1 00:00:17,293 --> 00:00:21,538 ♪ Some glad morning... ♪ 2 00:00:25,025 --> 00:00:26,509 ♪ ...When this old life is over... ♪ 3 00:00:27,855 --> 00:00:29,822 ♪ Oh, I... ♪ 4 00:00:37,071 --> 00:00:43,905 ♪ I'll fly away ♪ 5 00:00:43,905 --> 00:00:45,804 ♪ Listen! ♪ 6 00:00:45,804 --> 00:00:51,154 ♪ I want to hear... ♪ 7 00:00:51,154 --> 00:00:52,914 ♪ David play the horn... ♪ 8 00:00:52,914 --> 00:00:55,572 Form, content, both of these play a part, 9 00:00:55,572 --> 00:00:57,919 but what do you think is more important? 10 00:00:57,919 --> 00:01:01,889 Well, I think form should follow content, always, 11 00:01:01,889 --> 00:01:03,166 but, you know, 12 00:01:03,166 --> 00:01:06,342 sometimes, form can be its own kind of content. 13 00:01:06,342 --> 00:01:08,516 Right, right, so interesting. 14 00:01:08,516 --> 00:01:11,623 Now, let me take a moment to ask a more prosaic question. 15 00:01:12,624 --> 00:01:14,074 How did you each get published? 16 00:01:16,283 --> 00:01:18,008 Well, I slept with his father. 17 00:01:18,008 --> 00:01:19,079 Ah! 18 00:01:20,390 --> 00:01:21,805 Right there, 19 00:01:21,805 --> 00:01:23,566 the secret to success, ladies and gentlemen. 20 00:01:26,086 --> 00:01:29,261 ...A more prosaic question. 21 00:01:29,261 --> 00:01:31,263 How did you each get published? 22 00:01:32,747 --> 00:01:34,715 Well, I slept with his father. 23 00:01:34,715 --> 00:01:36,889 Ah! 24 00:01:36,889 --> 00:01:38,132 Right there, 25 00:01:38,132 --> 00:01:40,790 the secret to success, ladies and gentlemen. 26 00:01:40,790 --> 00:01:42,481 That's how you play the game. 27 00:01:42,481 --> 00:01:45,553 ♪ ...I'll fly away... ♪ 28 00:02:19,449 --> 00:02:20,485 I'm not doing it. 29 00:02:20,485 --> 00:02:21,589 Of course you are. 30 00:02:21,589 --> 00:02:22,970 - No. - Hank! 31 00:02:22,970 --> 00:02:25,110 No, I don't see the value of it. 32 00:02:25,110 --> 00:02:28,838 In having a live, onstage conversation with George Saunders? 33 00:02:28,838 --> 00:02:31,323 - No. - Booker Prize-winning George Saunders? 34 00:02:31,323 --> 00:02:32,980 British prize. Very pretentious. 35 00:02:32,980 --> 00:02:35,500 Also a finalist for the National Book Award. 36 00:02:35,500 --> 00:02:36,984 Mm... 37 00:02:36,984 --> 00:02:39,504 Named one of the 100 most influential people by Time magazine. 38 00:02:39,504 --> 00:02:41,022 Time magazine isn't what it used to be. 39 00:02:41,022 --> 00:02:42,817 He had a MacArthur Fellowship. 40 00:02:42,817 --> 00:02:44,336 I have kidney stones, so we're even. 41 00:02:44,336 --> 00:02:45,648 I'm sorry about the kidney stones. 42 00:02:45,648 --> 00:02:47,546 Take your pills. I have some if you want. 43 00:02:47,546 --> 00:02:49,928 But there are other issues. 44 00:02:49,928 --> 00:02:51,895 With the impending budget cuts, 45 00:02:51,895 --> 00:02:55,658 it's distasteful to be paying this guy 10 grand for a one-hour talk. 46 00:02:55,658 --> 00:02:57,798 Ten grand, I wish. What, 20 grand? 47 00:02:58,592 --> 00:03:01,388 Thirty? Fifty? For Christ sakes! 48 00:03:01,388 --> 00:03:03,183 This was settled weeks ago. 49 00:03:03,183 --> 00:03:04,667 Why are you bringing this up now? 50 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:10,673 I'm concerned that I might accidentally say something 51 00:03:10,673 --> 00:03:13,331 really consistent with my personality, 52 00:03:13,331 --> 00:03:15,678 but inconsistent with a modern college campus. 53 00:03:16,748 --> 00:03:18,543 - That's valid. - Yeah. 54 00:03:18,543 --> 00:03:19,751 And I don't want to talk you 55 00:03:19,751 --> 00:03:21,546 into doing anything that you don't want to do. 56 00:03:21,546 --> 00:03:24,238 He didn't want you either. But the public at large does. 57 00:03:24,238 --> 00:03:25,895 Wait, what did you just say? 58 00:03:25,895 --> 00:03:27,207 He-- he wants you to be okay with this 59 00:03:27,207 --> 00:03:28,725 because he's okay with this. 60 00:03:28,725 --> 00:03:30,589 Why wouldn't he be okay with this? 61 00:03:30,589 --> 00:03:32,833 Look, Hank, I spoke on the phone with him. 62 00:03:32,833 --> 00:03:34,766 When he gets here, you guys chat. 63 00:03:34,766 --> 00:03:35,905 You're old friends, right? 64 00:03:35,905 --> 00:03:37,251 I know that. What did you tell him? 65 00:03:37,251 --> 00:03:38,494 I told him you'd be honored. 66 00:03:38,494 --> 00:03:40,012 I am honored, but I still want out. 67 00:03:40,012 --> 00:03:41,531 - No. - Why not? 68 00:03:41,531 --> 00:03:43,878 Because there's thousands of posters plastered all over campus, 69 00:03:43,878 --> 00:03:45,673 and I know that you're gonna be great at this 70 00:03:45,673 --> 00:03:47,710 because there's not a fiction writer within 50 miles 71 00:03:47,710 --> 00:03:48,952 who's in your league, 72 00:03:48,952 --> 00:03:50,230 and everyone knows that, and you're our guy. 73 00:03:50,230 --> 00:03:52,197 Get Finny to do it. 74 00:03:52,197 --> 00:03:54,061 Finny will ask a question for 45 minutes 75 00:03:54,061 --> 00:03:55,407 and it won't even be a question. 76 00:03:55,407 --> 00:03:57,098 - Well, who is it? - What? 77 00:03:57,098 --> 00:03:59,549 The writer outside of 50 miles of here? 78 00:03:59,549 --> 00:04:01,448 Okay! Get out of here. 79 00:04:14,357 --> 00:04:15,531 You get to a certain age 80 00:04:15,531 --> 00:04:17,774 and you lose all faith in experts. 81 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:21,778 I know how well I do my job, 82 00:04:21,778 --> 00:04:23,711 and to think others are working at the same level-- 83 00:04:23,711 --> 00:04:26,024 that's completely unacceptable-- 84 00:04:26,024 --> 00:04:27,474 especially doctors. 85 00:04:27,474 --> 00:04:28,958 I'm not denying your symptoms, 86 00:04:28,958 --> 00:04:30,649 but their cause isn't kidney stones. 87 00:04:30,649 --> 00:04:32,582 ...And as a teacher, 88 00:04:32,582 --> 00:04:34,066 I see through guys like this. 89 00:04:34,066 --> 00:04:36,137 I mean, he was right in the middle of his class-- 90 00:04:36,137 --> 00:04:37,311 maybe in the bottom third. 91 00:04:37,311 --> 00:04:38,485 ...in excruciating pain. 92 00:04:38,485 --> 00:04:39,900 I'm looking at a B-minus assessment 93 00:04:39,900 --> 00:04:41,419 of my medical problems. 94 00:04:41,419 --> 00:04:43,075 I mean, I'm sweating. 95 00:04:43,075 --> 00:04:44,939 I almost pass out during racquetball. 96 00:04:44,939 --> 00:04:46,838 I think you're ignoring some obvious facts. 97 00:04:48,702 --> 00:04:50,151 My father had kidney stones. 98 00:04:50,151 --> 00:04:51,291 You've mentioned. 99 00:04:51,291 --> 00:04:52,430 And his father did. 100 00:04:52,430 --> 00:04:53,672 You don't want kidney stones. 101 00:04:53,672 --> 00:04:54,949 Little monsters with jagged edges 102 00:04:54,949 --> 00:04:56,434 that can tear the lining off your penis. 103 00:04:56,434 --> 00:04:57,642 Jesus. 104 00:04:57,642 --> 00:04:59,126 What... did you really need-- 105 00:04:59,126 --> 00:05:00,783 You know what? 106 00:05:00,783 --> 00:05:04,096 If it's not too much trouble, I think I want a second opinion. 107 00:05:04,096 --> 00:05:06,306 - What about you? - She's not a radiologist. 108 00:05:06,306 --> 00:05:08,446 She's not allowed to evaluate results. 109 00:05:08,446 --> 00:05:10,137 It could be due to stress. 110 00:05:10,137 --> 00:05:12,588 That's your go-to, right? All doctors say that. 111 00:05:12,588 --> 00:05:13,968 I rarely say that. 112 00:05:13,968 --> 00:05:15,522 You have the floor. 113 00:05:15,522 --> 00:05:16,971 She's not going to contradict me. 114 00:05:18,007 --> 00:05:19,353 Okay, I guess you've thought of everything. 