If I remember correctly, Myrna,
292
00:13:34,064 --> 00:13:35,357
you...
293
00:13:36,775 --> 00:13:39,361
Are a top-shelf tequila gal,
294
00:13:39,361 --> 00:13:40,487
am I right?
295
00:13:41,905 --> 00:13:42,906
Flannery O'Connor said,
296
00:13:42,906 --> 00:13:44,991
"If you live till you're 10 years old,
297
00:13:44,991 --> 00:13:46,535
you'll have enough
to write about for a lifetime."
298
00:13:46,535 --> 00:13:47,702
Do you think that's true?
299
00:13:47,702 --> 00:13:51,039
Uh, I think it's true,
but it would not be a very good story.
300
00:13:52,415 --> 00:13:54,334
Does art have to be so painful?
301
00:13:54,334 --> 00:13:55,627
I mean, do we all have to end up
302
00:13:55,627 --> 00:13:56,962
like "van Goch"
303
00:13:56,962 --> 00:13:58,630
with an ear missing?
304
00:13:58,797 --> 00:14:01,383
Uh, it's van Gogh in this room.
305
00:14:03,093 --> 00:14:05,512
So, Jack Kerouac wrote On the Road
306
00:14:05,512 --> 00:14:08,974
on this long, continuous, teletype scroll.
307
00:14:13,770 --> 00:14:15,772
What sort of paper do you write on?
308
00:14:18,233 --> 00:14:19,359
Uh...
309
00:14:19,359 --> 00:14:21,027
I just use a computer.
310
00:14:24,155 --> 00:14:26,783
Well, I guess we have time
for one last question.
311
00:14:28,243 --> 00:14:29,244
Yep.
312
00:14:29,244 --> 00:14:30,704
Yeah, Mr. Saunders,
313
00:14:30,704 --> 00:14:34,541
if there was one piece of advice
that stood out above others
314
00:14:34,541 --> 00:14:37,043
to help us become the writers
that we want to be,
315
00:14:37,043 --> 00:14:38,169
what...
316
00:14:38,169 --> 00:14:39,421
What would it be?
317
00:14:39,838 --> 00:14:43,800
Well, I'd say trust
that your taste is good.
318
00:14:44,217 --> 00:14:47,387
Have that good taste
exert itself onto your prose.
319
00:14:47,387 --> 00:14:50,307
Then just write every day.
320
00:14:50,307 --> 00:14:51,600
Just write.
321
00:14:52,475 --> 00:14:54,144
Maybe that's my problem.
322
00:14:54,144 --> 00:14:56,146
I've been doing
the once-every-decade method.
323
00:14:57,814 --> 00:15:00,775
No, actually, thank you for that,
'cause that's awesome.
324
00:15:00,775 --> 00:15:02,611
Even great writers get stuck.
325
00:15:02,611 --> 00:15:03,987
That's just part of it.
326
00:15:03,987 --> 00:15:06,364
I hate my first draft,
327
00:15:06,364 --> 00:15:09,909
but I love it because it leads
to my second draft and my third draft.
328
00:15:10,410 --> 00:15:11,786
It's all part of the process.
329
00:15:12,454 --> 00:15:13,580
Hank?
330
00:15:13,580 --> 00:15:14,706
What keeps you from writing?
331
00:15:22,255 --> 00:15:23,715
Uh... Lunch.
332
00:15:23,715 --> 00:15:25,216
We have that lunch...
333
00:15:25,967 --> 00:15:27,761
- Oh, right.
- Lunch.
334
00:15:27,761 --> 00:15:30,221
- Thank you so much.
- Thank you, guys.
335
00:15:30,221 --> 00:15:31,848
You're all amazing.
336
00:15:31,848 --> 00:15:33,350
So exciting.
337
00:15:37,479 --> 00:15:40,815
I think I learned more
in that one hour than I have all year.
338
00:15:42,942 --> 00:15:44,194
It's... It's just frustrating, you know?
339
00:15:44,194 --> 00:15:45,737
'Cause, like, now I know
340
00:15:45,737 --> 00:15:46,821
what it's like to sit in a classroom
341
00:15:46,821 --> 00:15:49,949
with a great teacher who's...
Who's totally engaged,
342
00:15:49,949 --> 00:15:52,494
and, like, really...
Really trying with me,
343
00:15:52,494 --> 00:15:55,205
and, like, putting in effort
and listening and...
344
00:15:55,205 --> 00:15:56,539
And after I've experienced that,
345
00:15:56,539 --> 00:15:58,208
it's like...
346
00:15:58,208 --> 00:16:00,251
I don't want to go back
to Devereaux's class.
347
00:16:00,251 --> 00:16:01,670
I don't want to go back without you.
348
00:16:02,087 --> 00:16:04,589
Well, I'm going to be going back, Lester.
That's not my point.
349
00:16:04,589 --> 00:16:06,132
Maybe if you spent
more time on your writing
350
00:16:06,132 --> 00:16:08,677
than fighting with your teachers,
your stories wouldn't suck so bad.
351
00:16:09,427 --> 00:16:12,722
The fact that you don't understand them
just proves their value to me.
352
00:16:12,722 --> 00:16:14,557
I heard your family donated
a building to Notre Dame
353
00:16:14,557 --> 00:16:16,518
and you still didn't get in.
354
00:16:17,727 --> 00:16:19,688
Everyone's heard that story,
Solange, okay? It's boring.
355
00:16:19,854 --> 00:16:20,855
Just like your stories.
356
00:16:20,855 --> 00:16:22,774
Oh, next time,
I'll add necrophilia.
357
00:16:25,610 --> 00:16:27,529
"You'll know when
true excellence presents itself
358
00:16:27,529 --> 00:16:29,280
because the mediocre
359
00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:31,157
will be in confederacy
against that person."
360
00:16:32,450 --> 00:16:34,661
I'm paraphrasing the Confederacy of Dunces
361
00:16:34,661 --> 00:16:37,330
to make a point about excellence,
362
00:16:37,330 --> 00:16:40,959
something I think
we should all be entitled to,
363
00:16:40,959 --> 00:16:43,461
no matter who we are
or where we're from.
364
00:16:43,461 --> 00:16:44,838
Is this a club or something?
365
00:16:44,838 --> 00:16:46,256
I'm just trying to eat my lunch.
366
00:16:46,256 --> 00:16:47,716
This is not a club.
367
00:16:49,134 --> 00:16:50,135
Maybe it is.
