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[rapid typing]
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["I'll Fly Away"
by The Mighty Indiana playing]
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♪ Some glad morning... ♪
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[man nearby laughing]
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♪ ...When this old life
is over... ♪
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[laughing loudly]
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♪ Oh, I... ♪
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[laughing continues]
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[laughing continues]
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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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[laughter]
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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!
- [laughter]
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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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[Hank] 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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00:02:47,546 --> 00:02:49,928
But there are other issues.
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With the impending budget cuts,
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it's distasteful to be paying
this guy 10 grand
for a one-hour talk.
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Ten grand, I wish.
What, 20 grand?
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Thirty?
Fifty? For Christ sakes!
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This was settled weeks ago.
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Why are you bringing
this up now?
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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.
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- That's valid.
- Yeah.
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And I don't want to talk you
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into doing anything
that you don't want to do.
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He didn't want you either.
But the public at large does.
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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,
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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
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and it won't even
be a question.
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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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[Hank sighs]
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[Hank]
You get to a certain age
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and you lose all faith
in experts.
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[winces]
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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--
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especially doctors.
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I'm not denying your symptoms,
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but their cause
isn't kidney stones.
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[Hank] ...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--
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maybe in the bottom third.
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[Hank] ...in excruciating pain.
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I'm looking
at a B-minus assessment
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of my medical problems.
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I mean, I'm sweating.
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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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[doctor] You've mentioned.
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And his father did.
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[doctor]
You don't want kidney stones.
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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?
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If it's not too much trouble,
I think I want
a second opinion.
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- What about you?
- She's not a radiologist.
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She's not allowed
to evaluate results.
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It could be due to stress.
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That's your go-to, right?
All doctors say that.
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I rarely say that.
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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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[Lily] So you're saying
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there's no way
that this could be stress?
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It's embarrassing.
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[sighs]
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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.
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My book review
was on a Wednesday,
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and then the sales figures
came in the next Thursday,
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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.
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There's a fine line
between honor
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and "I wish
I never met that dickhead."
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[Hank]
What is it about writing that
attracts so many dickheads?
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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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[Madison] 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.
155
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You have to think past
the images
that you already own so that--
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[engine revving]
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- That's the way--
- [engine revving]
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Why don't we
take three minutes?
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00:07:01,110 --> 00:07:02,283
[engine revving]
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00:07:02,283 --> 00:07:03,699
I swear I don't even remember
writing that.
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[engine revving]
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[engine revving]
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Dickhead.
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[Solange] I don't understand
why you don't just talk to him.
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[Gracie] Professor Rourke
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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?
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Sometimes, the male brain
isn't developed enough
to understand its cruelty.
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He bullies you.
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[car horn honks twice]
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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.
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00:08:03,448 --> 00:08:04,691
My students are so excited,
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they've been talking about
nothing else for weeks.
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00:08:06,934 --> 00:08:09,454
I mean, they can't believe
that I actually know you.
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Oh.
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Well, my students
can't believe I know you.
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[Hank] Your students
don't know who I am, do they?
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[George] A couple do.
You know,
I told them about you.
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[Hank] Oh, okay.
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00:08:23,537 --> 00:08:25,505
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."
189
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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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00:08:37,033 --> 00:08:39,415
- Well, thanks.
- Oh...
193
00:08:39,415 --> 00:08:41,382
Your editor's wife
is our friend's sister.
194
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Oh. Well.
195
00:08:44,213 --> 00:08:45,490
How's your hotel?
196
00:08:45,490 --> 00:08:47,216
I take it they have you
at the Moderna Center?
197
00:08:47,216 --> 00:08:49,390
[George] No, it was all full.
198
00:08:49,390 --> 00:08:50,875
There's a field hockey team
staying there.
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Big game tonight.
200
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Oh.
201
00:08:53,671 --> 00:08:55,673
Yeah, they have me
at The Drake,
which is really lovely.
202
00:08:55,673 --> 00:08:57,606
Although there's a crane
outside my window,
203
00:08:57,606 --> 00:09:01,092
and I had a dream last night
of a talking wrecking ball,
204
00:09:01,092 --> 00:09:03,750
and it said I was going
to be late
for the presentation,
205
00:09:03,750 --> 00:09:05,717
that I suck,
that nobody likes me, like...
206
00:09:07,926 --> 00:09:09,134
Grace DuBois.
207
00:09:09,134 --> 00:09:10,411
Oh, nice to meet you.
208
00:09:10,411 --> 00:09:12,241
You must leave there at once.
Come stay with me.
209
00:09:12,241 --> 00:09:13,829
- We have a guest room.
- I have a guest house!
210
00:09:13,829 --> 00:09:14,899
You do not.
211
00:09:14,899 --> 00:09:16,383
It's above the garage.
You've seen it.
212
00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:18,558
It sounds lovely, but I--
213
00:09:18,558 --> 00:09:20,698
But there's no lock
strong enough
to make you feel secure.
214
00:09:20,698 --> 00:09:23,528
It even has its own fridge--
215
00:09:23,528 --> 00:09:26,738
and a hot plate
if you are a tea drinker.
216
00:09:26,738 --> 00:09:29,292
[chuckling]
I'm so sorry.
217
00:09:29,292 --> 00:09:30,777
They have me
on a bit of a schedule,
218
00:09:30,777 --> 00:09:32,572
but I hope to see you all
at the talk later.
219
00:09:32,572 --> 00:09:33,918
Yes, yes.
220
00:09:33,918 --> 00:09:35,851
I might make it.
I have stuff to do.
221
00:09:38,716 --> 00:09:39,717
I hope you can come by.
222
00:09:41,063 --> 00:09:42,133
I probably won't be there.
223
00:09:46,586 --> 00:09:48,415
All right, well,
I'll just, I'll walk you out.
224
00:09:48,415 --> 00:09:49,589
Yeah.
225
00:09:51,901 --> 00:09:54,559
"Charming eagles
was a family trait.
226
00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:56,043
He didn't know how he did it,
227
00:09:56,043 --> 00:09:57,389
he just looked at them
228
00:09:57,389 --> 00:09:59,391
and thought about them
crashing into a cliff's face.
229
00:10:00,116 --> 00:10:01,946
The white-chested eagle,
230
00:10:01,946 --> 00:10:04,707
commanded by a mysterious force
it didn't understand,
231
00:10:04,707 --> 00:10:06,226
smashed itself."
232
00:10:09,747 --> 00:10:10,782
Interesting.
233
00:10:10,782 --> 00:10:11,956
Should I read more?
234
00:10:11,956 --> 00:10:13,405
[Hank] No, no.
235
00:10:14,821 --> 00:10:16,443
- Go ahead.
- Uh, okay, thanks.
236
00:10:16,443 --> 00:10:19,066
Um, yeah,
you're always escalating.
237
00:10:19,066 --> 00:10:20,758
I love that.
238
00:10:20,758 --> 00:10:22,138
That's a very rare thing,
239
00:10:22,138 --> 00:10:23,726
and it seems to come
very naturally to you.
240
00:10:23,726 --> 00:10:25,314
Yeah, yeah, it does.
241
00:10:25,314 --> 00:10:29,214
So we want
to enforce escalation,
242
00:10:29,214 --> 00:10:31,285
even on the line level.
243
00:10:31,285 --> 00:10:33,080
If the eagle has a white chest,
244
00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:35,773
we can assume the reader
already knows that, right?
245
00:10:35,773 --> 00:10:37,429
Cut.
246
00:10:37,429 --> 00:10:40,018
And if the force is mysterious,
247
00:10:40,018 --> 00:10:43,159
do we need to say
the eagle didn't understand?
248
00:10:43,159 --> 00:10:44,954
That's implied. Cut.
249
00:10:45,990 --> 00:10:48,475
You know, and a lot of this
is just habitual.
250
00:10:48,475 --> 00:10:50,442
Yeah, he's just saying
edit yourself.
251
00:10:51,789 --> 00:10:54,654
Yes, but if you want
to be excellent,
252
00:10:54,654 --> 00:10:57,415
you have to
reject the habitual.
253
00:10:57,415 --> 00:10:58,658
That is where mediocrity lives,
254
00:10:58,658 --> 00:11:00,383
in the habitual.
255
00:11:00,383 --> 00:11:03,973
That is how
you will distinguish yourself
from other writers
256
00:11:03,973 --> 00:11:06,389
and start to sound
more like you.