115 00:05:20,872 --> 00:05:22,114 So you're saying 116 00:05:22,114 --> 00:05:23,771 there's no way that this could be stress? 117 00:05:29,708 --> 00:05:30,951 It's embarrassing. 118 00:05:34,472 --> 00:05:36,336 We started on the same level. 119 00:05:37,544 --> 00:05:40,132 In fact, I think I was better regarded, 120 00:05:40,132 --> 00:05:42,238 for about 10 days. 121 00:05:43,239 --> 00:05:45,655 My book review was on a Wednesday, 122 00:05:45,655 --> 00:05:48,140 and then the sales figures came in the next Thursday, 123 00:05:48,140 --> 00:05:50,004 so eight days. 124 00:05:50,004 --> 00:05:51,040 Eight days. 125 00:05:51,558 --> 00:05:53,870 Hank, you... 126 00:05:53,870 --> 00:05:55,976 you're sharing the stage with him. 127 00:05:55,976 --> 00:05:58,288 Yeah. The last time I did that, it sucked. 128 00:05:58,288 --> 00:05:59,324 It's an honor. 129 00:06:00,912 --> 00:06:02,500 There's a fine line between honor 130 00:06:02,500 --> 00:06:05,330 and "I wish I never met that dickhead." 131 00:06:07,090 --> 00:06:10,715 What is it about writing that attracts so many dickheads? 132 00:06:10,715 --> 00:06:14,546 I mean, somehow, the need to tell everyone about your rich inner life 133 00:06:14,546 --> 00:06:15,858 it's irresistible, 134 00:06:15,858 --> 00:06:17,411 but why would anyone care 135 00:06:17,411 --> 00:06:19,655 about somebody else's rich inner life? 136 00:06:19,655 --> 00:06:22,934 Have a rich outer life for the rest of us to enjoy. 137 00:06:28,974 --> 00:06:30,976 "The warm wood on her forearms." 138 00:06:30,976 --> 00:06:32,219 Oh! 139 00:06:32,219 --> 00:06:34,255 Oh, yeah, I did use that. 140 00:06:35,705 --> 00:06:38,018 I'm so sorry. I plagiarized myself. 141 00:06:38,018 --> 00:06:40,261 No, no, no, no, no. No. 142 00:06:40,261 --> 00:06:41,780 Don't pass judgement. 143 00:06:42,298 --> 00:06:43,955 You just... 144 00:06:44,887 --> 00:06:46,958 you have to press yourself. 145 00:06:46,958 --> 00:06:50,617 You have to think past the images that you already own so that-- 146 00:06:54,621 --> 00:06:56,139 That's the way-- 147 00:06:58,625 --> 00:07:00,040 Why don't we take three minutes? 148 00:07:02,283 --> 00:07:03,699 I swear I don't even remember writing that. 149 00:07:13,087 --> 00:07:14,641 Dickhead. 150 00:07:14,641 --> 00:07:16,194 I don't understand why you don't just talk to him. 151 00:07:16,194 --> 00:07:17,609 Professor Rourke 152 00:07:17,609 --> 00:07:20,957 is not the kind of man who responds to reason, 153 00:07:20,957 --> 00:07:23,132 especially not from someone like me. 154 00:07:23,132 --> 00:07:24,789 Hmm. 155 00:07:24,789 --> 00:07:26,135 He's a misogynist, isn't he? 156 00:07:28,724 --> 00:07:31,968 Sometimes, the male brain isn't developed enough to understand its cruelty. 157 00:07:34,419 --> 00:07:35,489 He bullies you. 158 00:07:43,152 --> 00:07:44,429 Right here. 159 00:07:54,991 --> 00:07:56,476 - George. - Hank. 160 00:07:58,029 --> 00:07:59,617 Hey, man, thanks for inviting me. 161 00:07:59,617 --> 00:08:00,652 Yeah. 162 00:08:03,448 --> 00:08:04,691 My students are so excited, 163 00:08:04,691 --> 00:08:06,934 they've been talking about nothing else for weeks. 164 00:08:06,934 --> 00:08:09,454 I mean, they can't believe that I actually know you. 165 00:08:09,454 --> 00:08:10,697 Oh. 166 00:08:10,697 --> 00:08:12,457 Well, my students can't believe I know you. 167 00:08:16,392 --> 00:08:19,291 Your students don't know who I am, do they? 168 00:08:19,291 --> 00:08:21,604 A couple do. You know, I told them about you. 169 00:08:21,604 --> 00:08:23,537 Oh, okay. 170 00:08:23,537 --> 00:08:25,505 I gotta introduce you to the department 171 00:08:25,505 --> 00:08:26,816 or they'll kill me. 172 00:08:26,816 --> 00:08:29,025 "I am not exactly dressed for standing on the moon, 173 00:08:29,025 --> 00:08:31,614 which, as I understand it, is super cold." 174 00:08:32,926 --> 00:08:34,168 That's from my New Yorker-- 175 00:08:34,168 --> 00:08:35,549 Your victory lap, yeah, New Yorker, October 2009. 176 00:08:35,549 --> 00:08:37,033 - Yeah. - Yeah. 177 00:08:37,033 --> 00:08:39,415 - Well, thanks. - Oh... 178 00:08:39,415 --> 00:08:41,382 Your editor's wife is our friend's sister. 179 00:08:42,349 --> 00:08:44,213 Oh. Well. 180 00:08:44,213 --> 00:08:45,490 How's your hotel? 181 00:08:45,490 --> 00:08:47,216 I take it they have you at the Moderna Center? 182 00:08:47,216 --> 00:08:49,390 No, it was all full. 183 00:08:49,390 --> 00:08:50,875 There's a field hockey team staying there. 184 00:08:50,875 --> 00:08:52,290 Big game tonight. 185 00:08:52,290 --> 00:08:53,671 Oh. 186 00:08:53,671 --> 00:08:55,673 Yeah, they have me at The Drake, which is really lovely. 187 00:08:55,673 --> 00:08:57,606 Although there's a crane outside my window, 188 00:08:57,606 --> 00:09:01,092 and I had a dream last night of a talking wrecking ball, 189 00:09:01,092 --> 00:09:03,750 and it said I was going to be late for the presentation, 190 00:09:03,750 --> 00:09:05,717 that I suck, that nobody likes me, like... 191 00:09:07,926 --> 00:09:09,134 Grace DuBois. 192 00:09:09,134 --> 00:09:10,411 Oh, nice to meet you. 193 00:09:10,411 --> 00:09:12,241 You must leave there at once. Come stay with me. 194 00:09:12,241 --> 00:09:13,829 - We have a guest room. - I have a guest house! 195 00:09:13,829 --> 00:09:14,899 You do not. 196 00:09:14,899 --> 00:09:16,383 It's above the garage. You've seen it. 197 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:18,558 It sounds lovely, but I-- 198 00:09:18,558 --> 00:09:20,698 But there's no lock strong enough to make you feel secure. 199 00:09:20,698 --> 00:09:23,528 It even has its own fridge-- 200 00:09:23,528 --> 00:09:26,738 and a hot plate if you are a tea drinker. 201 00:09:26,738 --> 00:09:29,292 I'm so sorry. 202 00:09:29,292 --> 00:09:30,777 They have me on a bit of a schedule, 203 00:09:30,777 --> 00:09:32,572 but I hope to see you all at the talk later. 204 00:09:32,572 --> 00:09:33,918 Yes, yes. 205 00:09:33,918 --> 00:09:35,851 I might make it. I have stuff to do. 206 00:09:38,716 --> 00:09:39,717 I hope you can come by. 207 00:09:41,063 --> 00:09:42,133 I probably won't be there. 208 00:09:46,586 --> 00:09:48,415 All right, well, I'll just, I'll walk you out. 209 00:09:48,415 --> 00:09:49,589 Yeah. 210 00:09:51,901 --> 00:09:54,559 "Charming eagles was a family trait. 211 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:56,043 He didn't know how he did it, 212 00:09:56,043 --> 00:09:57,389 he just looked at them 213 00:09:57,389 --> 00:09:59,391 and thought about them crashing into a cliff's face. 214 00:10:00,116 --> 00:10:01,946 The white-chested eagle, 215 00:10:01,946 --> 00:10:04,707 commanded by a mysterious force it didn't understand, 216 00:10:04,707 --> 00:10:06,226 smashed itself." 217 00:10:09,747 --> 00:10:10,782 Interesting. 218 00:10:10,782 --> 00:10:11,956 Should I read more? 219 00:10:11,956 --> 00:10:13,405 No, no. 220 00:10:14,821 --> 00:10:16,443 - Go ahead. - Uh, okay, thanks. 221 00:10:16,443 --> 00:10:19,066 Um, yeah, you're always escalating. 222 00:10:19,066 --> 00:10:20,758 I love that. 223 00:10:20,758 --> 00:10:22,138 That's a very rare thing, 224 00:10:22,138 --> 00:10:23,726 and it seems to come very naturally to you. 225 00:10:23,726 --> 00:10:25,314 Yeah, yeah, it does. 226 00:10:25,314 --> 00:10:29,214 So we want to enforce escalation, 227 00:10:29,214 --> 00:10:31,285 even on the line level. 228 00:10:31,285 --> 00:10:33,080 If the eagle has a white chest, 229 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:35,773 we can assume the reader already knows that, right? 