368
00:16:51,010 --> 00:16:52,804
You're right, maybe it is.
369
00:16:58,226 --> 00:16:59,602
That was interesting.
370
00:17:01,855 --> 00:17:04,149
It's a public space,
I can be as interesting as I want.
371
00:17:04,566 --> 00:17:06,025
I'm Ellen's roommate, Ava.
372
00:17:08,111 --> 00:17:10,029
Okay, Ellen's roommate, Ava.
373
00:17:10,029 --> 00:17:13,575
And, um, you went
to East Lake Country Day
374
00:17:13,575 --> 00:17:15,243
with my brother,
but he was a year younger.
375
00:17:15,243 --> 00:17:16,327
Brooks Noon?
376
00:17:17,579 --> 00:17:20,707
Uh, yeah, sure, Brooksy, yeah.
377
00:17:22,542 --> 00:17:23,668
- I'm Bartow.
- I know.
378
00:17:26,421 --> 00:17:28,006
So what do we do now?
379
00:17:29,924 --> 00:17:31,676
No, I'm certain
it was at Bread Loaf,
380
00:17:31,676 --> 00:17:33,219
and we went into town to get dinner,
381
00:17:33,219 --> 00:17:34,512
and at the bar,
382
00:17:34,512 --> 00:17:37,140
Colum McCann was singing songs
with the locals--
383
00:17:37,140 --> 00:17:41,478
I'm sorry,
what was that back there?
384
00:17:41,478 --> 00:17:42,812
What?
385
00:17:42,812 --> 00:17:45,815
When you put me on the spot
about not writing.
386
00:17:46,775 --> 00:17:47,817
No...
387
00:17:47,817 --> 00:17:49,944
Wait, you brought it up, so I...
388
00:17:49,944 --> 00:17:52,614
It just seemed a little hostile.
389
00:17:53,656 --> 00:17:54,699
Hostile?
390
00:17:54,699 --> 00:17:56,785
I mean... Hank,
maybe you're being a little sensitive?
391
00:17:56,785 --> 00:17:58,203
I...
392
00:17:58,203 --> 00:18:00,663
I'm fine, just...
393
00:18:00,663 --> 00:18:02,624
Jacob Rose told me
394
00:18:02,624 --> 00:18:06,753
that you said that
this might be a problem here.
395
00:18:07,587 --> 00:18:10,340
What? No. No, I... No, that's not...
396
00:18:10,340 --> 00:18:11,466
I didn't want to impose on you.
397
00:18:11,466 --> 00:18:13,301
I didn't know if you wanted to do it.
398
00:18:13,301 --> 00:18:15,595
I am thrilled to be here.
399
00:18:15,595 --> 00:18:17,889
I haven't seen you in 30 years,
and I'm just...
400
00:18:18,807 --> 00:18:20,350
I'm really glad you're doing it.
401
00:18:21,392 --> 00:18:22,811
Okay.
402
00:18:22,811 --> 00:18:24,938
I'm... I'm excited, too.
403
00:18:24,938 --> 00:18:26,815
This... This is going to be fun.
404
00:18:27,398 --> 00:18:30,652
What is this guy up to?
405
00:18:31,402 --> 00:18:33,238
I'm pretty sure it's short-story writing.
406
00:18:33,238 --> 00:18:36,324
Yeah, well, he's acting really weird.
407
00:18:37,742 --> 00:18:38,952
Oh, no, let's not add salmon
408
00:18:38,952 --> 00:18:41,412
because it's the only thing
that you like at Nora's.
409
00:18:41,704 --> 00:18:43,122
We're eating there tonight?
410
00:18:43,122 --> 00:18:44,874
Tomorrow night. We are.
411
00:18:44,874 --> 00:18:46,501
Because...
412
00:18:47,752 --> 00:18:48,837
Because?
413
00:18:48,837 --> 00:18:50,797
Julie and Russell
want to have dinner with us
414
00:18:50,797 --> 00:18:54,217
because, in their words, they have news.
415
00:18:54,217 --> 00:18:55,718
They have news?
416
00:18:55,718 --> 00:18:57,804
- They have news.
- That's code for...
417
00:19:03,101 --> 00:19:05,353
I missed the window.
418
00:19:05,353 --> 00:19:07,021
What window?
419
00:19:07,021 --> 00:19:08,523
The window.
420
00:19:11,901 --> 00:19:14,863
Young dependent grown,
before new dependent arrives.
421
00:19:14,863 --> 00:19:17,699
You know, a distractionless window
in which to write.
422
00:19:18,449 --> 00:19:22,328
Maybe just try the window
between waking and going to work.
423
00:19:23,288 --> 00:19:24,455
And you're happy about this?
424
00:19:24,455 --> 00:19:27,876
Mmm. I'm adjusting to the idea,
with modification.
425
00:19:27,876 --> 00:19:29,669
I looked up how to say "grandma"
426
00:19:29,669 --> 00:19:31,713
in every single language.
427
00:19:31,713 --> 00:19:34,299
Swahili is "Bibi", which is pretty cute.
428
00:19:37,510 --> 00:19:39,929
I mean, I think
George just hit a nerve.
429
00:19:39,929 --> 00:19:41,681
Why you don't write?
430
00:19:41,681 --> 00:19:44,350
You ask me why I don't write?
431
00:19:44,350 --> 00:19:47,478
Hey, hey,
'cause I got two jobs, okay?
432
00:19:47,478 --> 00:19:49,814
I'm a teacher
and I run that department,
433
00:19:49,814 --> 00:19:52,358
and you know my co-workers
are pains in the ass, right?
434
00:19:52,358 --> 00:19:56,404
Also, I actively raised
our daughter with you, right?
435
00:19:56,404 --> 00:19:58,114
And now I'm going to be a grandfather.
436
00:19:58,114 --> 00:19:59,324
Knowing Julie,
437
00:19:59,324 --> 00:20:01,075
that's going to be
a third full-time job.
438
00:20:01,075 --> 00:20:02,368
She's gonna want me there--
439
00:20:02,368 --> 00:20:04,037
You think they're gonna want
you to raise the baby?
440
00:20:04,037 --> 00:20:05,371
I've been waiting for this.
Stop it.
441
00:20:05,371 --> 00:20:07,040
You're spinning out of--
Just stop it.
442
00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:08,207
Stop exaggerating.
443
00:20:08,207 --> 00:20:09,876
You do write.
444
00:20:09,876 --> 00:20:12,170
You started something a few weeks ago.
Go write that.