257
00:11:07,287 --> 00:11:08,529
Holy shit.
258
00:11:08,529 --> 00:11:10,635
Uh, yeah,
I kinda always knew
259
00:11:10,635 --> 00:11:11,981
there was
this whole other level,
260
00:11:11,981 --> 00:11:13,638
but just didn't know
how to get there
261
00:11:13,638 --> 00:11:16,192
because no one ever really
taught me
how to do that before, but--
262
00:11:16,192 --> 00:11:17,780
Okay, that's enough.
263
00:11:17,780 --> 00:11:20,024
That's good from you...
We do have other...
264
00:11:20,024 --> 00:11:22,612
You know,
we're almost out of time.
265
00:11:22,612 --> 00:11:24,649
I have plenty
of time, actually.
266
00:11:24,649 --> 00:11:26,202
Well, we're running
out of time.
267
00:11:26,202 --> 00:11:27,514
Are you sure?
I thought you said we had--
268
00:11:27,514 --> 00:11:28,618
Yeah, my watch--
269
00:11:28,618 --> 00:11:29,689
I don't know if you--
270
00:11:29,689 --> 00:11:30,828
It's earlier
than you said it would be.
271
00:11:32,174 --> 00:11:33,244
I'd like a word, Paul.
272
00:11:35,246 --> 00:11:37,835
- Paul.
- You don't have to say my name
every time you talk to me.
273
00:11:39,250 --> 00:11:41,873
I've spoken to you
about the loudness
of your car--
274
00:11:41,873 --> 00:11:43,185
There's nothing wrong
with my car.
275
00:11:43,185 --> 00:11:44,911
before--
and nothing has changed.
276
00:11:44,911 --> 00:11:47,327
Or ever will change.
277
00:11:47,327 --> 00:11:48,535
It disrupts my class.
278
00:11:48,535 --> 00:11:49,847
Huh.
279
00:11:49,847 --> 00:11:51,711
Not more than your teaching.
280
00:11:55,680 --> 00:11:57,095
How did you get like this?
281
00:11:57,095 --> 00:12:01,237
What mis-turn did you take?
282
00:12:01,237 --> 00:12:04,689
I am allowed to drive
the car that I want.
283
00:12:04,689 --> 00:12:06,864
I'm allowed to take care of it,
284
00:12:06,864 --> 00:12:08,417
and it likes to be revved.
285
00:12:08,417 --> 00:12:09,936
It's good at it.
286
00:12:09,936 --> 00:12:11,178
What I don't understand
287
00:12:11,178 --> 00:12:12,801
is how anyone has come to think
288
00:12:12,801 --> 00:12:15,389
that they have the right
not to be impacted by others.
289
00:12:16,528 --> 00:12:17,909
How about that wrong turn?
290
00:12:17,909 --> 00:12:19,877
Basic consideration
wouldn't kill you.
291
00:12:19,877 --> 00:12:22,707
Well, it so happens
that I am an at-risk individual
292
00:12:22,707 --> 00:12:25,261
with regards
to basic consideration.
293
00:12:25,261 --> 00:12:26,297
I can't risk it.
294
00:12:30,957 --> 00:12:32,372
"Paul..."
295
00:12:34,995 --> 00:12:36,410
"Paul..."
296
00:12:38,067 --> 00:12:39,413
[chuckles]
297
00:12:41,933 --> 00:12:43,383
Why'd you say that to George?
298
00:12:44,764 --> 00:12:47,145
- Do you think he noticed?
- Yeah.
299
00:12:48,595 --> 00:12:49,734
Oh...
300
00:12:49,734 --> 00:12:51,425
I don't know why I do this.
301
00:12:51,425 --> 00:12:52,979
It's only people
I admire, you know.
302
00:12:52,979 --> 00:12:54,981
Rude stuff just comes out.
303
00:12:55,671 --> 00:12:56,879
Mm.
304
00:12:56,879 --> 00:12:59,468
- You want some advice?
- From you? no.
305
00:12:59,468 --> 00:13:01,815
Ah! Sorry.
306
00:13:01,815 --> 00:13:04,128
I'm like a freight train
that can't stop with insults.
307
00:13:17,106 --> 00:13:18,970
Excuse me, is Myrna here?
308
00:13:20,109 --> 00:13:21,455
Myrna.
309
00:13:22,594 --> 00:13:24,769
Professor Du-Boise.
310
00:13:24,769 --> 00:13:28,566
Green Subaru Outback,
RBG bumper sticker.
311
00:13:28,566 --> 00:13:31,741
Green Outback,
RBG bumper sticker.
312
00:13:31,741 --> 00:13:34,123
If I remember correctly, Myrna,
313
00:13:34,123 --> 00:13:35,366
you...
314
00:13:36,816 --> 00:13:39,439
are a top-shelf tequila gal,
315
00:13:39,439 --> 00:13:40,509
am I right?
316
00:13:41,959 --> 00:13:42,994
Flannery O'Connor said,
317
00:13:42,994 --> 00:13:45,100
"If you live
till you're 10 years old,
318
00:13:45,100 --> 00:13:46,342
you'll have enough
to write about for a lifetime."
319
00:13:46,342 --> 00:13:47,827
Do you think that's true?
320
00:13:47,827 --> 00:13:50,381
Uh, I think it's true,
but it would not be
a very good story.
321
00:13:51,140 --> 00:13:52,693
[laughing]
322
00:13:52,693 --> 00:13:54,454
Does art have to be so painful?
323
00:13:54,454 --> 00:13:55,696
I mean, do we all have
to end up
324
00:13:55,696 --> 00:13:57,043
like "van Goch"...
325
00:13:57,043 --> 00:13:58,803
with an ear missing?
326
00:13:58,803 --> 00:14:01,392
Uh, it's van Gogh in this room.
327
00:14:03,152 --> 00:14:05,637
So, Jack Kerouac wrote
"On the Road"
328
00:14:05,637 --> 00:14:08,986
on this long, continuous,
teletype scroll.
329
00:14:13,853 --> 00:14:15,855
What sort of paper
do you write on?
330
00:14:18,236 --> 00:14:19,444
Uh...
331
00:14:19,444 --> 00:14:21,032
I just use a computer.
332
00:14:24,208 --> 00:14:26,831
Well, I guess we have time
for one last question.
333
00:14:28,246 --> 00:14:29,316
Yep.
334
00:14:29,316 --> 00:14:30,835
Yeah, Mr. Saunders,
335
00:14:30,835 --> 00:14:34,666
if there was one piece
of advice
that stood out above others
336
00:14:34,666 --> 00:14:36,737
to help us become the writers
that we want to be,
337
00:14:36,737 --> 00:14:38,256
what...
338
00:14:38,256 --> 00:14:39,533
what would it be?
339
00:14:39,533 --> 00:14:43,917
Well, I'd say
trust that your taste is good.
340
00:14:43,917 --> 00:14:47,472
Have that good taste
exert itself onto your prose.
341
00:14:47,472 --> 00:14:50,372
Then just write every day.
342
00:14:50,372 --> 00:14:51,683
Just write.
343
00:14:51,683 --> 00:14:54,238
Maybe that's my problem.
344
00:14:54,238 --> 00:14:56,205
I've been doing
the once-every-decade method.
345
00:14:56,205 --> 00:14:57,931
[laughing]
346
00:14:57,931 --> 00:15:00,865
No, actually,
thank you for that,
'cause that's awesome.
347
00:15:00,865 --> 00:15:02,694
Even great writers get stuck.
348
00:15:02,694 --> 00:15:04,282
That's just part of it.
349
00:15:04,282 --> 00:15:05,905
I hate my first draft,
350
00:15:05,905 --> 00:15:07,113
but I love it
351
00:15:07,113 --> 00:15:10,426
because it leads
to my second draft
and my third draft.
352
00:15:10,426 --> 00:15:11,807
It's all part
of the process.
353
00:15:12,463 --> 00:15:13,671
Hank?
354
00:15:13,671 --> 00:15:14,741
What keeps you from writing?
355
00:15:22,266 --> 00:15:23,715
Lunch.
356
00:15:23,715 --> 00:15:25,131
We have that lunch...
357
00:15:26,166 --> 00:15:28,030
- Oh, right.
- Lunch.
358
00:15:28,030 --> 00:15:29,273
Thank you so much.