230 00:10:35,773 --> 00:10:37,429 Cut. 231 00:10:37,429 --> 00:10:40,018 And if the force is mysterious, 232 00:10:40,018 --> 00:10:43,159 do we need to say the eagle didn't understand? 233 00:10:43,159 --> 00:10:44,954 That's implied. Cut. 234 00:10:45,990 --> 00:10:48,475 You know, and a lot of this is just habitual. 235 00:10:48,475 --> 00:10:50,442 Yeah, he's just saying edit yourself. 236 00:10:51,789 --> 00:10:54,654 Yes, but if you want to be excellent, 237 00:10:54,654 --> 00:10:57,415 you have to reject the habitual. 238 00:10:57,415 --> 00:10:58,658 That is where mediocrity lives, 239 00:10:58,658 --> 00:11:00,383 in the habitual. 240 00:11:00,383 --> 00:11:03,973 That is how you will distinguish yourself from other writers 241 00:11:03,973 --> 00:11:06,389 and start to sound more like you. 242 00:11:07,287 --> 00:11:08,529 Holy shit. 243 00:11:08,529 --> 00:11:10,635 Uh, yeah, I kinda always knew 244 00:11:10,635 --> 00:11:11,981 there was this whole other level, 245 00:11:11,981 --> 00:11:13,638 but just didn't know how to get there 246 00:11:13,638 --> 00:11:16,192 because no one ever really taught me how to do that before, but-- 247 00:11:16,192 --> 00:11:17,780 Okay, that's enough. 248 00:11:17,780 --> 00:11:20,024 That's good from you... We do have other... 249 00:11:20,024 --> 00:11:22,612 You know, we're almost out of time. 250 00:11:22,612 --> 00:11:24,649 I have plenty of time, actually. 251 00:11:24,649 --> 00:11:26,202 Well, we're running out of time. 252 00:11:26,202 --> 00:11:27,514 Are you sure? I thought you said we had-- 253 00:11:27,514 --> 00:11:28,618 Yeah, my watch-- 254 00:11:28,618 --> 00:11:29,689 I don't know if you-- 255 00:11:29,689 --> 00:11:30,828 It's earlier than you said it would be. 256 00:11:32,174 --> 00:11:33,244 I'd like a word, Paul. 257 00:11:35,246 --> 00:11:37,835 - Paul. - You don't have to say my name every time you talk to me. 258 00:11:39,250 --> 00:11:41,873 I've spoken to you about the loudness of your car-- 259 00:11:41,873 --> 00:11:43,185 There's nothing wrong with my car. 260 00:11:43,185 --> 00:11:44,911 before-- and nothing has changed. 261 00:11:44,911 --> 00:11:47,327 Or ever will change. 262 00:11:47,327 --> 00:11:48,535 It disrupts my class. 263 00:11:48,535 --> 00:11:49,847 Huh. 264 00:11:49,847 --> 00:11:51,711 Not more than your teaching. 265 00:11:55,680 --> 00:11:57,095 How did you get like this? 266 00:11:57,095 --> 00:12:01,237 What mis-turn did you take? 267 00:12:01,237 --> 00:12:04,689 I am allowed to drive the car that I want. 268 00:12:04,689 --> 00:12:06,864 I'm allowed to take care of it, 269 00:12:06,864 --> 00:12:08,417 and it likes to be revved. 270 00:12:08,417 --> 00:12:09,936 It's good at it. 271 00:12:09,936 --> 00:12:11,178 What I don't understand 272 00:12:11,178 --> 00:12:12,801 is how anyone has come to think 273 00:12:12,801 --> 00:12:15,389 that they have the right not to be impacted by others. 274 00:12:16,528 --> 00:12:17,909 How about that wrong turn? 275 00:12:17,909 --> 00:12:19,877 Basic consideration wouldn't kill you. 276 00:12:19,877 --> 00:12:22,707 Well, it so happens that I am an at-risk individual 277 00:12:22,707 --> 00:12:25,261 with regards to basic consideration. 278 00:12:25,261 --> 00:12:26,297 I can't risk it. 279 00:12:30,957 --> 00:12:32,372 "Paul..." 280 00:12:34,995 --> 00:12:36,410 "Paul..." 281 00:12:41,933 --> 00:12:43,383 Why'd you say that to George? 282 00:12:44,764 --> 00:12:47,145 - Do you think he noticed? - Yeah. 283 00:12:48,595 --> 00:12:49,734 Oh... 284 00:12:49,734 --> 00:12:51,425 I don't know why I do this. 285 00:12:51,425 --> 00:12:52,979 It's only people I admire, you know. 286 00:12:52,979 --> 00:12:54,981 Rude stuff just comes out. 287 00:12:55,671 --> 00:12:56,879 Mm. 288 00:12:56,879 --> 00:12:59,468 - You want some advice? - From you? no. 289 00:12:59,468 --> 00:13:01,815 Ah! Sorry. 290 00:13:01,815 --> 00:13:04,128 I'm like a freight train that can't stop with insults. 291 00:13:17,106 --> 00:13:18,970 Excuse me, is Myrna here? 292 00:13:20,109 --> 00:13:21,455 Myrna. 293 00:13:22,594 --> 00:13:24,769 Professor Du-Boise. 294 00:13:24,769 --> 00:13:28,566 Green Subaru Outback, RBG bumper sticker. 295 00:13:28,566 --> 00:13:31,741 Green Outback, RBG bumper sticker. 296 00:13:31,741 --> 00:13:34,123 If I remember correctly, Myrna, 297 00:13:34,123 --> 00:13:35,366 you... 298 00:13:36,816 --> 00:13:39,439 are a top-shelf tequila gal, 299 00:13:39,439 --> 00:13:40,509 am I right? 300 00:13:41,959 --> 00:13:42,994 Flannery O'Connor said, 301 00:13:42,994 --> 00:13:45,100 "If you live till you're 10 years old, 302 00:13:45,100 --> 00:13:46,342 you'll have enough to write about for a lifetime." 303 00:13:46,342 --> 00:13:47,827 Do you think that's true? 304 00:13:47,827 --> 00:13:50,381 Uh, I think it's true, but it would not be a very good story. 305 00:13:52,693 --> 00:13:54,454 Does art have to be so painful? 306 00:13:54,454 --> 00:13:55,696 I mean, do we all have to end up 307 00:13:55,696 --> 00:13:57,043 like "van Goch"... 308 00:13:57,043 --> 00:13:58,803 with an ear missing? 309 00:13:58,803 --> 00:14:01,392 Uh, it's van Gogh in this room. 310 00:14:03,152 --> 00:14:05,637 So, Jack Kerouac wrote "On the Road" 311 00:14:05,637 --> 00:14:08,986 on this long, continuous, teletype scroll. 312 00:14:13,853 --> 00:14:15,855 What sort of paper do you write on? 313 00:14:18,236 --> 00:14:19,444 Uh... 314 00:14:19,444 --> 00:14:21,032 I just use a computer. 315 00:14:24,208 --> 00:14:26,831 Well, I guess we have time for one last question. 316 00:14:28,246 --> 00:14:29,316 Yep. 317 00:14:29,316 --> 00:14:30,835 Yeah, Mr. Saunders, 318 00:14:30,835 --> 00:14:34,666 if there was one piece of advice that stood out above others 319 00:14:34,666 --> 00:14:36,737 to help us become the writers that we want to be, 320 00:14:36,737 --> 00:14:38,256 what... 321 00:14:38,256 --> 00:14:39,533 what would it be? 322 00:14:39,533 --> 00:14:43,917 Well, I'd say trust that your taste is good. 323 00:14:43,917 --> 00:14:47,472 Have that good taste exert itself onto your prose. 324 00:14:47,472 --> 00:14:50,372 Then just write every day. 325 00:14:50,372 --> 00:14:51,683 Just write. 326 00:14:51,683 --> 00:14:54,238 Maybe that's my problem. 327 00:14:54,238 --> 00:14:56,205 I've been doing the once-every-decade method. 328 00:14:57,931 --> 00:15:00,865 No, actually, thank you for that, 'cause that's awesome. 329 00:15:00,865 --> 00:15:02,694 Even great writers get stuck. 330 00:15:02,694 --> 00:15:04,282 That's just part of it. 331 00:15:04,282 --> 00:15:05,905 I hate my first draft, 332 00:15:05,905 --> 00:15:07,113 but I love it 333 00:15:07,113 --> 00:15:10,426 because it leads to my second draft and my third draft. 334 00:15:10,426 --> 00:15:11,807 It's all part of the process. 335 00:15:12,463 --> 00:15:13,671 Hank? 336 00:15:13,671 --> 00:15:14,741 What keeps you from writing? 337 00:15:22,266 --> 00:15:23,715 Lunch. 338 00:15:23,715 --> 00:15:25,131 We have that lunch... 339 00:15:26,166 --> 00:15:28,030 - Oh, right. - Lunch. 340 00:15:28,030 --> 00:15:29,273 Thank you so much. 341 00:15:29,273 --> 00:15:31,931 Thank you, guys. You're all amazing. 342 00:15:31,931 --> 00:15:33,380 So exciting. 