445
00:20:12,170 --> 00:20:14,047
Hello. Hi, Mr. Nerhand.
446
00:20:14,047 --> 00:20:15,298
Thank you for getting back to me.
447
00:20:26,976 --> 00:20:28,519
That table's reserved.
448
00:20:29,562 --> 00:20:30,605
For who?
449
00:20:30,605 --> 00:20:31,689
For guests.
450
00:20:34,150 --> 00:20:36,653
Don't you have an office or something?
451
00:20:36,653 --> 00:20:38,071
Oh, yeah.
452
00:20:38,071 --> 00:20:40,698
My office is not for work.
453
00:20:40,698 --> 00:20:42,784
It's to gather with friends,
454
00:20:42,784 --> 00:20:45,411
where all my cares
and responsibilities can slip away.
455
00:21:02,303 --> 00:21:04,931
Why is it so fun to draw a dick?
456
00:21:04,931 --> 00:21:07,225
I mean, am I wrong to think
we all like doing it?
457
00:21:07,225 --> 00:21:08,851
I know I do.
458
00:21:08,977 --> 00:21:10,561
Uh...
459
00:21:12,981 --> 00:21:18,027
Yeah, you can come,
just don't stuff your pockets with cheese.
460
00:21:19,112 --> 00:21:20,738
Okay.
461
00:21:20,738 --> 00:21:23,574
Maybe because
there's no wrong way to do it.
462
00:21:23,574 --> 00:21:25,743
I mean, all dicks are different.
463
00:21:25,743 --> 00:21:29,080
That's how we should identify each other.
464
00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:30,623
Forget face recognition.
465
00:21:30,623 --> 00:21:33,167
Unlock your phone with your dick.
466
00:21:33,167 --> 00:21:35,837
I mean, you've already got it
in your pocket, so it's right there.
467
00:21:35,837 --> 00:21:37,672
So,
468
00:21:37,672 --> 00:21:39,549
when's the last time you saw him?
469
00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:42,051
This morning.
470
00:21:46,556 --> 00:21:48,933
He's obviously very featured
in my dissertation.
471
00:21:48,933 --> 00:21:50,268
He was?
472
00:21:50,268 --> 00:21:52,478
You jerk, you didn't read it.
473
00:21:52,478 --> 00:21:53,604
I skimmed it.
474
00:21:54,188 --> 00:21:56,899
Fair enough, boss.
I only skimmed your novel.
475
00:22:41,527 --> 00:22:43,488
In light of the conflict
476
00:22:43,488 --> 00:22:45,656
that I've been having
with Professor Devereaux,
477
00:22:46,032 --> 00:22:49,619
we want to form
the Excellence Committee.
478
00:22:49,619 --> 00:22:51,204
It's a group of students, like us,
479
00:22:51,204 --> 00:22:53,498
that aim to both celebrate excellence
480
00:22:53,498 --> 00:22:54,749
where we find it,
481
00:22:54,749 --> 00:22:58,044
and discourage everything
that is less than.
482
00:22:58,044 --> 00:22:59,962
Look, there's a process
for starting new clubs
483
00:22:59,962 --> 00:23:02,215
that usually does not involve me
in any way.
484
00:23:02,215 --> 00:23:06,052
I'm sure my assistant, Jill, could
steer you all in the right direction.
485
00:23:06,052 --> 00:23:07,595
I am the Dean of Faculty.
486
00:23:07,595 --> 00:23:10,431
Right, well, this concerns the faculty,
that's why we chose you.
487
00:23:10,431 --> 00:23:12,809
Some of the faculty
are intentionally resisting being better,
488
00:23:12,809 --> 00:23:14,727
and it's affecting us as students.
489
00:23:14,727 --> 00:23:17,855
We want to create
a system of incentives and deterrents
490
00:23:17,855 --> 00:23:19,357
to hold them accountable.
491
00:23:19,357 --> 00:23:20,733
Bartow...
492
00:23:22,735 --> 00:23:23,778
I understand
493
00:23:23,778 --> 00:23:27,281
that it's difficult to move on
494
00:23:27,281 --> 00:23:29,700
from this incident that you had
with Professor Devereaux.
495
00:23:29,700 --> 00:23:32,453
No, it's not,
because I am past it. I'm over it.
496
00:23:32,453 --> 00:23:33,663
It's over.
497
00:23:33,663 --> 00:23:35,289
He's the one who won't apologize to me.
498
00:23:35,873 --> 00:23:38,876
Needing an apology
is really not moving past it.
499
00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:43,256
If we had the Excellence Committee,
500
00:23:43,256 --> 00:23:45,216
I wouldn't need the apology.
501
00:23:49,804 --> 00:23:52,682
I can give you a common room
twice a week for an hour,
502
00:23:52,682 --> 00:23:54,559
I'll buy the pizza,
503
00:23:54,559 --> 00:23:57,145
and you can have access
to the photocopy machine.
504
00:23:57,145 --> 00:23:58,312
Yes!
505
00:24:00,857 --> 00:24:02,066
Hey! What are you doing!
506
00:24:03,192 --> 00:24:04,527
Put her back down!
507
00:24:06,112 --> 00:24:07,697
Put her down!
508
00:24:09,782 --> 00:24:11,909
Hey, you! You! Stop doing that!
509
00:24:11,909 --> 00:24:13,995
Get away from there!
510
00:24:13,995 --> 00:24:17,165
Do you know how many professors
had to die for me to get this spot?
511
00:24:17,165 --> 00:24:21,085
Four! Four professors!
And two of them suffered!
512
00:24:21,085 --> 00:24:22,545
Here you go.
513
00:24:29,969 --> 00:24:33,806
I was thinking about
the 92nd Street Y thing that we did.
514
00:24:33,806 --> 00:24:35,308
Kinda jogged a memory.
515
00:24:35,308 --> 00:24:37,393
Oh, I loved that night.
516
00:24:37,393 --> 00:24:40,271
That was the first night
that I met your father,
517
00:24:40,271 --> 00:24:42,523
at the reception after.
518
00:24:42,523 --> 00:24:44,108
Yeah, we kept in touch for years.
519
00:24:44,108 --> 00:24:45,193
We wrote letters.
520
00:24:46,027 --> 00:24:47,278
You did?
521
00:24:47,278 --> 00:24:51,282
Yeah. Yeah, it was so illuminating
and stimulating,
522
00:24:51,282 --> 00:24:52,992
and it pushed me.
523
00:24:52,992 --> 00:24:54,994
I don't think I'd be the writer I am
524
00:24:54,994 --> 00:24:56,370
without his influence.