359
00:15:29,273 --> 00:15:31,931
Thank you, guys.
You're all amazing.
360
00:15:31,931 --> 00:15:33,380
So exciting.
361
00:15:37,522 --> 00:15:40,836
I think I learned more
in that one hour
than I have all year.
362
00:15:42,976 --> 00:15:44,288
It's-- it's just
frustrating, you know?
363
00:15:44,288 --> 00:15:45,806
'Cause, like, now I know
364
00:15:45,806 --> 00:15:46,946
what it's like
to sit in a classroom
365
00:15:46,946 --> 00:15:50,052
with a great teacher who's--
who's totally engaged,
366
00:15:50,052 --> 00:15:52,606
and, like, really--
really trying with me,
367
00:15:52,606 --> 00:15:55,299
and, like, putting in effort
and listening and...
368
00:15:55,299 --> 00:15:56,610
and after
I've experienced that,
369
00:15:56,610 --> 00:15:58,302
it's like...
370
00:15:58,302 --> 00:15:59,959
I don't want to go back
to Devereaux's class.
371
00:15:59,959 --> 00:16:01,788
I don't want to go back
without you.
372
00:16:01,788 --> 00:16:04,687
Well, I'm going
to be going back, Lester.
That's not my point.
373
00:16:04,687 --> 00:16:06,275
[Solange] Maybe if you spent
more time on your writing
374
00:16:06,275 --> 00:16:07,587
than fighting
with your teachers,
375
00:16:07,587 --> 00:16:09,658
your stories
wouldn't suck so bad.
376
00:16:09,658 --> 00:16:13,006
The fact that
you don't understand them
just proves their value to me.
377
00:16:13,006 --> 00:16:14,766
I heard your family donated
a building to Notre Dame
378
00:16:14,766 --> 00:16:17,838
and you still didn't get in.
379
00:16:17,838 --> 00:16:19,840
Everyone's heard that story,
Solange, okay?
It's boring.
380
00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:20,945
Just like your stories.
381
00:16:20,945 --> 00:16:22,809
Oh, next time,
I'll add necrophilia.
382
00:16:25,674 --> 00:16:27,607
"You'll know when
true excellence presents itself
383
00:16:27,607 --> 00:16:29,367
because the mediocre
384
00:16:29,367 --> 00:16:31,162
will be in confederacy
against that person."
385
00:16:32,508 --> 00:16:34,752
I'm paraphrasing
the Confederacy of Dunces
386
00:16:34,752 --> 00:16:36,996
to make a point
about excellence,
387
00:16:36,996 --> 00:16:41,034
something I think
we should all be entitled to,
388
00:16:41,034 --> 00:16:43,623
no matter who we are
or where we're from.
389
00:16:43,623 --> 00:16:45,004
Is this a club or something?
390
00:16:45,004 --> 00:16:46,453
I'm just trying
to eat my lunch.
391
00:16:46,453 --> 00:16:47,834
This is not a club.
392
00:16:49,180 --> 00:16:50,147
Maybe it is.
393
00:16:50,975 --> 00:16:52,804
You're right, maybe it is.
394
00:16:58,258 --> 00:16:59,639
That was interesting.
395
00:17:01,779 --> 00:17:04,402
It's a public space,
I can be as interesting
as I want.
396
00:17:04,402 --> 00:17:05,886
I'm Ellen's roommate, Ava.
397
00:17:08,165 --> 00:17:10,132
Okay, Ellen's roommate, Ava.
398
00:17:10,132 --> 00:17:13,687
And, um, you went
to East Lake Country Day
399
00:17:13,687 --> 00:17:15,344
with my brother,
but he was a year younger.
400
00:17:15,344 --> 00:17:16,345
Brooks Noon?
401
00:17:17,622 --> 00:17:20,729
Uh, yeah, sure, Brooksy, yeah.
402
00:17:22,558 --> 00:17:23,697
- I'm Bartow.
- I know.
403
00:17:26,459 --> 00:17:28,047
So what do we do now?
404
00:17:29,945 --> 00:17:31,774
No, I'm certain
it was at Bread Loaf,
405
00:17:31,774 --> 00:17:33,328
and we went into town
to get dinner,
406
00:17:33,328 --> 00:17:34,605
and at the bar,
407
00:17:34,605 --> 00:17:37,228
Colum McCann was singing songs
with the locals--
408
00:17:37,228 --> 00:17:41,543
I'm sorry,
what was that back there?
409
00:17:41,543 --> 00:17:42,923
What?
410
00:17:42,923 --> 00:17:45,857
When you put me on the spot
about not writing.
411
00:17:46,789 --> 00:17:47,894
No...
412
00:17:47,894 --> 00:17:50,034
Wait, you brought it up,
so I...
413
00:17:50,034 --> 00:17:52,623
It just seemed
a little hostile.
414
00:17:53,693 --> 00:17:54,866
Hostile?
415
00:17:54,866 --> 00:17:56,868
I mean...
Hank, maybe you're being
a little sensitive?
416
00:17:56,868 --> 00:17:58,284
I...
417
00:17:58,284 --> 00:18:00,734
I'm fine, just...
418
00:18:00,734 --> 00:18:02,736
Jacob Rose told me
419
00:18:02,736 --> 00:18:06,775
that you said that
this might be a problem here.
420
00:18:07,638 --> 00:18:10,434
What? No. No, I...
no, that's not...
421
00:18:10,434 --> 00:18:11,573
I didn't want to impose on you.
422
00:18:11,573 --> 00:18:13,402
I didn't know
if you wanted to do it.
423
00:18:13,402 --> 00:18:15,715
I am thrilled to be here.
424
00:18:15,715 --> 00:18:17,924
I haven't seen you in 30 years,
and I'm just...
425
00:18:18,821 --> 00:18:20,375
I'm really glad
you're doing it.
426
00:18:21,410 --> 00:18:22,894
Okay.
427
00:18:22,894 --> 00:18:25,034
I'm... I'm excited, too.
428
00:18:25,034 --> 00:18:26,829
This-- this is going to be fun.
429
00:18:27,451 --> 00:18:31,420
What is this guy up to?
430
00:18:31,420 --> 00:18:33,319
I'm pretty sure
it's short-story writing.
431
00:18:33,319 --> 00:18:36,322
Yeah, well, he's acting
really weird.
432
00:18:37,771 --> 00:18:39,083
Oh, no, let's not add salmon
433
00:18:39,083 --> 00:18:41,706
because it's the only thing
that you like at Nora's.
434
00:18:41,706 --> 00:18:43,225
We're eating there tonight?
435
00:18:43,225 --> 00:18:44,951
Tomorrow night.
We are.
436
00:18:44,951 --> 00:18:46,504
Because...
437
00:18:47,781 --> 00:18:48,955
Because?
438
00:18:48,955 --> 00:18:50,612
Julie and Russell
want to have dinner with us
439
00:18:50,612 --> 00:18:54,305
because, in their words,
they have news.
440
00:18:54,305 --> 00:18:55,824
They have news?
441
00:18:55,824 --> 00:18:57,826
- They have news.
- That's code for...
442
00:19:01,692 --> 00:19:03,176
[sighs]
443
00:19:03,176 --> 00:19:05,454
I missed the window.
444
00:19:05,454 --> 00:19:07,111
What window?
445
00:19:07,111 --> 00:19:08,526
The window.
446
00:19:12,047 --> 00:19:15,119
Young dependent grown,
before new dependent arrives.
447
00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:18,467
You know,
a distractionless window
in which to write.
448
00:19:18,467 --> 00:19:22,333
Maybe just try the window
between waking
and going to work.
449
00:19:23,334 --> 00:19:24,508
And you're happy about this?
450
00:19:24,508 --> 00:19:26,061
Mm.
451
00:19:26,061 --> 00:19:27,959
I'm adjusting to the idea,
with modification.
452
00:19:27,959 --> 00:19:29,754
I looked up
how to say "grandma"
453
00:19:29,754 --> 00:19:31,825
in every single language.
454
00:19:31,825 --> 00:19:34,311
Swahili is "Bibi",
which is pretty cute.
455
00:19:37,555 --> 00:19:40,006
I mean, I think
George just hit a nerve.
456
00:19:40,006 --> 00:19:41,801
Why you don't write?
457
00:19:41,801 --> 00:19:44,459
You ask me why I don't write?