343 00:15:37,522 --> 00:15:40,836 I think I learned more in that one hour than I have all year. 344 00:15:42,976 --> 00:15:44,288 It's-- it's just frustrating, you know? 345 00:15:44,288 --> 00:15:45,806 'Cause, like, now I know 346 00:15:45,806 --> 00:15:46,946 what it's like to sit in a classroom 347 00:15:46,946 --> 00:15:50,052 with a great teacher who's-- who's totally engaged, 348 00:15:50,052 --> 00:15:52,606 and, like, really-- really trying with me, 349 00:15:52,606 --> 00:15:55,299 and, like, putting in effort and listening and... 350 00:15:55,299 --> 00:15:56,610 and after I've experienced that, 351 00:15:56,610 --> 00:15:58,302 it's like... 352 00:15:58,302 --> 00:15:59,959 I don't want to go back to Devereaux's class. 353 00:15:59,959 --> 00:16:01,788 I don't want to go back without you. 354 00:16:01,788 --> 00:16:04,687 Well, I'm going to be going back, Lester. That's not my point. 355 00:16:04,687 --> 00:16:06,275 Maybe if you spent more time on your writing 356 00:16:06,275 --> 00:16:07,587 than fighting with your teachers, 357 00:16:07,587 --> 00:16:09,658 your stories wouldn't suck so bad. 358 00:16:09,658 --> 00:16:13,006 The fact that you don't understand them just proves their value to me. 359 00:16:13,006 --> 00:16:14,766 I heard your family donated a building to Notre Dame 360 00:16:14,766 --> 00:16:17,838 and you still didn't get in. 361 00:16:17,838 --> 00:16:19,840 Everyone's heard that story, Solange, okay? It's boring. 362 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:20,945 Just like your stories. 363 00:16:20,945 --> 00:16:22,809 Oh, next time, I'll add necrophilia. 364 00:16:25,674 --> 00:16:27,607 "You'll know when true excellence presents itself 365 00:16:27,607 --> 00:16:29,367 because the mediocre 366 00:16:29,367 --> 00:16:31,162 will be in confederacy against that person." 367 00:16:32,508 --> 00:16:34,752 I'm paraphrasing the Confederacy of Dunces 368 00:16:34,752 --> 00:16:36,996 to make a point about excellence, 369 00:16:36,996 --> 00:16:41,034 something I think we should all be entitled to, 370 00:16:41,034 --> 00:16:43,623 no matter who we are or where we're from. 371 00:16:43,623 --> 00:16:45,004 Is this a club or something? 372 00:16:45,004 --> 00:16:46,453 I'm just trying to eat my lunch. 373 00:16:46,453 --> 00:16:47,834 This is not a club. 374 00:16:49,180 --> 00:16:50,147 Maybe it is. 375 00:16:50,975 --> 00:16:52,804 You're right, maybe it is. 376 00:16:58,258 --> 00:16:59,639 That was interesting. 377 00:17:01,779 --> 00:17:04,402 It's a public space, I can be as interesting as I want. 378 00:17:04,402 --> 00:17:05,886 I'm Ellen's roommate, Ava. 379 00:17:08,165 --> 00:17:10,132 Okay, Ellen's roommate, Ava. 380 00:17:10,132 --> 00:17:13,687 And, um, you went to East Lake Country Day 381 00:17:13,687 --> 00:17:15,344 with my brother, but he was a year younger. 382 00:17:15,344 --> 00:17:16,345 Brooks Noon? 383 00:17:17,622 --> 00:17:20,729 Uh, yeah, sure, Brooksy, yeah. 384 00:17:22,558 --> 00:17:23,697 - I'm Bartow. - I know. 385 00:17:26,459 --> 00:17:28,047 So what do we do now? 386 00:17:29,945 --> 00:17:31,774 No, I'm certain it was at Bread Loaf, 387 00:17:31,774 --> 00:17:33,328 and we went into town to get dinner, 388 00:17:33,328 --> 00:17:34,605 and at the bar, 389 00:17:34,605 --> 00:17:37,228 Colum McCann was singing songs with the locals-- 390 00:17:37,228 --> 00:17:41,543 I'm sorry, what was that back there? 391 00:17:41,543 --> 00:17:42,923 What? 392 00:17:42,923 --> 00:17:45,857 When you put me on the spot about not writing. 393 00:17:46,789 --> 00:17:47,894 No... 394 00:17:47,894 --> 00:17:50,034 Wait, you brought it up, so I... 395 00:17:50,034 --> 00:17:52,623 It just seemed a little hostile. 396 00:17:53,693 --> 00:17:54,866 Hostile? 397 00:17:54,866 --> 00:17:56,868 I mean... Hank, maybe you're being a little sensitive? 398 00:17:56,868 --> 00:17:58,284 I... 399 00:17:58,284 --> 00:18:00,734 I'm fine, just... 400 00:18:00,734 --> 00:18:02,736 Jacob Rose told me 401 00:18:02,736 --> 00:18:06,775 that you said that this might be a problem here. 402 00:18:07,638 --> 00:18:10,434 What? No. No, I... no, that's not... 403 00:18:10,434 --> 00:18:11,573 I didn't want to impose on you. 404 00:18:11,573 --> 00:18:13,402 I didn't know if you wanted to do it. 405 00:18:13,402 --> 00:18:15,715 I am thrilled to be here. 406 00:18:15,715 --> 00:18:17,924 I haven't seen you in 30 years, and I'm just... 407 00:18:18,821 --> 00:18:20,375 I'm really glad you're doing it. 408 00:18:21,410 --> 00:18:22,894 Okay. 409 00:18:22,894 --> 00:18:25,034 I'm... I'm excited, too. 410 00:18:25,034 --> 00:18:26,829 This-- this is going to be fun. 411 00:18:27,451 --> 00:18:31,420 What is this guy up to? 412 00:18:31,420 --> 00:18:33,319 I'm pretty sure it's short-story writing. 413 00:18:33,319 --> 00:18:36,322 Yeah, well, he's acting really weird. 414 00:18:37,771 --> 00:18:39,083 Oh, no, let's not add salmon 415 00:18:39,083 --> 00:18:41,706 because it's the only thing that you like at Nora's. 416 00:18:41,706 --> 00:18:43,225 We're eating there tonight? 417 00:18:43,225 --> 00:18:44,951 Tomorrow night. We are. 418 00:18:44,951 --> 00:18:46,504 Because... 419 00:18:47,781 --> 00:18:48,955 Because? 420 00:18:48,955 --> 00:18:50,612 Julie and Russell want to have dinner with us 421 00:18:50,612 --> 00:18:54,305 because, in their words, they have news. 422 00:18:54,305 --> 00:18:55,824 They have news? 423 00:18:55,824 --> 00:18:57,826 - They have news. - That's code for... 424 00:19:03,176 --> 00:19:05,454 I missed the window. 425 00:19:05,454 --> 00:19:07,111 What window? 426 00:19:07,111 --> 00:19:08,526 The window. 427 00:19:12,047 --> 00:19:15,119 Young dependent grown, before new dependent arrives. 428 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:18,467 You know, a distractionless window in which to write. 429 00:19:18,467 --> 00:19:22,333 Maybe just try the window between waking and going to work. 430 00:19:23,334 --> 00:19:24,508 And you're happy about this? 431 00:19:24,508 --> 00:19:26,061 Mm. 432 00:19:26,061 --> 00:19:27,959 I'm adjusting to the idea, with modification. 433 00:19:27,959 --> 00:19:29,754 I looked up how to say "grandma" 434 00:19:29,754 --> 00:19:31,825 in every single language. 435 00:19:31,825 --> 00:19:34,311 Swahili is "Bibi", which is pretty cute. 436 00:19:37,555 --> 00:19:40,006 I mean, I think George just hit a nerve. 437 00:19:40,006 --> 00:19:41,801 Why you don't write? 438 00:19:41,801 --> 00:19:44,459 You ask me why I don't write? 439 00:19:44,459 --> 00:19:47,565 Hey, hey, 'cause I got two jobs, okay? 440 00:19:47,565 --> 00:19:49,912 I'm a teacher and I run that department, 441 00:19:49,912 --> 00:19:52,467 and you know my co-workers are pains in the ass, right? 442 00:19:52,467 --> 00:19:56,505 Also, I actively raised our daughter with you, right? 443 00:19:56,505 --> 00:19:58,197 And now I'm going to be a grandfather. 444 00:19:58,197 --> 00:19:59,405 Knowing Julie, 445 00:19:59,405 --> 00:20:01,165 that's going to be a third full-time job. 446 00:20:01,165 --> 00:20:02,477 She's gonna want me there-- 447 00:20:02,477 --> 00:20:04,133 You think they're gonna want you to raise the baby? 448 00:20:04,133 --> 00:20:05,480 I've been waiting for this. Stop it. 449 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:07,136 You're spinning out of-- Just stop it. 450 00:20:07,136 --> 00:20:08,310 Stop exaggerating. 451 00:20:08,310 --> 00:20:10,001 You do write. 452 00:20:10,001 --> 00:20:12,245 You started something a few weeks ago. Go write that. 453 00:20:12,245 --> 00:20:14,143 Hello. Hi, Mr. Nerhand. 454 00:20:14,143 --> 00:20:15,317 Thank you for getting back to me. 455 00:20:27,018 --> 00:20:28,537 That table's reserved. 456 00:20:29,573 --> 00:20:30,677 For who? 457 00:20:30,677 --> 00:20:31,713 For guests. 458 00:20:34,198 --> 00:20:36,718 Don't you have an office or something? 