525
00:24:58,080 --> 00:24:59,081
Me neither.
526
00:25:01,209 --> 00:25:02,251
Where's Gracie?
527
00:25:03,586 --> 00:25:06,172
Gracie! Are you here, Gracie?
528
00:25:06,172 --> 00:25:09,759
Or are you too chickenshit to face me?
529
00:25:09,759 --> 00:25:11,594
I'm standing right here, Paul.
530
00:25:13,930 --> 00:25:16,224
You took my parking spot?
531
00:25:17,099 --> 00:25:18,434
I took nothing.
532
00:25:18,434 --> 00:25:20,436
You should have paid your parking tickets.
533
00:25:20,436 --> 00:25:24,482
I am a tenured professor of
the English Department of Railton College.
534
00:25:24,482 --> 00:25:27,276
I deserve a parking spot and the freedom
535
00:25:27,276 --> 00:25:29,570
to rev my car's engine whenever I see fit!
536
00:25:29,570 --> 00:25:31,822
- Are you done, Paul?
- Not even close.
537
00:25:31,822 --> 00:25:33,783
You have no right.
538
00:25:33,783 --> 00:25:37,078
You are a cruel, petty, vindictive woman.
539
00:25:42,667 --> 00:25:44,460
I liked Tenth of December.
540
00:25:52,093 --> 00:25:54,220
Come on, come on.
541
00:25:56,013 --> 00:25:58,307
Maybe all my father's cheating
542
00:25:58,307 --> 00:26:02,270
was an attempt to ejaculate out
his kidney stones.
543
00:26:02,270 --> 00:26:04,480
It seems like it's the same tube.
544
00:26:06,274 --> 00:26:08,567
Phew, that was something.
545
00:26:08,567 --> 00:26:10,486
Oh, trust me, that was nothing.
546
00:26:16,617 --> 00:26:17,868
You know, I do write.
547
00:26:19,203 --> 00:26:21,580
To-do lists, grocery lists.
548
00:26:21,580 --> 00:26:23,708
Important texts.
549
00:26:23,708 --> 00:26:25,167
Yeah, very important.
550
00:26:25,167 --> 00:26:27,503
Meaningful. Moving, even.
551
00:26:27,503 --> 00:26:29,380
I just haven't written a second novel.
552
00:26:34,427 --> 00:26:36,178
Look, Hank, I...
553
00:26:36,178 --> 00:26:37,638
I shouldn't have asked you
that question in class.
554
00:26:37,638 --> 00:26:39,557
That was... That was stupid.
555
00:26:39,557 --> 00:26:40,808
Don't worry about it.
556
00:26:40,808 --> 00:26:42,643
No, actually, it's not okay.
557
00:26:42,643 --> 00:26:44,228
You know,
I get into this teacher mode,
558
00:26:44,228 --> 00:26:46,188
and I forget
that everyone's not my student,
559
00:26:46,188 --> 00:26:49,400
and I put you on the spot
in front of your class,
560
00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:50,943
and I am sorry.
561
00:26:51,569 --> 00:26:53,904
Oh. Thanks, I appreciate it.
562
00:26:53,904 --> 00:26:56,532
Yeah, I mean,
it's just writing, right?
563
00:26:57,241 --> 00:26:59,827
It's not like everyone
has to write their whole life.
564
00:27:00,828 --> 00:27:02,496
Harper Lee only wrote one book.
565
00:27:02,663 --> 00:27:04,540
Second one was just a draft.
566
00:27:05,583 --> 00:27:07,543
Man, I hope nobody publishes
my unfinished books
567
00:27:07,543 --> 00:27:09,295
down the road for a quick buck.
568
00:27:09,295 --> 00:27:11,464
Yeah, that would be the worst.
569
00:27:12,631 --> 00:27:15,926
I mean, maybe somebody
has said all they have to say.
570
00:27:15,926 --> 00:27:17,386
Big deal.
571
00:27:19,930 --> 00:27:21,640
Hey, Hank, this has been great.
572
00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:23,392
I really enjoyed hanging out with you.
573
00:27:24,143 --> 00:27:25,144
Yeah.
574
00:27:26,937 --> 00:27:29,315
Hey, I'm looking forward
to tomorrow night.
575
00:27:38,366 --> 00:27:40,242
How is 19th-century poetry
576
00:27:40,242 --> 00:27:43,162
different than 21st-century poetry?
577
00:27:46,457 --> 00:27:48,918
Um, it's difficult to really see
578
00:27:48,918 --> 00:27:52,630
without a side-by-side comparison,
579
00:27:52,630 --> 00:27:54,548
so let's do that.
580
00:27:54,548 --> 00:27:56,592
Let's compare Walt Whitman
581
00:27:56,592 --> 00:27:59,136
to say, oh,
582
00:27:59,136 --> 00:28:01,472
Professor DuBois,
583
00:28:01,472 --> 00:28:04,266
our own poet in residence.
584
00:28:04,266 --> 00:28:06,018
On the left
585
00:28:06,018 --> 00:28:09,605
is Whitman's Song of the Open Road,
586
00:28:09,605 --> 00:28:11,774
and on the right
587
00:28:11,774 --> 00:28:15,945
is Gracie DuBois's
Follow the Lilac Sheet.
588
00:28:17,154 --> 00:28:18,906
Now, let's start with
the titles themselves.
589
00:28:18,906 --> 00:28:21,951
Song of the Open Road
590
00:28:23,828 --> 00:28:26,330
has a mythic quality to it,
does it not?
591
00:28:30,918 --> 00:28:32,294
Follow the Lilac Sheet.
592
00:28:36,340 --> 00:28:38,050
Follow the Lilac Sheet.
593
00:28:39,468 --> 00:28:43,514
All right, Whitman, one,
DuBois, zero.
594
00:28:44,056 --> 00:28:45,266
Go ahead.
595
00:28:47,601 --> 00:28:49,645
Wonderful! I can see again.
596
00:28:50,646 --> 00:28:52,398
What is that?
597
00:28:52,398 --> 00:28:55,359
Is that a stain on your shirt?
598
00:28:55,359 --> 00:28:57,361
Honestly, Hank,
599
00:28:57,361 --> 00:29:00,114
you cannot teach classes
in stained shirts.
600
00:29:00,114 --> 00:29:02,616
It debases our profession.
601
00:29:02,616 --> 00:29:03,993
It's not a stain, Mom.