458
00:19:44,459 --> 00:19:47,565
Hey, hey,
'cause I got two jobs, okay?
459
00:19:47,565 --> 00:19:49,912
I'm a teacher
and I run that department,
460
00:19:49,912 --> 00:19:52,467
and you know my co-workers
are pains in the ass, right?
461
00:19:52,467 --> 00:19:56,505
Also, I actively raised
our daughter with you, right?
462
00:19:56,505 --> 00:19:58,197
And now I'm going to be
a grandfather.
463
00:19:58,197 --> 00:19:59,405
Knowing Julie,
464
00:19:59,405 --> 00:20:01,165
that's going to be
a third full-time job.
465
00:20:01,165 --> 00:20:02,477
She's gonna want me there--
466
00:20:02,477 --> 00:20:04,133
You think they're gonna want
you to raise the baby?
467
00:20:04,133 --> 00:20:05,480
I've been waiting for this.
Stop it.
468
00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:07,136
You're spinning out of--
Just stop it.
469
00:20:07,136 --> 00:20:08,310
Stop exaggerating.
470
00:20:08,310 --> 00:20:10,001
- You do write.
- [phone ringing]
471
00:20:10,001 --> 00:20:12,245
You started something
a few weeks ago.
Go write that.
472
00:20:12,245 --> 00:20:14,143
Hello.
Hi, Mr. Nerhand.
473
00:20:14,143 --> 00:20:15,317
Thank you
for getting back to me.
474
00:20:17,388 --> 00:20:20,495
["Ready C'mon"
by the Weejuns playing]
475
00:20:27,018 --> 00:20:28,537
[Meg] That table's reserved.
476
00:20:29,573 --> 00:20:30,677
For who?
477
00:20:30,677 --> 00:20:31,713
For guests.
478
00:20:34,198 --> 00:20:36,718
Don't you have an office
or something?
479
00:20:36,718 --> 00:20:38,167
Oh, yeah.
480
00:20:38,167 --> 00:20:40,791
My office is not for work.
481
00:20:40,791 --> 00:20:42,896
It's to gather with friends,
482
00:20:42,896 --> 00:20:45,416
where all my cares
and responsibilities
can slip away.
483
00:21:02,122 --> 00:21:05,056
[Hank] Why is it
to fun to draw a dick?
484
00:21:05,056 --> 00:21:07,300
I mean, am I wrong to think
we all like doing it?
485
00:21:07,300 --> 00:21:08,888
I know I do.
486
00:21:13,030 --> 00:21:18,069
Yeah, you can come,
just don't stuff
your pockets with cheese.
487
00:21:19,139 --> 00:21:20,831
Okay.
488
00:21:20,831 --> 00:21:23,661
[Hank] Maybe because
there's no wrong way to do it.
489
00:21:23,661 --> 00:21:25,836
I mean,
all dicks are different.
490
00:21:25,836 --> 00:21:29,149
That's how we should
identify each other.
491
00:21:29,149 --> 00:21:30,737
Forget face recognition.
492
00:21:30,737 --> 00:21:33,292
Unlock your phone
with your dick.
493
00:21:33,292 --> 00:21:35,915
I mean, you've already
got it in your pocket,
so it's right there.
494
00:21:35,915 --> 00:21:37,779
So...
495
00:21:37,779 --> 00:21:39,574
when's the last time
you saw him?
496
00:21:40,816 --> 00:21:42,093
This morning.
497
00:21:46,615 --> 00:21:48,997
He's obviously very featured
in my dissertation.
498
00:21:48,997 --> 00:21:50,343
He was?
499
00:21:50,343 --> 00:21:52,587
You jerk,
you didn't read it.
500
00:21:52,587 --> 00:21:54,209
I skimmed it.
501
00:21:54,209 --> 00:21:56,936
Fair enough, boss.
I only skimmed your novel.
502
00:22:01,043 --> 00:22:02,113
[sighs]
503
00:22:41,567 --> 00:22:43,569
[Bartow]
In light of the conflict
504
00:22:43,569 --> 00:22:46,054
that I've been having
with Professor Devereaux,
505
00:22:46,054 --> 00:22:49,713
we want to form
the Excellence Committee.
506
00:22:49,713 --> 00:22:51,300
It's a group of students,
like us,
507
00:22:51,300 --> 00:22:53,579
that aim to both
celebrate excellence
508
00:22:53,579 --> 00:22:54,856
where we find it,
509
00:22:54,856 --> 00:22:58,169
and discourage everything
that is less than.
510
00:22:58,169 --> 00:23:00,068
Look, there's a process
for starting new clubs
511
00:23:00,068 --> 00:23:02,346
that usually does not
involve me in any way.
512
00:23:02,346 --> 00:23:06,143
I'm sure my assistant, Jill,
could steer you all
in the right direction.
513
00:23:06,143 --> 00:23:07,696
I am the Dean of Faculty.
514
00:23:07,696 --> 00:23:10,561
Right, well,
this concerns the faculty,
that's why we chose you.
515
00:23:10,561 --> 00:23:12,908
Some of the faculty
are intentionally resisting
being better,
516
00:23:12,908 --> 00:23:14,841
and it's affecting
us as students.
517
00:23:14,841 --> 00:23:17,913
We want to create
a system of incentives
and deterrents
518
00:23:17,913 --> 00:23:19,432
to hold them accountable.
519
00:23:19,432 --> 00:23:20,744
Bartow...
520
00:23:22,746 --> 00:23:23,885
I understand
521
00:23:23,885 --> 00:23:27,406
that it's difficult
to move on
522
00:23:27,406 --> 00:23:29,925
from this incident that you had
with Professor Devereaux.
523
00:23:29,925 --> 00:23:32,549
No, it's not,
because I am past it.
I'm over it.
524
00:23:32,549 --> 00:23:33,757
It's over.
525
00:23:33,757 --> 00:23:35,897
He's the one
who won't apologize to me.
526
00:23:35,897 --> 00:23:38,900
Needing an apology
is really not moving past it.
527
00:23:40,971 --> 00:23:43,352
If we had
the Excellence Committee,
528
00:23:43,352 --> 00:23:45,251
I wouldn't need the apology.
529
00:23:49,842 --> 00:23:52,776
I can give you a common room
twice a week for an hour,
530
00:23:52,776 --> 00:23:54,640
I'll buy the pizza,
531
00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:57,228
and you can have access
to the photocopy machine.
532
00:23:57,228 --> 00:23:58,333
Yes!
533
00:24:00,922 --> 00:24:02,095
Hey! What are you doing!
534
00:24:03,234 --> 00:24:04,546
Put her back down!
535
00:24:06,134 --> 00:24:07,722
Put her down!
536
00:24:09,827 --> 00:24:11,967
Hey, you! You!
Stop doing that!
537
00:24:11,967 --> 00:24:14,107
Get away from there!
538
00:24:14,107 --> 00:24:17,283
Do you know
how many professors had to die
for me to get this spot?
539
00:24:17,283 --> 00:24:21,149
Four! Four professors!
And two of them suffered!
540
00:24:21,149 --> 00:24:22,564
Here you go.
541
00:24:30,020 --> 00:24:33,920
I was thinking about
the 92nd Street Y thing
that we did.
542
00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:35,404
Kinda jogged a memory.
543
00:24:35,404 --> 00:24:37,476
Oh, I loved that night.
544
00:24:37,476 --> 00:24:40,340
That was the first night
that I met your father,
545
00:24:40,340 --> 00:24:42,619
at the reception after.
546
00:24:42,619 --> 00:24:44,172
Yeah, we kept in touch
for years.
547
00:24:44,172 --> 00:24:45,207
We wrote letters.
548
00:24:46,036 --> 00:24:47,382
You did?
549
00:24:47,382 --> 00:24:51,351
Yeah. Yeah, it was so
illuminating and stimulating,
550
00:24:51,351 --> 00:24:53,112
and it pushed me.
551
00:24:53,112 --> 00:24:55,079
I don't think I'd be
the writer I am
552
00:24:55,079 --> 00:24:56,391
without his influence.
553
00:24:58,117 --> 00:24:59,118
Me neither.
554
00:25:01,223 --> 00:25:02,293
Where's Gracie?
555
00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:06,297
Gracie!
Are you here, Gracie?
556
00:25:06,297 --> 00:25:09,853
Or are you too chickenshit
to face me?