459 00:20:36,718 --> 00:20:38,167 Oh, yeah. 460 00:20:38,167 --> 00:20:40,791 My office is not for work. 461 00:20:40,791 --> 00:20:42,896 It's to gather with friends, 462 00:20:42,896 --> 00:20:45,416 where all my cares and responsibilities can slip away. 463 00:21:02,122 --> 00:21:05,056 Why is it to fun to draw a dick? 464 00:21:05,056 --> 00:21:07,300 I mean, am I wrong to think we all like doing it? 465 00:21:07,300 --> 00:21:08,888 I know I do. 466 00:21:13,030 --> 00:21:18,069 Yeah, you can come, just don't stuff your pockets with cheese. 467 00:21:19,139 --> 00:21:20,831 Okay. 468 00:21:20,831 --> 00:21:23,661 Maybe because there's no wrong way to do it. 469 00:21:23,661 --> 00:21:25,836 I mean, all dicks are different. 470 00:21:25,836 --> 00:21:29,149 That's how we should identify each other. 471 00:21:29,149 --> 00:21:30,737 Forget face recognition. 472 00:21:30,737 --> 00:21:33,292 Unlock your phone with your dick. 473 00:21:33,292 --> 00:21:35,915 I mean, you've already got it in your pocket, so it's right there. 474 00:21:35,915 --> 00:21:37,779 So... 475 00:21:37,779 --> 00:21:39,574 when's the last time you saw him? 476 00:21:40,816 --> 00:21:42,093 This morning. 477 00:21:46,615 --> 00:21:48,997 He's obviously very featured in my dissertation. 478 00:21:48,997 --> 00:21:50,343 He was? 479 00:21:50,343 --> 00:21:52,587 You jerk, you didn't read it. 480 00:21:52,587 --> 00:21:54,209 I skimmed it. 481 00:21:54,209 --> 00:21:56,936 Fair enough, boss. I only skimmed your novel. 482 00:22:41,567 --> 00:22:43,569 In light of the conflict 483 00:22:43,569 --> 00:22:46,054 that I've been having with Professor Devereaux, 484 00:22:46,054 --> 00:22:49,713 we want to form the Excellence Committee. 485 00:22:49,713 --> 00:22:51,300 It's a group of students, like us, 486 00:22:51,300 --> 00:22:53,579 that aim to both celebrate excellence 487 00:22:53,579 --> 00:22:54,856 where we find it, 488 00:22:54,856 --> 00:22:58,169 and discourage everything that is less than. 489 00:22:58,169 --> 00:23:00,068 Look, there's a process for starting new clubs 490 00:23:00,068 --> 00:23:02,346 that usually does not involve me in any way. 491 00:23:02,346 --> 00:23:06,143 I'm sure my assistant, Jill, could steer you all in the right direction. 492 00:23:06,143 --> 00:23:07,696 I am the Dean of Faculty. 493 00:23:07,696 --> 00:23:10,561 Right, well, this concerns the faculty, that's why we chose you. 494 00:23:10,561 --> 00:23:12,908 Some of the faculty are intentionally resisting being better, 495 00:23:12,908 --> 00:23:14,841 and it's affecting us as students. 496 00:23:14,841 --> 00:23:17,913 We want to create a system of incentives and deterrents 497 00:23:17,913 --> 00:23:19,432 to hold them accountable. 498 00:23:19,432 --> 00:23:20,744 Bartow... 499 00:23:22,746 --> 00:23:23,885 I understand 500 00:23:23,885 --> 00:23:27,406 that it's difficult to move on 501 00:23:27,406 --> 00:23:29,925 from this incident that you had with Professor Devereaux. 502 00:23:29,925 --> 00:23:32,549 No, it's not, because I am past it. I'm over it. 503 00:23:32,549 --> 00:23:33,757 It's over. 504 00:23:33,757 --> 00:23:35,897 He's the one who won't apologize to me. 505 00:23:35,897 --> 00:23:38,900 Needing an apology is really not moving past it. 506 00:23:40,971 --> 00:23:43,352 If we had the Excellence Committee, 507 00:23:43,352 --> 00:23:45,251 I wouldn't need the apology. 508 00:23:49,842 --> 00:23:52,776 I can give you a common room twice a week for an hour, 509 00:23:52,776 --> 00:23:54,640 I'll buy the pizza, 510 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:57,228 and you can have access to the photocopy machine. 511 00:23:57,228 --> 00:23:58,333 Yes! 512 00:24:00,922 --> 00:24:02,095 Hey! What are you doing! 513 00:24:03,234 --> 00:24:04,546 Put her back down! 514 00:24:06,134 --> 00:24:07,722 Put her down! 515 00:24:09,827 --> 00:24:11,967 Hey, you! You! Stop doing that! 516 00:24:11,967 --> 00:24:14,107 Get away from there! 517 00:24:14,107 --> 00:24:17,283 Do you know how many professors had to die for me to get this spot? 518 00:24:17,283 --> 00:24:21,149 Four! Four professors! And two of them suffered! 519 00:24:21,149 --> 00:24:22,564 Here you go. 520 00:24:30,020 --> 00:24:33,920 I was thinking about the 92nd Street Y thing that we did. 521 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:35,404 Kinda jogged a memory. 522 00:24:35,404 --> 00:24:37,476 Oh, I loved that night. 523 00:24:37,476 --> 00:24:40,340 That was the first night that I met your father, 524 00:24:40,340 --> 00:24:42,619 at the reception after. 525 00:24:42,619 --> 00:24:44,172 Yeah, we kept in touch for years. 526 00:24:44,172 --> 00:24:45,207 We wrote letters. 527 00:24:46,036 --> 00:24:47,382 You did? 528 00:24:47,382 --> 00:24:51,351 Yeah. Yeah, it was so illuminating and stimulating, 529 00:24:51,351 --> 00:24:53,112 and it pushed me. 530 00:24:53,112 --> 00:24:55,079 I don't think I'd be the writer I am 531 00:24:55,079 --> 00:24:56,391 without his influence. 532 00:24:58,117 --> 00:24:59,118 Me neither. 533 00:25:01,223 --> 00:25:02,293 Where's Gracie? 534 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:06,297 Gracie! Are you here, Gracie? 535 00:25:06,297 --> 00:25:09,853 Or are you too chickenshit to face me? 536 00:25:09,853 --> 00:25:11,613 I'm standing right here, Paul. 537 00:25:13,995 --> 00:25:16,238 You took my parking spot? 538 00:25:17,136 --> 00:25:18,517 I took nothing. 539 00:25:18,517 --> 00:25:20,553 You should have paid your parking tickets. 540 00:25:20,553 --> 00:25:24,557 I am a tenured professor of the English Department of Railton College. 541 00:25:24,557 --> 00:25:27,387 I deserve a parking spot and the freedom 542 00:25:27,387 --> 00:25:29,666 to rev my car's engine whenever I see fit! 543 00:25:29,666 --> 00:25:31,909 - Are you done, Paul? - Not even close. 544 00:25:31,909 --> 00:25:33,877 You have no right. 545 00:25:33,877 --> 00:25:37,087 You are a cruel, petty, vindictive woman. 546 00:25:42,713 --> 00:25:44,508 I liked "Tenth of December". 547 00:25:52,102 --> 00:25:54,242 Come on, come on. 548 00:25:56,071 --> 00:25:58,418 Maybe all my father's cheating 549 00:25:58,418 --> 00:26:02,388 was an attempt to ejaculate out his kidney stones. 550 00:26:02,388 --> 00:26:04,528 It seems like it's the same tube. 551 00:26:06,288 --> 00:26:08,670 Phew, that was something. 552 00:26:08,670 --> 00:26:10,534 Oh, trust me, that was nothing. 553 00:26:16,644 --> 00:26:17,886 You know, I do write. 554 00:26:19,232 --> 00:26:21,683 To-do lists, grocery lists. 555 00:26:21,683 --> 00:26:23,789 Important texts. 556 00:26:23,789 --> 00:26:25,238 Yeah, very important. 557 00:26:25,238 --> 00:26:27,586 Meaningful. Moving, even. 558 00:26:27,586 --> 00:26:29,449 I just haven't written a second novel. 559 00:26:34,454 --> 00:26:36,284 Look, Hank, I... 560 00:26:36,284 --> 00:26:37,734 I shouldn't have asked you that question in class. 561 00:26:37,734 --> 00:26:39,632 That was-- that was stupid. 562 00:26:39,632 --> 00:26:40,909 Don't worry about it. 563 00:26:40,909 --> 00:26:42,739 No, actually, it's not okay. 564 00:26:42,739 --> 00:26:44,326 You know, I get into this teacher mode, 565 00:26:44,326 --> 00:26:46,294 and I forget that everyone's not my student, 566 00:26:46,294 --> 00:26:49,469 and I put you on the spot in front of your class, 567 00:26:49,469 --> 00:26:51,575 and I am sorry. 568 00:26:51,575 --> 00:26:53,991 Oh. Thanks, I appreciate it. 569 00:26:53,991 --> 00:26:57,270 Yeah, I mean, it's just writing, right? 