602
00:29:03,993 --> 00:29:06,203
It's a reminder
of a sauce that I loved once.
603
00:29:06,203 --> 00:29:08,330
- Did you see this?
- Yeah.
604
00:29:08,330 --> 00:29:10,249
Your father's retirement is big news.
605
00:29:10,249 --> 00:29:11,959
He's done quite well for himself.
606
00:29:11,959 --> 00:29:13,586
You know, without you and I
607
00:29:13,586 --> 00:29:15,963
dragging him down
for the past 40 years.
608
00:29:17,131 --> 00:29:19,091
He always did have extreme focus.
609
00:29:21,677 --> 00:29:23,179
Here it is.
610
00:29:24,763 --> 00:29:27,183
My first, and maybe last, book review.
611
00:29:27,349 --> 00:29:28,684
That was a very positive review,
612
00:29:28,684 --> 00:29:29,810
as I recall,
613
00:29:30,478 --> 00:29:32,396
though a tad poorly written.
614
00:29:32,396 --> 00:29:35,065
Too much plot summary for my taste.
615
00:29:35,065 --> 00:29:39,320
They always do that when they can't form
a clear opinion on their own.
616
00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:41,405
I always wonder
if I got this positive review
617
00:29:41,405 --> 00:29:44,200
because Dad called in a favor.
618
00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:46,368
I find it hard to believe that a reviewer
619
00:29:46,368 --> 00:29:49,497
would give a positive review
without really meaning it.
620
00:29:50,873 --> 00:29:52,791
Unless they really loved your father.
621
00:29:53,792 --> 00:29:55,753
And that reviewer loved your father.
622
00:29:56,837 --> 00:29:58,589
I mean, really loved him.
623
00:29:59,757 --> 00:30:02,426
So, you're right,
can't be discounted.
624
00:30:05,137 --> 00:30:06,764
Maybe the second novel's
the charm.
625
00:30:07,848 --> 00:30:09,183
Still working on it.
626
00:30:09,767 --> 00:30:12,436
You made family choices, dear.
627
00:30:29,203 --> 00:30:30,412
Family choices.
628
00:30:32,456 --> 00:30:33,749
Hey, Mom...
629
00:30:35,042 --> 00:30:37,836
- I think Julie's pregnant.
- Really?
630
00:30:37,836 --> 00:30:39,004
- Oh!
- Yeah.
631
00:30:39,004 --> 00:30:40,130
Oh, my goodness.
632
00:30:41,382 --> 00:30:43,968
Oh! Goodness, hold on.
633
00:30:43,968 --> 00:30:46,679
It's not like she's going
to go into labor right now.
634
00:30:46,679 --> 00:30:48,806
You don't have to pack
for the hospital or anything.
635
00:30:51,141 --> 00:30:52,351
Here.
636
00:30:53,185 --> 00:30:55,521
This was given to me
by your grandmother
637
00:30:55,521 --> 00:30:57,314
when I was pregnant with you.
638
00:30:57,314 --> 00:30:58,816
It was given to her.
639
00:30:58,816 --> 00:31:00,651
I don't know how long
it's been in the family.
640
00:31:01,777 --> 00:31:03,320
And now it's for Julie.
641
00:31:05,281 --> 00:31:06,991
Why didn't you give it to Lily?
642
00:31:13,581 --> 00:31:14,748
You look...
643
00:31:15,124 --> 00:31:16,500
Not unhappy.
644
00:31:16,500 --> 00:31:19,336
Yeah, I'm a smidge up from neutral, so...
645
00:31:20,296 --> 00:31:21,338
- Hello!
- Oh, hey.
646
00:31:22,423 --> 00:31:23,674
All right, babe.
647
00:31:24,300 --> 00:31:25,801
- Hi, baby.
- Hi.
648
00:31:27,261 --> 00:31:28,554
- Hi.
- Hey.
649
00:31:31,015 --> 00:31:32,141
Everybody good?
650
00:31:33,559 --> 00:31:36,604
- You look radiant.
- Oh, thank you, Dad.
651
00:31:36,604 --> 00:31:38,272
How are you guys doing today?
Did you have a good day?
652
00:31:38,272 --> 00:31:39,815
- Yeah, pretty good.
- Yeah. yeah.
653
00:31:39,815 --> 00:31:41,025
Great!
654
00:31:41,734 --> 00:31:42,943
Okay, okay,
655
00:31:43,110 --> 00:31:45,571
I bet you're wondering
what this is all about, what the news is.
656
00:31:45,571 --> 00:31:47,281
The thought had crossed our minds.
657
00:31:47,281 --> 00:31:48,365
All right, but first,
658
00:31:48,365 --> 00:31:50,367
Russell has something
he wants to tell you.
659
00:31:50,367 --> 00:31:52,745
Yeah, um, so, as you both know,
660
00:31:52,745 --> 00:31:55,831
our yard has a flat area
before the hill starts.
661
00:31:56,665 --> 00:31:57,791
Yeah.
662
00:31:57,791 --> 00:31:58,917
Yeah, and as
you probably remember,
663
00:31:58,917 --> 00:32:01,795
my old roommate
installs swimming pools.
664
00:32:01,795 --> 00:32:04,757
I don't...
I don't remember that, but go on, go on.
665
00:32:04,757 --> 00:32:06,091
Yeah. Um...
666
00:32:06,091 --> 00:32:07,343
Show them the...
Show them the thing.
667
00:32:07,343 --> 00:32:10,179
It's pre-fab.
He's got a company.
668
00:32:10,179 --> 00:32:11,805
You don't have to put any money up front.
669
00:32:11,805 --> 00:32:12,931
It's actually
a really cool business model.
670
00:32:12,931 --> 00:32:16,727
You put five percent down,
you pay the rest over time.
671
00:32:19,021 --> 00:32:21,273
Right? So the pools start at $6,000,
672
00:32:21,273 --> 00:32:22,691
but the one we want is $10,000.
673
00:32:22,691 --> 00:32:24,652
You can go up to 15,
but we're only doing 10.
674
00:32:24,652 --> 00:32:28,906
Yeah. So, uh, five percent
of $10,000--
675
00:32:28,906 --> 00:32:30,699
- Five hundred dollars.
- Yeah!
676
00:32:30,699 --> 00:32:32,201
So who wouldn't want a pool for $500?
677
00:32:32,201 --> 00:32:34,286
Could we just cut to the news?
678
00:32:34,286 --> 00:32:36,538
No, yeah, that's what
we're trying to tell you.