557
00:25:09,853 --> 00:25:11,613
I'm standing right here, Paul.
558
00:25:13,995 --> 00:25:16,238
You took my parking spot?
559
00:25:17,136 --> 00:25:18,517
[Gracie] I took nothing.
560
00:25:18,517 --> 00:25:20,553
You should have paid
your parking tickets.
561
00:25:20,553 --> 00:25:24,557
I am a tenured professor
of the English Department
of Railton College.
562
00:25:24,557 --> 00:25:27,387
I deserve a parking spot
and the freedom
563
00:25:27,387 --> 00:25:29,666
to rev my car's engine
whenever I see fit!
564
00:25:29,666 --> 00:25:31,909
- [Gracie] Are you done, Paul?
- [Paul] Not even close.
565
00:25:31,909 --> 00:25:33,877
You have no right.
566
00:25:33,877 --> 00:25:37,087
You are a cruel, petty,
vindictive woman.
567
00:25:42,713 --> 00:25:44,508
I liked "Tenth of December".
568
00:25:52,102 --> 00:25:54,242
Come on, come on.
569
00:25:56,071 --> 00:25:58,418
[Hank]
Maybe all my father's cheating
570
00:25:58,418 --> 00:26:02,388
was an attempt to ejaculate out
his kidney stones.
571
00:26:02,388 --> 00:26:04,528
It seems like
it's the same tube.
572
00:26:06,288 --> 00:26:08,670
Phew, that was something.
573
00:26:08,670 --> 00:26:10,534
Oh, trust me,
that was nothing.
574
00:26:12,191 --> 00:26:13,572
[urinating]
575
00:26:16,644 --> 00:26:17,886
You know, I do write.
576
00:26:19,232 --> 00:26:21,683
To-do lists, grocery lists.
577
00:26:21,683 --> 00:26:23,789
Important texts.
578
00:26:23,789 --> 00:26:25,238
Yeah, very important.
579
00:26:25,238 --> 00:26:27,586
Meaningful.
Moving, even.
580
00:26:27,586 --> 00:26:29,449
I just haven't written
a second novel.
581
00:26:29,449 --> 00:26:30,761
[urinating]
582
00:26:34,454 --> 00:26:36,284
Look, Hank, I...
583
00:26:36,284 --> 00:26:37,734
I shouldn't have asked you
that question in class.
584
00:26:37,734 --> 00:26:39,632
That was--
that was stupid.
585
00:26:39,632 --> 00:26:40,909
Don't worry about it.
586
00:26:40,909 --> 00:26:42,739
No, actually, it's not okay.
587
00:26:42,739 --> 00:26:44,326
You know, I get into
this teacher mode,
588
00:26:44,326 --> 00:26:46,294
and I forget
that everyone's not my student,
589
00:26:46,294 --> 00:26:49,469
and I put you on the spot
in front of your class,
590
00:26:49,469 --> 00:26:51,575
and I am sorry.
591
00:26:51,575 --> 00:26:53,991
Oh. Thanks, I appreciate it.
592
00:26:53,991 --> 00:26:57,270
Yeah, I mean,
it's just writing, right?
593
00:26:57,270 --> 00:26:59,825
It's not like everyone
has to write their whole life.
594
00:27:00,860 --> 00:27:02,655
Harper Lee only wrote one book.
595
00:27:02,655 --> 00:27:04,588
Second one was just a draft.
596
00:27:05,658 --> 00:27:07,626
Man, I hope nobody publishes
my unfinished books
597
00:27:07,626 --> 00:27:09,386
down the road for a quick buck.
598
00:27:09,386 --> 00:27:11,491
Yeah, that would be the worst.
599
00:27:12,700 --> 00:27:15,979
I mean, maybe somebody
has said all they have to say.
600
00:27:15,979 --> 00:27:17,428
Big deal.
601
00:27:19,983 --> 00:27:21,743
Hey, Hank, this has been great.
602
00:27:21,743 --> 00:27:23,434
I really enjoyed
hanging out with you.
603
00:27:24,159 --> 00:27:25,160
Yeah.
604
00:27:26,990 --> 00:27:29,337
Hey, I'm looking forward
to tomorrow night.
605
00:27:38,380 --> 00:27:40,348
How is 19th-century poetry
606
00:27:40,348 --> 00:27:43,178
different than
21st-century poetry?
607
00:27:47,458 --> 00:27:49,012
It's difficult to really see
608
00:27:49,012 --> 00:27:52,705
without
a side-by-side comparison,
609
00:27:52,705 --> 00:27:54,638
so let's do that.
610
00:27:54,638 --> 00:27:56,675
Let's compare Walt Whitman
611
00:27:56,675 --> 00:27:59,194
to say, oh...
612
00:27:59,194 --> 00:28:01,541
Professor DuBois,
613
00:28:01,541 --> 00:28:04,337
our own poet in residence.
614
00:28:04,337 --> 00:28:06,132
On the left
615
00:28:06,132 --> 00:28:09,688
is Whitman's
Song of the Open Road,
616
00:28:09,688 --> 00:28:11,862
and on the right
617
00:28:11,862 --> 00:28:15,970
is Gracie DuBois's
Follow the Lilac Sheet.
618
00:28:17,212 --> 00:28:19,007
Now, let's start with
the titles themselves.
619
00:28:19,007 --> 00:28:21,976
Song of the Open Road...
620
00:28:23,874 --> 00:28:26,359
has a mythic quality to it,
does it not?
621
00:28:30,950 --> 00:28:32,365
[meekly]
Follow the Lilac Sheet.
622
00:28:32,365 --> 00:28:33,919
[class laughing]
623
00:28:36,404 --> 00:28:38,061
[says meekly]
Follow the Lilac Sheet.
624
00:28:39,579 --> 00:28:43,549
All right, Whitman, one,
DuBois, zero.
625
00:28:44,067 --> 00:28:45,275
Go ahead.
626
00:28:47,622 --> 00:28:49,693
Wonderful!
I can see again.
627
00:28:50,694 --> 00:28:52,489
What is that?
628
00:28:52,489 --> 00:28:55,423
Is that a stain on your shirt?
629
00:28:55,423 --> 00:28:57,459
Honestly, Hank...
630
00:28:57,459 --> 00:29:00,221
you cannot teach classes
in stained shirts.
631
00:29:00,221 --> 00:29:02,706
It debases our profession.
632
00:29:02,706 --> 00:29:04,087
It's not a stain, Mom.
633
00:29:04,087 --> 00:29:06,296
It's a reminder
of a sauce that I loved once.
634
00:29:06,296 --> 00:29:08,436
- Did you see this?
- Yeah.
635
00:29:08,436 --> 00:29:10,369
Your father's retirement
is big news.
636
00:29:10,369 --> 00:29:12,060
He's done
quite well for himself.
637
00:29:12,060 --> 00:29:13,682
You know, without you and I
638
00:29:13,682 --> 00:29:15,961
dragging him down
for the past 40 years.
639
00:29:17,169 --> 00:29:19,102
He always did have
extreme focus.
640
00:29:21,725 --> 00:29:23,209
Here it is.
641
00:29:24,797 --> 00:29:27,386
My first, and maybe last,
book review.
642
00:29:27,386 --> 00:29:28,767
That was
a very positive review,
643
00:29:28,767 --> 00:29:29,802
as I recall,
644
00:29:30,492 --> 00:29:32,494
though a tad poorly written.
645
00:29:32,494 --> 00:29:35,187
Too much plot summary
for my taste.
646
00:29:35,187 --> 00:29:38,984
They always do that
when they can't form
a clear opinion on their own.
647
00:29:38,984 --> 00:29:41,469
I always wonder if I got
this positive review
648
00:29:41,469 --> 00:29:43,816
because Dad called in a favor.
649
00:29:43,816 --> 00:29:46,025
I find it hard to believe
650
00:29:46,025 --> 00:29:49,063
that a reviewer
would give a positive review
without really meaning it.
651
00:29:50,927 --> 00:29:52,791
Unless they really loved
your father.
652
00:29:53,826 --> 00:29:55,794
And that reviewer
loved your father.
653
00:29:56,864 --> 00:29:58,624
I mean, really loved him.
654
00:29:59,970 --> 00:30:02,455
So, you're right,
can't be discounted.
655
00:30:05,182 --> 00:30:06,805
[Hank] Maybe the second novel's
the charm.