570 00:26:57,270 --> 00:26:59,825 It's not like everyone has to write their whole life. 571 00:27:00,860 --> 00:27:02,655 Harper Lee only wrote one book. 572 00:27:02,655 --> 00:27:04,588 Second one was just a draft. 573 00:27:05,658 --> 00:27:07,626 Man, I hope nobody publishes my unfinished books 574 00:27:07,626 --> 00:27:09,386 down the road for a quick buck. 575 00:27:09,386 --> 00:27:11,491 Yeah, that would be the worst. 576 00:27:12,700 --> 00:27:15,979 I mean, maybe somebody has said all they have to say. 577 00:27:15,979 --> 00:27:17,428 Big deal. 578 00:27:19,983 --> 00:27:21,743 Hey, Hank, this has been great. 579 00:27:21,743 --> 00:27:23,434 I really enjoyed hanging out with you. 580 00:27:24,159 --> 00:27:25,160 Yeah. 581 00:27:26,990 --> 00:27:29,337 Hey, I'm looking forward to tomorrow night. 582 00:27:38,380 --> 00:27:40,348 How is 19th-century poetry 583 00:27:40,348 --> 00:27:43,178 different than 21st-century poetry? 584 00:27:47,458 --> 00:27:49,012 It's difficult to really see 585 00:27:49,012 --> 00:27:52,705 without a side-by-side comparison, 586 00:27:52,705 --> 00:27:54,638 so let's do that. 587 00:27:54,638 --> 00:27:56,675 Let's compare Walt Whitman 588 00:27:56,675 --> 00:27:59,194 to say, oh... 589 00:27:59,194 --> 00:28:01,541 Professor DuBois, 590 00:28:01,541 --> 00:28:04,337 our own poet in residence. 591 00:28:04,337 --> 00:28:06,132 On the left 592 00:28:06,132 --> 00:28:09,688 is Whitman's Song of the Open Road, 593 00:28:09,688 --> 00:28:11,862 and on the right 594 00:28:11,862 --> 00:28:15,970 is Gracie DuBois's Follow the Lilac Sheet. 595 00:28:17,212 --> 00:28:19,007 Now, let's start with the titles themselves. 596 00:28:19,007 --> 00:28:21,976 Song of the Open Road... 597 00:28:23,874 --> 00:28:26,359 has a mythic quality to it, does it not? 598 00:28:30,950 --> 00:28:32,365 Follow the Lilac Sheet. 599 00:28:36,404 --> 00:28:38,061 Follow the Lilac Sheet. 600 00:28:39,579 --> 00:28:43,549 All right, Whitman, one, DuBois, zero. 601 00:28:44,067 --> 00:28:45,275 Go ahead. 602 00:28:47,622 --> 00:28:49,693 Wonderful! I can see again. 603 00:28:50,694 --> 00:28:52,489 What is that? 604 00:28:52,489 --> 00:28:55,423 Is that a stain on your shirt? 605 00:28:55,423 --> 00:28:57,459 Honestly, Hank... 606 00:28:57,459 --> 00:29:00,221 you cannot teach classes in stained shirts. 607 00:29:00,221 --> 00:29:02,706 It debases our profession. 608 00:29:02,706 --> 00:29:04,087 It's not a stain, Mom. 609 00:29:04,087 --> 00:29:06,296 It's a reminder of a sauce that I loved once. 610 00:29:06,296 --> 00:29:08,436 - Did you see this? - Yeah. 611 00:29:08,436 --> 00:29:10,369 Your father's retirement is big news. 612 00:29:10,369 --> 00:29:12,060 He's done quite well for himself. 613 00:29:12,060 --> 00:29:13,682 You know, without you and I 614 00:29:13,682 --> 00:29:15,961 dragging him down for the past 40 years. 615 00:29:17,169 --> 00:29:19,102 He always did have extreme focus. 616 00:29:21,725 --> 00:29:23,209 Here it is. 617 00:29:24,797 --> 00:29:27,386 My first, and maybe last, book review. 618 00:29:27,386 --> 00:29:28,767 That was a very positive review, 619 00:29:28,767 --> 00:29:29,802 as I recall, 620 00:29:30,492 --> 00:29:32,494 though a tad poorly written. 621 00:29:32,494 --> 00:29:35,187 Too much plot summary for my taste. 622 00:29:35,187 --> 00:29:38,984 They always do that when they can't form a clear opinion on their own. 623 00:29:38,984 --> 00:29:41,469 I always wonder if I got this positive review 624 00:29:41,469 --> 00:29:43,816 because Dad called in a favor. 625 00:29:43,816 --> 00:29:46,025 I find it hard to believe 626 00:29:46,025 --> 00:29:49,063 that a reviewer would give a positive review without really meaning it. 627 00:29:50,927 --> 00:29:52,791 Unless they really loved your father. 628 00:29:53,826 --> 00:29:55,794 And that reviewer loved your father. 629 00:29:56,864 --> 00:29:58,624 I mean, really loved him. 630 00:29:59,970 --> 00:30:02,455 So, you're right, can't be discounted. 631 00:30:05,182 --> 00:30:06,805 Maybe the second novel's the charm. 632 00:30:07,875 --> 00:30:09,773 Still working on it. 633 00:30:09,773 --> 00:30:12,465 You made family choices, dear. 634 00:30:29,241 --> 00:30:30,449 Family choices. 635 00:30:32,485 --> 00:30:33,797 Hey, Mom... 636 00:30:35,074 --> 00:30:36,800 I think Julie's pregnant. 637 00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:37,939 Really? 638 00:30:37,939 --> 00:30:39,113 - Oh! - Yeah. 639 00:30:39,113 --> 00:30:40,148 Oh, my goodness. 640 00:30:41,391 --> 00:30:44,049 Oh! Goodness, hold on. 641 00:30:44,049 --> 00:30:46,810 It's not like she's going to go into labor right now. 642 00:30:46,810 --> 00:30:48,847 You don't have to pack for the hospital or anything. 643 00:30:51,090 --> 00:30:52,298 Here. 644 00:30:53,541 --> 00:30:55,888 This was given to me by your grandmother 645 00:30:55,888 --> 00:30:57,372 when I was pregnant with you. 646 00:30:57,372 --> 00:30:58,891 It was given to her. 647 00:30:58,891 --> 00:31:00,686 I don't know how long it's been in the family. 648 00:31:01,825 --> 00:31:03,344 And now it's for Julie. 649 00:31:05,518 --> 00:31:07,003 Why didn't you give it to Lily? 650 00:31:13,595 --> 00:31:14,769 You look... 651 00:31:15,183 --> 00:31:16,598 not unhappy. 652 00:31:16,598 --> 00:31:19,360 Yeah, I'm a smidge up from neutral, so... 653 00:31:20,361 --> 00:31:21,362 - Hello! - Oh, hey. 654 00:31:22,432 --> 00:31:23,709 All right, babe. 655 00:31:24,330 --> 00:31:25,849 - Hi, baby. - Hi. 656 00:31:27,264 --> 00:31:28,576 - Hi. - Hey. 657 00:31:31,061 --> 00:31:32,166 Everybody good? 658 00:31:33,615 --> 00:31:36,722 - You look radiant. - Oh, thank you, Dad. 659 00:31:36,722 --> 00:31:38,379 How are you guys doing today? Did you have a good day? 660 00:31:38,379 --> 00:31:39,898 - Yeah, pretty good. - Yeah. yeah. 661 00:31:39,898 --> 00:31:41,037 Great! 662 00:31:42,141 --> 00:31:43,487 Okay, okay, 663 00:31:43,487 --> 00:31:45,662 I bet you're wondering what this is all about, what the news is. 664 00:31:45,662 --> 00:31:47,388 The thought had crossed our minds. 665 00:31:47,388 --> 00:31:48,458 All right, but first, 666 00:31:48,458 --> 00:31:50,460 Russell has something he wants to tell you. 667 00:31:50,460 --> 00:31:52,876 Yeah, um, so, as you both know, 668 00:31:52,876 --> 00:31:55,430 our yard has a flat area before the hill starts. 669 00:31:56,707 --> 00:31:57,881 Yeah. 670 00:31:57,881 --> 00:31:59,020 Yeah, and as you probably remember, 671 00:31:59,020 --> 00:32:01,920 my old roommate installs swimming pools. 672 00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:04,853 I don't-- I don't remember that, but go on, go on. 673 00:32:04,853 --> 00:32:06,200 Yeah. Um... 674 00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:07,442 Show them the-- show them the thing. 675 00:32:07,442 --> 00:32:10,273 It's pre-fab. He's got a company. 676 00:32:10,273 --> 00:32:11,895 You don't have to put any money up front. 677 00:32:11,895 --> 00:32:13,069 It's actually a really cool business model. 678 00:32:13,069 --> 00:32:16,762 You put five percent down, you pay the rest over time. 679 00:32:19,075 --> 00:32:21,387 Right? So the pools start at 6,000, 680 00:32:21,387 --> 00:32:22,802 but the one we want is 10. 681 00:32:22,802 --> 00:32:24,252 You can go up to 15, but we're only doing 10. 682 00:32:24,252 --> 00:32:25,702 Yeah. 683 00:32:25,702 --> 00:32:28,981 So, uh, five percent of 10,000-- 684 00:32:28,981 --> 00:32:30,776 -$500. - Yeah! 685 00:32:30,776 --> 00:32:32,295 So who wouldn't want a pool for $500? 