679
00:32:36,538 --> 00:32:38,207
- We're building a pool!
- We're building a pool.
680
00:32:41,502 --> 00:32:42,795
A baby pool?
681
00:32:42,795 --> 00:32:44,755
No, just a regular pool.
682
00:32:44,755 --> 00:32:46,507
Um, but we're not
just building a pool.
683
00:32:46,507 --> 00:32:48,258
No, we have a whole business model.
684
00:32:48,258 --> 00:32:49,802
And the business model
will pay for the pool.
685
00:32:49,802 --> 00:32:51,261
Okay, let me just stop you there.
686
00:32:51,261 --> 00:32:53,013
No, listen, Dad,
let me just stop you there,
687
00:32:53,013 --> 00:32:54,264
'cause here's the best part.
688
00:32:54,264 --> 00:32:56,475
There's three groups of people out there
that can't communicate, right?
689
00:32:56,475 --> 00:32:57,726
Swim students,
690
00:32:57,726 --> 00:32:58,811
swim teachers,
691
00:32:58,811 --> 00:33:00,479
and people with pools.
692
00:33:00,479 --> 00:33:02,272
Our app connects those three groups,
693
00:33:02,272 --> 00:33:03,524
for a percentage,
694
00:33:03,524 --> 00:33:06,402
and we get part of
the whole of that percentage.
695
00:33:09,738 --> 00:33:11,490
Hank, will you, um,
696
00:33:11,490 --> 00:33:13,617
run up to the bar
and get me a martini?
697
00:33:13,617 --> 00:33:14,993
And get one for yourself, too.
698
00:33:18,789 --> 00:33:19,790
Oh, I'll have a beer.
699
00:33:23,460 --> 00:33:24,628
Yeah.
700
00:33:27,923 --> 00:33:29,258
- Hey.
- Hey.
701
00:33:29,258 --> 00:33:30,968
Can I get a martini
702
00:33:30,968 --> 00:33:32,886
and another martini
703
00:33:32,886 --> 00:33:34,430
and a shot, while I'm waiting?
704
00:33:36,432 --> 00:33:37,975
And I guess, a beer.
705
00:33:37,975 --> 00:33:41,061
All right, just give me a sec
because I am down a bartender.
706
00:33:41,812 --> 00:33:43,313
Oh, yeah? You're hiring?
707
00:33:43,856 --> 00:33:44,857
Yeah.
708
00:33:47,568 --> 00:33:48,610
Can he be an idiot?
709
00:33:49,319 --> 00:33:50,612
Sure.
710
00:33:53,866 --> 00:33:55,534
It was horrible!
He humiliated you
711
00:33:55,534 --> 00:33:57,077
in front of the whole class!
712
00:33:57,077 --> 00:33:58,620
That man is an effing monster.
713
00:33:58,620 --> 00:33:59,913
Now, now, Solange.
714
00:34:00,831 --> 00:34:03,292
We have to be tough.
Tougher then they.
715
00:34:03,292 --> 00:34:06,420
We have to have skins like rhinos
716
00:34:06,420 --> 00:34:08,172
and souls like children.
717
00:34:08,714 --> 00:34:11,508
What he does,
it's just not important.
718
00:34:11,508 --> 00:34:12,718
But in front of everyone--
719
00:34:12,718 --> 00:34:15,471
What is important is the work.
720
00:34:15,471 --> 00:34:16,597
The word.
721
00:34:20,267 --> 00:34:21,477
Okay.
722
00:34:27,900 --> 00:34:29,526
Okay, everyone, let's settle down.
723
00:34:29,526 --> 00:34:31,320
Come on, come on.
724
00:34:31,320 --> 00:34:35,365
How come you always
drag out that old chair?
725
00:34:35,365 --> 00:34:37,075
It doesn't even look ergonomic.
726
00:34:38,827 --> 00:34:42,331
This chair has a personal history.
727
00:34:42,331 --> 00:34:44,124
It was in my family growing up.
728
00:34:44,124 --> 00:34:46,168
It was part of
our dining-room collection.
729
00:34:46,877 --> 00:34:48,212
Um...
730
00:34:48,212 --> 00:34:49,505
My father,
731
00:34:50,214 --> 00:34:52,049
the lieutenant colonel,
732
00:34:52,049 --> 00:34:53,884
he always sat at the head.
733
00:34:55,260 --> 00:34:57,262
Now, no one else
734
00:34:57,262 --> 00:34:58,931
was permitted to sit
735
00:34:58,931 --> 00:35:00,516
until my father entered the room,
736
00:35:00,516 --> 00:35:02,726
and my brothers,
737
00:35:02,726 --> 00:35:03,977
four of them,
738
00:35:03,977 --> 00:35:06,980
they would try
to elbow each other out
739
00:35:06,980 --> 00:35:09,441
for the chair next to my father.
740
00:35:09,441 --> 00:35:10,692
But I had a different strategy.
741
00:35:12,486 --> 00:35:14,196
"Sir," I would say,
742
00:35:15,030 --> 00:35:17,407
when he entered the room,
and he would acknowledge me,
743
00:35:18,909 --> 00:35:20,452
"I've written another poem."
744
00:35:21,495 --> 00:35:24,373
And he would say,
"Please recite it for me."
745
00:35:26,542 --> 00:35:28,752
And then, for those moments,
746
00:35:28,752 --> 00:35:30,003
and...
747
00:35:32,005 --> 00:35:33,423
Well, only those moments,
748
00:35:33,423 --> 00:35:36,552
which would last
for the duration of the poem,
749
00:35:36,552 --> 00:35:39,221
I would have
my father's undivided attention,
750
00:35:40,389 --> 00:35:41,807
and then he would nod,
751
00:35:43,183 --> 00:35:45,435
and he put me in the seat next to him,
752
00:35:45,435 --> 00:35:46,728
which was this chair.
753
00:35:48,647 --> 00:35:49,773
Wow.
754
00:35:50,566 --> 00:35:52,568
That's messed up.
755
00:35:55,362 --> 00:35:57,406
What... What do you mean?
756
00:36:02,035 --> 00:36:04,746
Like shooting the bird
perched on the end of your rifle,
757
00:36:04,746 --> 00:36:05,956
but what hunter could resist?
758
00:36:06,915 --> 00:36:07,916
John Barth.
759
00:36:08,125 --> 00:36:09,668
This is so exciting.
760
00:36:10,794 --> 00:36:12,212
I just wish you would have read him first.