656
00:30:07,875 --> 00:30:09,773
Still working on it.
657
00:30:09,773 --> 00:30:12,465
[Mom] You made
family choices, dear.
658
00:30:29,241 --> 00:30:30,449
Family choices.
659
00:30:32,485 --> 00:30:33,797
Hey, Mom...
660
00:30:35,074 --> 00:30:36,800
I think Julie's pregnant.
661
00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:37,939
Really?
662
00:30:37,939 --> 00:30:39,113
- Oh!
- Yeah.
663
00:30:39,113 --> 00:30:40,148
Oh, my goodness.
664
00:30:41,391 --> 00:30:44,049
Oh! Goodness, hold on.
665
00:30:44,049 --> 00:30:46,810
It's not like she's going
to go into labor right now.
666
00:30:46,810 --> 00:30:48,847
You don't have to pack
for the hospital or anything.
667
00:30:51,090 --> 00:30:52,298
Here.
668
00:30:53,541 --> 00:30:55,888
This was given to me
by your grandmother
669
00:30:55,888 --> 00:30:57,372
when I was pregnant with you.
670
00:30:57,372 --> 00:30:58,891
It was given to her.
671
00:30:58,891 --> 00:31:00,686
I don't know how long
it's been in the family.
672
00:31:01,825 --> 00:31:03,344
And now it's for Julie.
673
00:31:05,518 --> 00:31:07,003
Why didn't you give it to Lily?
674
00:31:13,595 --> 00:31:14,769
You look...
675
00:31:15,183 --> 00:31:16,598
not unhappy.
676
00:31:16,598 --> 00:31:19,360
Yeah, I'm a smidge up
from neutral, so...
677
00:31:20,361 --> 00:31:21,362
- Hello!
- [Hank] Oh, hey.
678
00:31:22,432 --> 00:31:23,709
All right, babe.
679
00:31:24,330 --> 00:31:25,849
- Hi, baby.
- Hi.
680
00:31:27,264 --> 00:31:28,576
- Hi.
- Hey.
681
00:31:31,061 --> 00:31:32,166
Everybody good?
682
00:31:33,615 --> 00:31:36,722
- You look radiant.
- Oh, thank you, Dad.
683
00:31:36,722 --> 00:31:38,379
How are you guys doing today?
Did you have a good day?
684
00:31:38,379 --> 00:31:39,898
- Yeah, pretty good.
- Yeah. yeah.
685
00:31:39,898 --> 00:31:41,037
Great!
686
00:31:42,141 --> 00:31:43,487
Okay, okay,
687
00:31:43,487 --> 00:31:45,662
I bet you're wondering
what this is all about,
what the news is.
688
00:31:45,662 --> 00:31:47,388
The thought
had crossed our minds.
689
00:31:47,388 --> 00:31:48,458
All right, but first,
690
00:31:48,458 --> 00:31:50,460
Russell has something
he wants to tell you.
691
00:31:50,460 --> 00:31:52,876
Yeah, um,
so, as you both know,
692
00:31:52,876 --> 00:31:55,430
our yard has a flat area
before the hill starts.
693
00:31:56,707 --> 00:31:57,881
Yeah.
694
00:31:57,881 --> 00:31:59,020
Yeah, and as
you probably remember,
695
00:31:59,020 --> 00:32:01,920
my old roommate
installs swimming pools.
696
00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:04,853
I don't--
I don't remember that,
but go on, go on.
697
00:32:04,853 --> 00:32:06,200
Yeah. Um...
698
00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:07,442
Show them the--
show them the thing.
699
00:32:07,442 --> 00:32:10,273
It's pre-fab.
He's got a company.
700
00:32:10,273 --> 00:32:11,895
You don't have to put
any money up front.
701
00:32:11,895 --> 00:32:13,069
It's actually
a really cool business model.
702
00:32:13,069 --> 00:32:16,762
You put five percent down,
you pay the rest over time.
703
00:32:19,075 --> 00:32:21,387
Right? So the pools
start at 6,000,
704
00:32:21,387 --> 00:32:22,802
but the one we want is 10.
705
00:32:22,802 --> 00:32:24,252
You can go up to 15,
but we're only doing 10.
706
00:32:24,252 --> 00:32:25,702
Yeah.
707
00:32:25,702 --> 00:32:28,981
So, uh, five percent
of 10,000--
708
00:32:28,981 --> 00:32:30,776
-$500.
- Yeah!
709
00:32:30,776 --> 00:32:32,295
So who wouldn't want
a pool for $500?
710
00:32:32,295 --> 00:32:34,400
Could we just cut to the news?
711
00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:36,644
No, yeah, that's what
we're trying to tell you.
712
00:32:36,644 --> 00:32:38,232
- We're building a pool!
- We're building a pool.
713
00:32:41,511 --> 00:32:42,891
A baby pool?
714
00:32:42,891 --> 00:32:44,859
[Julie]
No, just a regular pool.
715
00:32:44,859 --> 00:32:46,619
[Russell] Um, but we're not
just building a pool.
716
00:32:46,619 --> 00:32:48,345
No, we have
a whole business model.
717
00:32:48,345 --> 00:32:49,898
And the business model
will pay for the pool.
718
00:32:49,898 --> 00:32:51,417
Okay, let me just
stop you there.
719
00:32:51,417 --> 00:32:54,386
No, listen, Dad,
let me just stop you there,
'cause here's the best part.
720
00:32:54,386 --> 00:32:56,560
There's three groups
of people out there
that can't communicate, right?
721
00:32:56,560 --> 00:32:57,803
Swim students,
722
00:32:57,803 --> 00:32:58,907
swim teachers,
723
00:32:58,907 --> 00:33:00,599
and people with pools.
724
00:33:00,599 --> 00:33:02,359
Our app connects
those three groups--
725
00:33:02,359 --> 00:33:03,636
for a percentage--
726
00:33:03,636 --> 00:33:06,432
and we get part of
the whole of that percentage.
727
00:33:09,780 --> 00:33:11,610
Hank, will you, um,
728
00:33:11,610 --> 00:33:13,681
run up to the bar
and get me a martini?
729
00:33:13,681 --> 00:33:14,993
And get one for yourself, too.
730
00:33:18,824 --> 00:33:19,825
Oh, I'll have a beer.
731
00:33:23,484 --> 00:33:24,657
Yeah.
732
00:33:27,971 --> 00:33:29,352
- Hey.
- Hey.
733
00:33:29,352 --> 00:33:31,043
Can I get a martini
734
00:33:31,043 --> 00:33:32,976
and another martini
735
00:33:32,976 --> 00:33:34,460
and a shot,
while I'm waiting?
736
00:33:36,497 --> 00:33:38,085
And I guess, a beer.
737
00:33:38,085 --> 00:33:41,053
All right, just give me a sec
because I am down a bartender.
738
00:33:41,847 --> 00:33:43,331
Oh, yeah?
You're hiring?
739
00:33:43,883 --> 00:33:44,884
Yeah.
740
00:33:47,577 --> 00:33:48,647
Can he be an idiot?
741
00:33:49,337 --> 00:33:50,649
Sure.
742
00:33:53,928 --> 00:33:55,619
[Solange] It was horrible!
He humiliated you--
743
00:33:55,619 --> 00:33:57,173
in front of the whole class!
744
00:33:57,173 --> 00:33:58,691
That man is an effing monster.
745
00:33:58,691 --> 00:33:59,934
Now, now, Solange.
746
00:34:00,900 --> 00:34:03,386
We have to be tough.
Tougher then they.
747
00:34:03,386 --> 00:34:06,527
We have to have
skins like rhinos
748
00:34:06,527 --> 00:34:08,736
and souls like children.
749
00:34:08,736 --> 00:34:11,601
What he does,
it's just not important.
750
00:34:11,601 --> 00:34:12,809
But in front of everyone--
751
00:34:12,809 --> 00:34:15,536
What is important is the work.
752
00:34:15,536 --> 00:34:16,606
The word.
753
00:34:20,299 --> 00:34:21,507
Okay.
754
00:34:27,927 --> 00:34:29,584
Okay, everyone,
let's settle down.
755
00:34:29,584 --> 00:34:31,414
Come on, come on.
756
00:34:31,414 --> 00:34:35,452
How come you always
drag out that old chair?
757
00:34:35,452 --> 00:34:37,075
It doesn't even look ergonomic.