686 00:32:32,295 --> 00:32:34,400 Could we just cut to the news? 687 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:36,644 No, yeah, that's what we're trying to tell you. 688 00:32:36,644 --> 00:32:38,232 - We're building a pool! - We're building a pool. 689 00:32:41,511 --> 00:32:42,891 A baby pool? 690 00:32:42,891 --> 00:32:44,859 No, just a regular pool. 691 00:32:44,859 --> 00:32:46,619 Um, but we're not just building a pool. 692 00:32:46,619 --> 00:32:48,345 No, we have a whole business model. 693 00:32:48,345 --> 00:32:49,898 And the business model will pay for the pool. 694 00:32:49,898 --> 00:32:51,417 Okay, let me just stop you there. 695 00:32:51,417 --> 00:32:54,386 No, listen, Dad, let me just stop you there, 'cause here's the best part. 696 00:32:54,386 --> 00:32:56,560 There's three groups of people out there that can't communicate, right? 697 00:32:56,560 --> 00:32:57,803 Swim students, 698 00:32:57,803 --> 00:32:58,907 swim teachers, 699 00:32:58,907 --> 00:33:00,599 and people with pools. 700 00:33:00,599 --> 00:33:02,359 Our app connects those three groups-- 701 00:33:02,359 --> 00:33:03,636 for a percentage-- 702 00:33:03,636 --> 00:33:06,432 and we get part of the whole of that percentage. 703 00:33:09,780 --> 00:33:11,610 Hank, will you, um, 704 00:33:11,610 --> 00:33:13,681 run up to the bar and get me a martini? 705 00:33:13,681 --> 00:33:14,993 And get one for yourself, too. 706 00:33:18,824 --> 00:33:19,825 Oh, I'll have a beer. 707 00:33:23,484 --> 00:33:24,657 Yeah. 708 00:33:27,971 --> 00:33:29,352 - Hey. - Hey. 709 00:33:29,352 --> 00:33:31,043 Can I get a martini 710 00:33:31,043 --> 00:33:32,976 and another martini 711 00:33:32,976 --> 00:33:34,460 and a shot, while I'm waiting? 712 00:33:36,497 --> 00:33:38,085 And I guess, a beer. 713 00:33:38,085 --> 00:33:41,053 All right, just give me a sec because I am down a bartender. 714 00:33:41,847 --> 00:33:43,331 Oh, yeah? You're hiring? 715 00:33:43,883 --> 00:33:44,884 Yeah. 716 00:33:47,577 --> 00:33:48,647 Can he be an idiot? 717 00:33:49,337 --> 00:33:50,649 Sure. 718 00:33:53,928 --> 00:33:55,619 It was horrible! He humiliated you-- 719 00:33:55,619 --> 00:33:57,173 in front of the whole class! 720 00:33:57,173 --> 00:33:58,691 That man is an effing monster. 721 00:33:58,691 --> 00:33:59,934 Now, now, Solange. 722 00:34:00,900 --> 00:34:03,386 We have to be tough. Tougher then they. 723 00:34:03,386 --> 00:34:06,527 We have to have skins like rhinos 724 00:34:06,527 --> 00:34:08,736 and souls like children. 725 00:34:08,736 --> 00:34:11,601 What he does, it's just not important. 726 00:34:11,601 --> 00:34:12,809 But in front of everyone-- 727 00:34:12,809 --> 00:34:15,536 What is important is the work. 728 00:34:15,536 --> 00:34:16,606 The word. 729 00:34:20,299 --> 00:34:21,507 Okay. 730 00:34:27,927 --> 00:34:29,584 Okay, everyone, let's settle down. 731 00:34:29,584 --> 00:34:31,414 Come on, come on. 732 00:34:31,414 --> 00:34:35,452 How come you always drag out that old chair? 733 00:34:35,452 --> 00:34:37,075 It doesn't even look ergonomic. 734 00:34:38,869 --> 00:34:40,837 This chair... 735 00:34:40,837 --> 00:34:42,425 has a personal history. 736 00:34:42,425 --> 00:34:44,220 It was in my family growing up. 737 00:34:44,220 --> 00:34:46,187 It was part of our dining-room collection. 738 00:34:46,912 --> 00:34:48,293 Um... 739 00:34:48,293 --> 00:34:49,535 my father, 740 00:34:50,260 --> 00:34:52,124 the lieutenant colonel, 741 00:34:52,124 --> 00:34:53,919 he always sat at the head. 742 00:34:55,300 --> 00:34:57,371 Now, no one else 743 00:34:57,371 --> 00:34:59,027 was permitted to sit 744 00:34:59,027 --> 00:35:00,581 until my father entered the room, 745 00:35:00,581 --> 00:35:02,790 and my brothers, 746 00:35:02,790 --> 00:35:04,067 four of them, 747 00:35:04,067 --> 00:35:07,070 they would try to elbow each other out 748 00:35:07,070 --> 00:35:09,555 for the chair next to my father. 749 00:35:09,555 --> 00:35:10,591 But I had a different strategy. 750 00:35:12,524 --> 00:35:15,078 "Sir," I would say, 751 00:35:15,078 --> 00:35:17,425 when he entered the room, and he would acknowledge me, 752 00:35:18,944 --> 00:35:20,463 "I've written another poem." 753 00:35:21,533 --> 00:35:24,398 And he would say, "Please recite it for me." 754 00:35:26,607 --> 00:35:28,816 And then, for those moments, 755 00:35:28,816 --> 00:35:30,024 and... 756 00:35:32,026 --> 00:35:33,510 well, only those moments, 757 00:35:33,510 --> 00:35:36,651 which would last for the duration of the poem, 758 00:35:36,651 --> 00:35:39,240 I would have my father's undivided attention, 759 00:35:40,448 --> 00:35:41,829 and then he would nod, 760 00:35:43,210 --> 00:35:45,522 and he put me in the seat next to him, 761 00:35:45,522 --> 00:35:46,765 which was this chair. 762 00:35:48,663 --> 00:35:49,802 Wow. 763 00:35:50,596 --> 00:35:52,598 That's messed up. 764 00:35:55,394 --> 00:35:57,431 What... what do you mean? 765 00:36:02,090 --> 00:36:04,817 Like shooting the bird perched on the end of your rifle, 766 00:36:04,817 --> 00:36:05,991 but what hunter could resist? 767 00:36:06,957 --> 00:36:08,131 John Barth. 768 00:36:08,131 --> 00:36:09,684 This is so exciting. 769 00:36:10,892 --> 00:36:12,273 I just wish you would have read him first. 770 00:36:14,033 --> 00:36:15,656 I'm just going to introduce him, 771 00:36:15,656 --> 00:36:17,244 and when he starts yapping, 772 00:36:17,244 --> 00:36:20,316 I'm gonna lean over and quietly fart in his direction. 773 00:36:21,351 --> 00:36:22,732 You're really wound up right now, 774 00:36:22,732 --> 00:36:24,216 so you going to be able to hold it together? 775 00:36:24,216 --> 00:36:26,045 I'm fine. Why-- Why-- 776 00:36:26,045 --> 00:36:28,151 Why do they have to have so many pictures of him? 777 00:36:28,151 --> 00:36:30,049 He's sitting right there. He's wearing the same jacket. 778 00:36:30,049 --> 00:36:31,430 That's a slightly different jacket. 779 00:36:31,430 --> 00:36:33,536 It's not slightly different. It's not slightly different. 780 00:36:33,536 --> 00:36:34,882 Come on, honey. 781 00:36:34,882 --> 00:36:37,885 Don't ever let me sit under three pictures of myself 782 00:36:37,885 --> 00:36:39,369 in my favorite stupid old coat. 783 00:36:41,406 --> 00:36:43,925 Okay. So now, I think you have to get out of here. 784 00:36:43,925 --> 00:36:46,549 - What? No, I'm the moderator. - Take that. 785 00:36:46,549 --> 00:36:47,826 I'm going to tell them that you have GI issues 786 00:36:47,826 --> 00:36:48,896 and I'm going to get Finny to do it. 787 00:36:48,896 --> 00:36:50,242 No! Finny can't do it! 788 00:36:50,242 --> 00:36:52,589 He's going to do a beautiful job. You're a crazy man right now. 789 00:36:52,589 --> 00:36:55,385 Do you want another headline in the newspaper? 790 00:36:55,385 --> 00:36:57,145 Okay. All right, get Finny to do it. 791 00:36:57,145 --> 00:36:58,250 Get out of here. 792 00:36:59,286 --> 00:37:00,563 Where's he going? 793 00:37:00,563 --> 00:37:02,668 Just... you just have to trust me. 794 00:37:02,668 --> 00:37:04,256 This is better for everyone. 795 00:37:04,256 --> 00:37:05,257 Where's Finny? 796 00:37:09,399 --> 00:37:11,125 Ah, field hockey. 797 00:37:11,125 --> 00:37:12,885 It's one of my favorite distractions. 798 00:37:12,885 --> 00:37:15,371 I hope no one confuses my presence here 799 00:37:15,371 --> 00:37:16,993 with school spirit, 800 00:37:16,993 --> 00:37:19,409 which I find pointless. 801 00:37:19,409 --> 00:37:23,171 There's so much wasted effort that goes into manufactured pep. 802 00:37:23,171 --> 00:37:24,518 For what? 803 00:37:24,518 --> 00:37:27,797 It benefits no one, except, well, maybe cheerleaders, 804 00:37:27,797 --> 00:37:30,869 who feel, you know, less alone and stupid. 