761
00:36:14,006 --> 00:36:15,549
I'm just going to introduce him,
762
00:36:15,549 --> 00:36:17,134
and when he starts yapping,
763
00:36:17,134 --> 00:36:20,304
I'm gonna lean over
and quietly fart in his direction.
764
00:36:21,305 --> 00:36:22,639
You're really wound up right now,
765
00:36:22,639 --> 00:36:24,141
so you going to be able
to hold it together?
766
00:36:24,141 --> 00:36:25,934
I'm fine. Why... Why...
767
00:36:25,934 --> 00:36:28,020
Why do they have to have
so many pictures of him?
768
00:36:28,020 --> 00:36:29,938
He's sitting right there.
He's wearing the same jacket.
769
00:36:29,938 --> 00:36:31,106
That's a slightly different jacket.
770
00:36:31,106 --> 00:36:33,442
It's not slightly different.
It's not slightly different.
771
00:36:33,442 --> 00:36:34,776
Come on, honey.
772
00:36:34,776 --> 00:36:37,821
Don't ever let me sit under
three pictures of myself
773
00:36:37,821 --> 00:36:39,281
in my favorite stupid old coat.
774
00:36:41,408 --> 00:36:43,827
Okay. So now, I think
you have to get out of here.
775
00:36:43,827 --> 00:36:46,455
- What? No, I'm the moderator.
- Take that.
776
00:36:46,455 --> 00:36:47,706
I'm going to tell them
that you have GI issues
777
00:36:47,706 --> 00:36:48,832
and I'm going
to get Finny to do it.
778
00:36:48,832 --> 00:36:50,000
No! Finny can't do it!
779
00:36:50,000 --> 00:36:52,502
He's going to do a beautiful job.
You're a crazy man right now.
780
00:36:52,502 --> 00:36:55,297
Do you want another headline
in the newspaper?
781
00:36:55,297 --> 00:36:57,049
Okay. All right, get Finny to do it.
782
00:36:57,049 --> 00:36:58,258
Get out of here.
783
00:36:59,259 --> 00:37:00,344
Where's he going?
784
00:37:00,552 --> 00:37:02,554
Just... You just have to trust me.
785
00:37:02,554 --> 00:37:04,181
This is better for everyone.
786
00:37:04,181 --> 00:37:05,265
Where's Finny?
787
00:37:09,311 --> 00:37:11,021
Ah, field hockey.
788
00:37:11,021 --> 00:37:12,773
It's one of my favorite distractions.
789
00:37:12,773 --> 00:37:15,275
I hope no one confuses
my presence here
790
00:37:15,275 --> 00:37:16,902
with school spirit,
791
00:37:16,902 --> 00:37:19,279
which I find pointless.
792
00:37:19,279 --> 00:37:23,075
There's so much wasted effort
that goes into manufactured pep.
793
00:37:23,075 --> 00:37:24,201
For what?
794
00:37:24,201 --> 00:37:27,704
It benefits no one,
except, well, maybe cheerleaders,
795
00:37:27,704 --> 00:37:30,791
who feel, you know,
less alone and stupid.
796
00:37:30,791 --> 00:37:32,876
Hey, your talk over already?
797
00:37:32,876 --> 00:37:34,419
Nah, I just left.
798
00:37:34,419 --> 00:37:35,504
How can a moderator leave?
799
00:37:35,504 --> 00:37:38,048
- Where's Smith?
- Oh, ankle.
800
00:37:38,048 --> 00:37:39,967
She limped off the field.
801
00:37:39,967 --> 00:37:41,134
Yeah.
802
00:37:41,134 --> 00:37:44,346
I don't know
why I love this game so much.
803
00:37:44,346 --> 00:37:46,181
Yeah, I started smiling
when I came over the hill
804
00:37:46,181 --> 00:37:48,266
just at the sound
of the wood on the ball.
805
00:37:48,266 --> 00:37:51,812
It's just the hustle,
the elegance of a perfect pass.
806
00:37:52,980 --> 00:37:56,149
Still, I wish our school
had one other half-decent team.
807
00:37:56,400 --> 00:37:58,610
All our banners are field hockey.
808
00:37:59,152 --> 00:38:00,153
It's a little sad.
809
00:38:00,153 --> 00:38:02,906
What? She tripped her!
810
00:38:02,906 --> 00:38:04,282
Come on! You gotta call that!
811
00:38:04,282 --> 00:38:05,492
Head in the game.
812
00:38:08,120 --> 00:38:09,204
Why'd you leave?
813
00:38:10,706 --> 00:38:14,042
Turns out George Saunders is an asshole.
814
00:38:14,167 --> 00:38:15,585
Oh, that's too bad.
815
00:38:15,585 --> 00:38:17,504
Yeah. He plays with people.
816
00:38:18,714 --> 00:38:19,840
Meaning you?
817
00:38:19,840 --> 00:38:21,425
Well, he messes with
other writers' heads.
818
00:38:21,425 --> 00:38:22,801
It's demeaning.
819
00:38:22,801 --> 00:38:24,511
He demeans people.
820
00:38:25,262 --> 00:38:27,014
- Meaning you?
- Yeah.
821
00:38:27,639 --> 00:38:30,267
- Did you tell him that?
- No, I just walked out.
822
00:38:30,267 --> 00:38:32,936
You should've said something.
People love to hear when they're A-holes.
823
00:38:33,812 --> 00:38:34,896
Oh, good dig!
824
00:38:42,195 --> 00:38:43,739
You know I was kidding, right?
825
00:38:52,289 --> 00:38:55,917
It is my honor to welcome you
to tonight's very special event.
826
00:38:57,127 --> 00:38:59,337
I'd like to start with your childhood,
827
00:38:59,337 --> 00:39:02,424
if there's been
any abuse or trauma, that would be great,
828
00:39:02,424 --> 00:39:05,761
and then I'll ask you about
your real relationship with your mother.
829
00:39:05,761 --> 00:39:06,970
What?
830
00:39:08,013 --> 00:39:10,849
"O human race,
born to fly upward,
831
00:39:11,141 --> 00:39:13,643
wherefore at a little wind
dost thou so fall?"
832
00:39:15,312 --> 00:39:17,022
- Dante.
- Yeah, I know.
833
00:39:17,022 --> 00:39:20,108
Enter Prospero,
here to conjure a storm.
834
00:39:24,279 --> 00:39:26,656
Funny. You had me there
for a minute.
835
00:39:30,869 --> 00:39:32,204
Admit it.