758
00:34:38,869 --> 00:34:40,837
This chair...
759
00:34:40,837 --> 00:34:42,425
has a personal history.
760
00:34:42,425 --> 00:34:44,220
It was in my family growing up.
761
00:34:44,220 --> 00:34:46,187
It was part of
our dining-room collection.
762
00:34:46,912 --> 00:34:48,293
Um...
763
00:34:48,293 --> 00:34:49,535
my father,
764
00:34:50,260 --> 00:34:52,124
the lieutenant colonel,
765
00:34:52,124 --> 00:34:53,919
he always sat at the head.
766
00:34:55,300 --> 00:34:57,371
Now, no one else
767
00:34:57,371 --> 00:34:59,027
was permitted to sit
768
00:34:59,027 --> 00:35:00,581
until my father
entered the room,
769
00:35:00,581 --> 00:35:02,790
and my brothers,
770
00:35:02,790 --> 00:35:04,067
four of them,
771
00:35:04,067 --> 00:35:07,070
they would try
to elbow each other out
772
00:35:07,070 --> 00:35:09,555
for the chair
next to my father.
773
00:35:09,555 --> 00:35:10,591
But I had a different strategy.
774
00:35:12,524 --> 00:35:15,078
"Sir," I would say,
775
00:35:15,078 --> 00:35:17,425
when he entered the room,
and he would acknowledge me,
776
00:35:18,944 --> 00:35:20,463
"I've written another poem."
777
00:35:21,533 --> 00:35:24,398
And he would say,
"Please recite it for me."
778
00:35:26,607 --> 00:35:28,816
And then, for those moments,
779
00:35:28,816 --> 00:35:30,024
and...
780
00:35:32,026 --> 00:35:33,510
well, only those moments,
781
00:35:33,510 --> 00:35:36,651
which would last
for the duration of the poem,
782
00:35:36,651 --> 00:35:39,240
I would have
my father's
undivided attention,
783
00:35:40,448 --> 00:35:41,829
and then he would nod,
784
00:35:43,210 --> 00:35:45,522
and he put me
in the seat next to him,
785
00:35:45,522 --> 00:35:46,765
which was this chair.
786
00:35:48,663 --> 00:35:49,802
Wow.
787
00:35:50,596 --> 00:35:52,598
That's messed up.
788
00:35:55,394 --> 00:35:57,431
What... what do you mean?
789
00:36:02,090 --> 00:36:04,817
Like shooting the bird
perched on the end
of your rifle,
790
00:36:04,817 --> 00:36:05,991
but what hunter could resist?
791
00:36:06,957 --> 00:36:08,131
John Barth.
792
00:36:08,131 --> 00:36:09,684
This is so exciting.
793
00:36:10,892 --> 00:36:12,273
I just wish
you would have read him first.
794
00:36:14,033 --> 00:36:15,656
I'm just going
to introduce him,
795
00:36:15,656 --> 00:36:17,244
and when he starts yapping,
796
00:36:17,244 --> 00:36:20,316
I'm gonna lean over
and quietly fart
in his direction.
797
00:36:21,351 --> 00:36:22,732
You're really wound up
right now,
798
00:36:22,732 --> 00:36:24,216
so you going to be able
to hold it together?
799
00:36:24,216 --> 00:36:26,045
I'm fine. Why-- Why--
800
00:36:26,045 --> 00:36:28,151
Why do they have to have
so many pictures of him?
801
00:36:28,151 --> 00:36:30,049
He's sitting right there.
He's wearing the same jacket.
802
00:36:30,049 --> 00:36:31,430
[Lily] That's
a slightly different jacket.
803
00:36:31,430 --> 00:36:33,536
[Hank]
It's not slightly different.
It's not slightly different.
804
00:36:33,536 --> 00:36:34,882
Come on, honey.
805
00:36:34,882 --> 00:36:37,885
Don't ever let me sit under
three pictures of myself
806
00:36:37,885 --> 00:36:39,369
in my favorite stupid old coat.
807
00:36:39,369 --> 00:36:41,406
[plastic cup breaks]
808
00:36:41,406 --> 00:36:43,925
Okay. So now, I think
you have to get out of here.
809
00:36:43,925 --> 00:36:46,549
- What? No, I'm the moderator.
- Take that.
810
00:36:46,549 --> 00:36:47,826
I'm going to tell them
that you have GI issues
811
00:36:47,826 --> 00:36:48,896
and I'm going
to get Finny to do it.
812
00:36:48,896 --> 00:36:50,242
No! Finny can't do it!
813
00:36:50,242 --> 00:36:52,589
He's going to do
a beautiful job.
You're a crazy man right now.
814
00:36:52,589 --> 00:36:55,385
Do you want another headline
in the newspaper?
815
00:36:55,385 --> 00:36:57,145
Okay. All right,
get Finny to do it.
816
00:36:57,145 --> 00:36:58,250
Get out of here.
817
00:36:59,286 --> 00:37:00,563
Where's he going?
818
00:37:00,563 --> 00:37:02,668
Just...
you just have to trust me.
819
00:37:02,668 --> 00:37:04,256
This is better for everyone.
820
00:37:04,256 --> 00:37:05,257
Where's Finny?
821
00:37:08,295 --> 00:37:09,399
[crowd cheering]
822
00:37:09,399 --> 00:37:11,125
[Hank]
Ah, field hockey.
823
00:37:11,125 --> 00:37:12,885
It's one of
my favorite distractions.
824
00:37:12,885 --> 00:37:15,371
I hope no one confuses
my presence here
825
00:37:15,371 --> 00:37:16,993
with school spirit,
826
00:37:16,993 --> 00:37:19,409
which I find pointless.
827
00:37:19,409 --> 00:37:23,171
There's so much wasted effort
that goes into
manufactured pep.
828
00:37:23,171 --> 00:37:24,518
For what?
829
00:37:24,518 --> 00:37:27,797
It benefits no one,
except, well,
maybe cheerleaders,
830
00:37:27,797 --> 00:37:30,869
who feel, you know,
less alone and stupid.
831
00:37:30,869 --> 00:37:32,940
Hey, your talk over already?
832
00:37:32,940 --> 00:37:34,528
Nah, I just left.
833
00:37:34,528 --> 00:37:35,598
How can a moderator leave?
834
00:37:35,598 --> 00:37:38,117
- Where's Smith?
- Oh, ankle.
835
00:37:38,117 --> 00:37:40,050
She limped off the field.
836
00:37:40,050 --> 00:37:41,224
Yeah.
837
00:37:41,224 --> 00:37:44,434
I don't know
why I love this game so much.
838
00:37:44,434 --> 00:37:46,264
Yeah, I started smiling
when I came over the hill
839
00:37:46,264 --> 00:37:48,369
just at the sound
of the wood on the ball.
840
00:37:48,369 --> 00:37:51,821
It's just the hustle,
the elegance of a perfect pass.
841
00:37:53,029 --> 00:37:56,412
Still, I wish our school
had one other half-decent team.
842
00:37:56,412 --> 00:37:58,621
All our banners
are field hockey.
843
00:37:59,173 --> 00:38:00,243
It's a little sad.
844
00:38:00,243 --> 00:38:02,970
What?
She tripped her!
845
00:38:02,970 --> 00:38:04,385
Come on!
You gotta call that!
846
00:38:04,385 --> 00:38:05,490
Head in the game.
847
00:38:08,147 --> 00:38:09,252
Why'd you leave?
848
00:38:10,771 --> 00:38:14,153
Turns out,
George Saunders is an asshole.
849
00:38:14,153 --> 00:38:15,672
Oh, that's too bad.
850
00:38:15,672 --> 00:38:17,502
Yeah.
He plays with people.
851
00:38:18,744 --> 00:38:19,952
Meaning you?
852
00:38:19,952 --> 00:38:21,506
Well, he messes with
other writers' heads.
853
00:38:21,506 --> 00:38:22,886
It's demeaning.
854
00:38:22,886 --> 00:38:24,509
He demeans people.
855
00:38:25,303 --> 00:38:27,650
- Meaning you?
- Yeah.
856
00:38:27,650 --> 00:38:30,377
- Did you tell him that?
- No, I just walked out.
857
00:38:30,377 --> 00:38:32,965
You should've said something.
People love to hear
when they're A-holes.
858
00:38:33,828 --> 00:38:34,933
Oh, good dig!