805 00:37:30,869 --> 00:37:32,940 Hey, your talk over already? 806 00:37:32,940 --> 00:37:34,528 Nah, I just left. 807 00:37:34,528 --> 00:37:35,598 How can a moderator leave? 808 00:37:35,598 --> 00:37:38,117 - Where's Smith? - Oh, ankle. 809 00:37:38,117 --> 00:37:40,050 She limped off the field. 810 00:37:40,050 --> 00:37:41,224 Yeah. 811 00:37:41,224 --> 00:37:44,434 I don't know why I love this game so much. 812 00:37:44,434 --> 00:37:46,264 Yeah, I started smiling when I came over the hill 813 00:37:46,264 --> 00:37:48,369 just at the sound of the wood on the ball. 814 00:37:48,369 --> 00:37:51,821 It's just the hustle, the elegance of a perfect pass. 815 00:37:53,029 --> 00:37:56,412 Still, I wish our school had one other half-decent team. 816 00:37:56,412 --> 00:37:58,621 All our banners are field hockey. 817 00:37:59,173 --> 00:38:00,243 It's a little sad. 818 00:38:00,243 --> 00:38:02,970 What? She tripped her! 819 00:38:02,970 --> 00:38:04,385 Come on! You gotta call that! 820 00:38:04,385 --> 00:38:05,490 Head in the game. 821 00:38:08,147 --> 00:38:09,252 Why'd you leave? 822 00:38:10,771 --> 00:38:14,153 Turns out, George Saunders is an asshole. 823 00:38:14,153 --> 00:38:15,672 Oh, that's too bad. 824 00:38:15,672 --> 00:38:17,502 Yeah. He plays with people. 825 00:38:18,744 --> 00:38:19,952 Meaning you? 826 00:38:19,952 --> 00:38:21,506 Well, he messes with other writers' heads. 827 00:38:21,506 --> 00:38:22,886 It's demeaning. 828 00:38:22,886 --> 00:38:24,509 He demeans people. 829 00:38:25,303 --> 00:38:27,650 - Meaning you? - Yeah. 830 00:38:27,650 --> 00:38:30,377 - Did you tell him that? - No, I just walked out. 831 00:38:30,377 --> 00:38:32,965 You should've said something. People love to hear when they're A-holes. 832 00:38:33,828 --> 00:38:34,933 Oh, good dig! 833 00:38:42,216 --> 00:38:43,769 You know I was kidding, right? 834 00:38:52,675 --> 00:38:55,954 It is my honor to welcome you to tonight's very special event. 835 00:38:57,162 --> 00:38:59,475 I'd like to start with your childhood, 836 00:38:59,475 --> 00:39:02,547 if there's been any abuse or trauma, that would be great, 837 00:39:02,547 --> 00:39:05,826 and then I'll ask you about your real relationship with your mother. 838 00:39:05,826 --> 00:39:06,999 What? 839 00:39:08,242 --> 00:39:11,176 "O human race, born to fly upward, 840 00:39:11,176 --> 00:39:13,661 wherefore at a little wind dost thou so fall?" 841 00:39:15,353 --> 00:39:17,147 - Dante. - Yeah, I know. 842 00:39:17,147 --> 00:39:20,150 Enter Prospero, here to conjure a storm. 843 00:39:24,327 --> 00:39:26,674 Funny. You had me there for a minute. 844 00:39:30,885 --> 00:39:32,300 Admit it. 845 00:39:32,300 --> 00:39:34,061 You don't respect me. 846 00:39:34,061 --> 00:39:36,374 You think I'm a hack whose father got him published. 847 00:39:36,374 --> 00:39:38,030 You didn't even read my book. 848 00:39:39,100 --> 00:39:41,275 What? Of course, I did. 849 00:39:41,275 --> 00:39:44,312 Paula and I both read it on Block Island with the girls. 850 00:39:44,312 --> 00:39:45,728 We read it and we loved it, 851 00:39:45,728 --> 00:39:48,109 and we sent you a bottle of wine with a note. 852 00:39:49,421 --> 00:39:51,872 Because I remember shipping was a pain in the ass. 853 00:39:53,183 --> 00:39:54,564 And I read it again last night. 854 00:39:56,186 --> 00:39:57,498 It's really good. 855 00:39:57,498 --> 00:39:59,466 I mean, it really holds up, Hank. 856 00:39:59,466 --> 00:40:02,572 I mean, that scene by the bus, where he's trying to tell her-- 857 00:40:02,572 --> 00:40:05,575 George Saunders in conversation with Hank Devereaux, Jr. 858 00:40:08,026 --> 00:40:11,581 For someone with that kind of talent to quit writing, 859 00:40:11,581 --> 00:40:12,720 I'm against it. 860 00:40:46,305 --> 00:40:47,583 Um... 861 00:40:49,654 --> 00:40:50,827 ...you, uh... 862 00:40:52,070 --> 00:40:54,555 Before you wrote, 863 00:40:54,555 --> 00:40:57,075 you were an engineer, right? 864 00:40:59,008 --> 00:41:00,216 Are you a little drunk? 865 00:41:01,459 --> 00:41:02,667 Um... 866 00:41:02,667 --> 00:41:04,462 can I get a little drunk? 867 00:41:04,462 --> 00:41:06,222 Yeah. Can we make that two, please? 868 00:41:10,813 --> 00:41:12,021 Um... 869 00:41:13,609 --> 00:41:16,128 ...the chronological order of Tenth of December, 870 00:41:16,128 --> 00:41:17,613 is that something that you planned beforehand, 871 00:41:17,613 --> 00:41:19,028 or after you wrote them, 872 00:41:19,028 --> 00:41:21,237 you decided they should be presented that way, 873 00:41:21,237 --> 00:41:22,480 because I think that 874 00:41:22,480 --> 00:41:25,793 that order really affects how those stories land. 875 00:41:29,003 --> 00:41:32,490 Yes, and that is a question that only a great writer could ask. 876 00:41:32,490 --> 00:41:34,837 All right, stop patronizing me. They're paying for you. 877 00:41:38,392 --> 00:41:39,876 ...is part of the impact. 878 00:41:39,876 --> 00:41:43,259 Most writers start with an ending or a beginning... 879 00:41:43,259 --> 00:41:44,847 ...Feeding the story into the... 880 00:41:44,847 --> 00:41:45,951 The majority. 881 00:41:50,369 --> 00:41:52,958 You're getting paid, but I'm in charge here. 882 00:41:52,958 --> 00:41:54,304 - Yeah, okay. - All right? 883 00:41:54,304 --> 00:41:56,410 I'm not against E.E. Cummings, 884 00:41:56,410 --> 00:41:58,136 but I feel like that's where it should have been... 885 00:41:58,136 --> 00:42:00,276 ♪ ...So it seems... ♪ 886 00:42:00,276 --> 00:42:01,829 The big letters, gotcha. 887 00:42:01,829 --> 00:42:02,899 ♪ ...The nightmares... ♪ 888 00:42:02,899 --> 00:42:04,349 So I'm glad you're here. 889 00:42:04,349 --> 00:42:06,524 Ladies and gentlemen, George Saunders. 890 00:42:08,042 --> 00:42:09,734 ♪ ...Lift me up ♪ 891 00:42:09,734 --> 00:42:12,081 ♪ By my hand ♪ 892 00:42:12,081 --> 00:42:15,981 ♪ Lift me up if you can ♪ 893 00:42:15,981 --> 00:42:20,330 ♪ Lift me up, be my friend ♪ 894 00:42:20,330 --> 00:42:24,680 ♪ Through a random act of kindness ♪ 895 00:42:24,680 --> 00:42:28,649 ♪ One that's done from blindness ♪ 896 00:42:30,271 --> 00:42:31,997 ♪ Sun came up ♪ 897 00:42:34,034 --> 00:42:36,001 ♪ Sun came up ♪ 898 00:42:38,279 --> 00:42:40,834 ♪ Sun came up ♪ 899 00:42:42,180 --> 00:42:44,078 ♪ Sun came up ♪ 900 00:42:48,048 --> 00:42:50,015 ♪ Sun came up ♪ 901 00:42:52,190 --> 00:42:53,743 ♪ Sun came up ♪ 902 00:42:56,194 --> 00:42:57,851 ♪ Sun came up ♪ 903 00:43:00,267 --> 00:43:01,889 ♪ Sun came up ♪ 904 00:43:10,622 --> 00:43:12,969 - I should have known. - Known what? 905 00:43:12,969 --> 00:43:15,420 I could have been as good as Saunders. It wouldn't have mattered. 906 00:43:15,420 --> 00:43:17,284 What wouldn't have mattered? 907 00:43:18,423 --> 00:43:20,563 I would never have gotten my father's... 908 00:43:21,668 --> 00:43:23,117 you know... 909 00:43:27,605 --> 00:43:29,399 ♪ On s'est connus on s'est reconnus ♪ 910 00:43:29,399 --> 00:43:30,608 ♪ On s'est perdus de vue ♪ 911 00:43:30,608 --> 00:43:31,816 ♪ On s'est reperdus de vue ♪ 912 00:43:31,816 --> 00:43:33,990 ♪ On s'est retrouves on s'est separes ♪ 913 00:43:33,990 --> 00:43:36,579 ♪ Puis on s'est rechauffes ♪ 914 00:43:36,579 --> 00:43:39,099 ♪ Chacun pour soi est reparti ♪ 915 00:43:39,099 --> 00:43:41,480 ♪ Dans le tourbillon de la vie ♪ 916 00:43:41,480 --> 00:43:43,759 ♪ Je l'ai revue un soir ah-la-la ♪ 917 00:43:43,759 --> 00:43:46,002 ♪ Elle est retombee dans mes bras... ♪ 918 00:43:46,002 --> 00:43:48,833 ♪ Elle est retombee dans mes bras ♪