836
00:39:32,204 --> 00:39:33,955
You don't respect me.
837
00:39:33,955 --> 00:39:36,291
You think I'm a hack
whose father got him published.
838
00:39:36,291 --> 00:39:38,001
You didn't even read my book.
839
00:39:39,086 --> 00:39:41,171
What? Of course, I did.
840
00:39:41,171 --> 00:39:44,216
Paula and I both read it
on Block Island with the girls.
841
00:39:44,216 --> 00:39:45,634
We read it and we loved it,
842
00:39:45,634 --> 00:39:48,386
and we sent you
a bottle of wine with a note.
843
00:39:49,346 --> 00:39:51,848
Because I remember
shipping was a pain in the ass.
844
00:39:53,141 --> 00:39:54,559
And I read it again last night.
845
00:39:56,144 --> 00:39:57,395
It's really good.
846
00:39:57,395 --> 00:39:59,356
I mean, it really holds up, Hank.
847
00:39:59,356 --> 00:40:02,442
I mean, that scene by the bus,
where he's trying to tell her--
848
00:40:02,442 --> 00:40:05,487
George Saunders
in conversation with Hank Devereaux, Jr.
849
00:40:07,906 --> 00:40:11,493
For someone
with that kind of talent to quit writing,
850
00:40:11,493 --> 00:40:12,702
I'm against it.
851
00:40:46,278 --> 00:40:47,571
Um...
852
00:40:49,614 --> 00:40:50,824
You, uh...
853
00:40:52,033 --> 00:40:54,327
Before you wrote,
854
00:40:54,536 --> 00:40:57,038
you were an engineer, right?
855
00:40:58,999 --> 00:41:00,125
Are you a little drunk?
856
00:41:01,376 --> 00:41:02,586
Um...
857
00:41:02,586 --> 00:41:04,379
Can I get a little drunk?
858
00:41:04,379 --> 00:41:06,131
Yeah. Can we make that two, please?
859
00:41:10,802 --> 00:41:12,012
Um...
860
00:41:13,555 --> 00:41:16,016
The chronological order
of Tenth of December,
861
00:41:16,016 --> 00:41:17,434
is that something
that you planned beforehand,
862
00:41:17,601 --> 00:41:18,935
or after you wrote them,
863
00:41:18,935 --> 00:41:21,146
you decided they should be
presented that way,
864
00:41:21,146 --> 00:41:22,355
because I think that
865
00:41:22,355 --> 00:41:25,775
that order really affects
how those stories land.
866
00:41:28,945 --> 00:41:32,365
Yes, and that is a question
that only a great writer could ask.
867
00:41:32,365 --> 00:41:34,784
All right, stop patronizing me.
They're paying for you.
868
00:41:38,371 --> 00:41:39,789
...is part of the impact.
869
00:41:39,789 --> 00:41:43,168
Most writers start with
an ending or a beginning...
870
00:41:43,168 --> 00:41:44,753
Feeding the story into the...
871
00:41:44,753 --> 00:41:45,879
The majority.
872
00:41:50,258 --> 00:41:52,844
You're getting paid,
but I'm in charge here.
873
00:41:52,844 --> 00:41:54,221
- Yeah, okay.
- All right?
874
00:41:54,221 --> 00:41:56,306
I'm not against E.E. Cummings,
875
00:41:56,306 --> 00:41:58,016
but I feel like that's
where it should have been...
876
00:41:58,016 --> 00:42:00,185
♪ So it seems... ♪
877
00:42:00,185 --> 00:42:01,728
The big letters, gotcha.
878
00:42:01,728 --> 00:42:02,812
♪ The nightmares... ♪
879
00:42:02,812 --> 00:42:04,272
So I'm glad you're here.
880
00:42:04,272 --> 00:42:06,441
Ladies and gentlemen,
George Saunders.
881
00:42:07,943 --> 00:42:09,653
♪ Lift me up ♪
882
00:42:09,653 --> 00:42:11,988
♪ By my hand ♪
883
00:42:11,988 --> 00:42:15,867
- Whoo!
- ♪ Lift me up if you can ♪
884
00:42:15,867 --> 00:42:20,205
♪ Lift me up, be my friend ♪
885
00:42:20,205 --> 00:42:24,584
♪ Through a random act of kindness ♪
886
00:42:24,584 --> 00:42:28,630
♪ One that's done from blindness ♪
887
00:42:30,257 --> 00:42:31,967
♪ Sun came up ♪
888
00:42:33,969 --> 00:42:35,971
♪ Sun came up ♪
889
00:42:38,265 --> 00:42:40,809
♪ Sun came up ♪
890
00:42:42,143 --> 00:42:44,062
♪ Sun came up ♪
891
00:42:47,983 --> 00:42:49,985
♪ Sun came up ♪
892
00:42:52,153 --> 00:42:53,738
♪ Sun came up ♪
893
00:42:56,157 --> 00:42:57,826
♪ Sun came up ♪
894
00:43:00,245 --> 00:43:01,871
♪ Sun came up ♪
895
00:43:10,588 --> 00:43:12,716
- I should have known.
- Known what?
896
00:43:12,924 --> 00:43:14,384
I could have been
as good as Saunders.
897
00:43:14,509 --> 00:43:15,844
It wouldn't have mattered.
898
00:43:15,844 --> 00:43:17,762
What wouldn't have mattered?
899
00:43:18,346 --> 00:43:20,515
I would never have
gotten my father's...
900
00:43:21,641 --> 00:43:23,101
You know...
901
00:43:27,522 --> 00:43:29,316
♪ On s'est connus on s'est reconnus ♪
902
00:43:29,316 --> 00:43:30,525
♪ On s'est perdus de vue ♪
903
00:43:30,525 --> 00:43:31,735
♪ On s'est reperdus de vue ♪
904
00:43:31,735 --> 00:43:33,903
♪ On s'est retrouvés on s'est separés ♪
905
00:43:33,903 --> 00:43:36,489
♪ Puis on s'est rechauffés ♪
906
00:43:36,489 --> 00:43:38,992
♪ Chacun pour soi est reparti ♪
907
00:43:38,992 --> 00:43:41,369
♪ Dans le tourbillon de la vie ♪
908
00:43:41,369 --> 00:43:43,663
♪ Je l'ai revue un soir ah-la-la ♪
909
00:43:43,663 --> 00:43:45,915
♪ Elle est retombée dans mes bras... ♪
910
00:43:45,915 --> 00:43:48,835
♪ Elle est retombée dans mes bras ♪