859
00:38:42,216 --> 00:38:43,769
You know I was kidding, right?
860
00:38:52,675 --> 00:38:55,954
It is my honor
to welcome you to
tonight's very special event.
861
00:38:57,162 --> 00:38:59,475
I'd like to start
with your childhood,
862
00:38:59,475 --> 00:39:02,547
if there's been
any abuse or trauma,
that would be great,
863
00:39:02,547 --> 00:39:05,826
and then I'll ask you
about your real relationship
with your mother.
864
00:39:05,826 --> 00:39:06,999
What?
865
00:39:08,242 --> 00:39:11,176
"O human race,
born to fly upward,
866
00:39:11,176 --> 00:39:13,661
wherefore at a little wind
dost thou so fall?"
867
00:39:15,353 --> 00:39:17,147
- Dante.
- Yeah, I know.
868
00:39:17,147 --> 00:39:20,150
Enter Prospero,
here to conjure a storm.
869
00:39:24,327 --> 00:39:26,674
Funny. You had me there
for a minute.
870
00:39:30,885 --> 00:39:32,300
Admit it.
871
00:39:32,300 --> 00:39:34,061
You don't respect me.
872
00:39:34,061 --> 00:39:36,374
You think I'm a hack
whose father got him published.
873
00:39:36,374 --> 00:39:38,030
You didn't even read my book.
874
00:39:39,100 --> 00:39:41,275
What? Of course, I did.
875
00:39:41,275 --> 00:39:44,312
Paula and I both read it
on Block Island with the girls.
876
00:39:44,312 --> 00:39:45,728
We read it and we loved it,
877
00:39:45,728 --> 00:39:48,109
and we sent you
a bottle of wine with a note.
878
00:39:49,421 --> 00:39:51,872
Because I remember
shipping was a pain in the ass.
879
00:39:53,183 --> 00:39:54,564
And I read it again last night.
880
00:39:56,186 --> 00:39:57,498
It's really good.
881
00:39:57,498 --> 00:39:59,466
I mean,
it really holds up, Hank.
882
00:39:59,466 --> 00:40:02,572
I mean, that scene by the bus,
where he's trying to tell her--
883
00:40:02,572 --> 00:40:05,575
[Dean Rose] George Saunders
in conversation
with Hank Devereaux, Jr.
884
00:40:05,575 --> 00:40:08,026
[applause]
885
00:40:08,026 --> 00:40:11,581
For someone
with that kind of talent
to quit writing,
886
00:40:11,581 --> 00:40:12,720
I'm against it.
887
00:40:14,722 --> 00:40:16,137
[applause]
888
00:40:20,797 --> 00:40:22,454
[cheering]
889
00:40:46,305 --> 00:40:47,583
Um...
890
00:40:49,654 --> 00:40:50,827
...you, uh...
891
00:40:52,070 --> 00:40:54,555
Before you wrote,
892
00:40:54,555 --> 00:40:57,075
you were an engineer, right?
893
00:40:59,008 --> 00:41:00,216
Are you a little drunk?
894
00:41:00,216 --> 00:41:01,459
[audience laughs]
895
00:41:01,459 --> 00:41:02,667
Um...
896
00:41:02,667 --> 00:41:04,462
can I get a little drunk?
897
00:41:04,462 --> 00:41:06,222
Yeah. Can we make that
two, please?
898
00:41:06,222 --> 00:41:07,499
[laughing]
899
00:41:10,813 --> 00:41:12,021
Um...
900
00:41:13,609 --> 00:41:16,128
...the chronological order
of Tenth of December,
901
00:41:16,128 --> 00:41:17,613
is that something
that you planned beforehand,
902
00:41:17,613 --> 00:41:19,028
or after you wrote them,
903
00:41:19,028 --> 00:41:21,237
you decided they should be
presented that way,
904
00:41:21,237 --> 00:41:22,480
because I think that
905
00:41:22,480 --> 00:41:25,793
that order really affects
how those stories land.
906
00:41:29,003 --> 00:41:32,490
Yes, and that is a question
that only
a great writer could ask.
907
00:41:32,490 --> 00:41:34,837
All right, stop patronizing me.
They're paying for you.
908
00:41:34,837 --> 00:41:36,183
[laughing]
909
00:41:38,392 --> 00:41:39,876
...is part of the impact.
910
00:41:39,876 --> 00:41:43,259
Most writers start with
an ending or a beginning...
911
00:41:43,259 --> 00:41:44,847
...Feeding the story
into the...
912
00:41:44,847 --> 00:41:45,951
The majority.
913
00:41:45,951 --> 00:41:47,470
[laughing]
914
00:41:47,470 --> 00:41:50,369
["A Random Act of Kindness"
by Kevin Morby plays]
915
00:41:50,369 --> 00:41:52,958
You're getting paid,
but I'm in charge here.
916
00:41:52,958 --> 00:41:54,304
- Yeah, okay.
- All right?
917
00:41:54,304 --> 00:41:56,410
I'm not against E.E. Cummings,
918
00:41:56,410 --> 00:41:58,136
but I feel like that's
where it should have been...
919
00:41:58,136 --> 00:42:00,276
♪ ...So it seems... ♪
920
00:42:00,276 --> 00:42:01,829
The big letters, gotcha.
921
00:42:01,829 --> 00:42:02,899
♪ ...The nightmares... ♪
922
00:42:02,899 --> 00:42:04,349
[Hank] So I'm glad you're here.
923
00:42:04,349 --> 00:42:06,524
Ladies and gentlemen,
George Saunders.
924
00:42:06,524 --> 00:42:08,042
[applause]
925
00:42:08,042 --> 00:42:09,734
♪ ...Lift me up ♪
926
00:42:09,734 --> 00:42:12,081
♪ By my hand ♪
927
00:42:12,081 --> 00:42:15,981
♪ Lift me up if you can ♪
928
00:42:15,981 --> 00:42:20,330
♪ Lift me up, be my friend ♪
929
00:42:20,330 --> 00:42:24,680
♪ Through a random
act of kindness ♪
930
00:42:24,680 --> 00:42:28,649
♪ One that's done
from blindness ♪
931
00:42:30,271 --> 00:42:31,997
♪ Sun came up ♪
932
00:42:34,034 --> 00:42:36,001
♪ Sun came up ♪
933
00:42:38,279 --> 00:42:40,834
♪ Sun came up ♪
934
00:42:42,180 --> 00:42:44,078
♪ Sun came up ♪
935
00:42:48,048 --> 00:42:50,015
♪ Sun came up ♪
936
00:42:52,190 --> 00:42:53,743
♪ Sun came up ♪
937
00:42:56,194 --> 00:42:57,851
♪ Sun came up ♪
938
00:43:00,267 --> 00:43:01,889
♪ Sun came up ♪
939
00:43:10,622 --> 00:43:12,969
- [Hank] I should have known.
- [Lily] Known what?
940
00:43:12,969 --> 00:43:15,420
[Hank] I could have been
as good as Saunders.
It wouldn't have mattered.
941
00:43:15,420 --> 00:43:17,284
[Lily] What wouldn't
have mattered?
942
00:43:18,423 --> 00:43:20,563
[Hank] I would never have
gotten my father's...
943
00:43:21,668 --> 00:43:23,117
you know...
944
00:43:24,463 --> 00:43:27,605
["Le tourbillon"
by Jeanne Moreau plays]
945
00:43:27,605 --> 00:43:29,399
♪ On s'est connus
on s'est reconnus ♪
946
00:43:29,399 --> 00:43:30,608
♪ On s'est perdus de vue ♪
947
00:43:30,608 --> 00:43:31,816
♪ On s'est reperdus de vue ♪
948
00:43:31,816 --> 00:43:33,990
♪ On s'est retrouves
on s'est separes ♪
949
00:43:33,990 --> 00:43:36,579
♪ Puis on s'est rechauffes ♪
950
00:43:36,579 --> 00:43:39,099
♪ Chacun pour soi est reparti ♪
951
00:43:39,099 --> 00:43:41,480
♪ Dans le tourbillon
de la vie ♪
952
00:43:41,480 --> 00:43:43,759
♪ Je l'ai revue un soir
ah-la-la ♪
953
00:43:43,759 --> 00:43:46,002
♪ Elle est retombee
dans mes bras... ♪
954
00:43:46,002 --> 00:43:48,833
♪ Elle est retombee
dans mes bras ♪