Meet Joe Black

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Please. Please. Don't worry. Don't worry.

It's utter chaos around here.

And I'm terrified that we're running out of time.

Am I trying to be too perfect?

Oh, but I want it to be so exquisite. So do we.

But we're trying to be too exquisite. Why not aim for the stars?

Good morning. Good morning.

We do need some answers on the flowers. Ah, yes, freesia, freesia.

Everywhere freesia. Daddy loves freesia.

Good morning. Good morning. Oh. Hello. Hi.

Lights? "Lights."

Not too bright and not too dark.

I'm looking for a saffron glow,

sort of tea-dance '20s.

If food is the prose of a party,

then lights are its poetry.

It works. If food is the prose of a party, lights are its poetry.

I like that. If music were the food of love, play on. I'm going out of my mind.

Good morning, Mr. Parrish.

What do you think of all this, Helen? It's gonna be beautiful.

And Allison says the president may come.

The president's got better things to do than come to my birthday party. Like what?

Daddy? Do you have a minute? Good morning, Allison.

Not much more. Big day in the big city.

What's on your mind? Fireworks. Update:

We are constructing the number 65 on the barge. Mm-hmm.

Archers from the State College of New Paltz will shoot flaming arrows at it.

When it catches fire, it will give us the effect of a Viking funeral,

but with none of the morbidity.

The Hudson River Authority says that for you, they'll make a special dispensation.

But, of course, there will be an overtime bill...

for the Poughkeepsie Fire Department.

So, what do you think?

Good? No good?

Allison, I trust you. This is your thing.

But it's your birthday. I hate arrows. They make me nervous.

Good morning, Dad. Good morning, honey.

Morning. Morning. You're "Honey." I'm "Allison."

Oh.

Oh, Dad, Drew called from the helicopter, and they're still two minutes away.

Drew's aboard? Mm-hmm.

He wanted to ride back down with you.

So why don't you sit down, relax, and get some food in that flat tummy of yours.

Are you coming? No.

You've got patients to attend to. I've got three hysterical chefs,

one of whom loves truffles, the other one hates truffles,

and the third one doesn't even know what truffles are.

I hate parties. But, Daddy, calm down.

You're gonna love it. I swear.

Isn't it enough to be on the Earth for 65 years without having to be reminded of it?

- No. -

Will you relax? I know it's a big deal day.

How'd you know that? Drew told me.

Does he tell you everything?

I hope so.

You like him, don't you?

Yep, I guess so.

I don't want to interfere, but, uh... Then don't.

Well, here comes our boy now.

Shall we?

- Okay. - Hello, beautiful.

Hi.

Good morning, Drew. Thanks for coming up.

Well, big day. Wanted to line up a few ducks before kickoff.

Any thoughts, last minute refinements, variations, anything?

Thoughts, no. I did hear a voice last night.

A voice? In my sleep.

What'd it say? "Yes."

Yes to the deal? Maybe. Who knows?

You know how voices are.

Hmm? I thank you, Delia.

Okay, let's go. Delia, your pen.

Hi, Bill. How you doin'? Morning, Quince.

I'm doin' great, and you? Oh, I'm great.

This is it, "B-day." Huh? Sorry.

Bontecou day. We're gonna close... with Big John.

Look at you, Bill. You're all cool as a cat.

Over at Bontecou's, I'll bet he's just shittin' in his pants.

Remember, everybody, big meeting tonight at Daddy's.

Dinner. You, too, Drew. We have lots of loose ends.

Not my birthday again? You're only 65 once, Dad.

Thank God. Now let's get the day started.

Remember, dinner in the city at Daddy's!

Mm-hmm. It's so ridiculous.

Do you love Drew? [Drew On Telephone, Indistinct]

No, don't do anything. Just stay exactly where...

Do you love Drew? He's not gonna get a better offer than that.

You mean, like you loved Mom? Forget about me and Mom.

- Are you gonna marry him? - Oh, come on.

I'm probably.

Listen, I'm crazy about the guy. He's smart. He's aggressive.

He could carry Parrish Communications into the 21st century and me along with it.

Mm-hmm. So, what's wrong with that?

That's for me. I'm talking about you.

It's not what you say about Drew. It's what you don't say.

Maybe you're not listening.

Oh, yes, I am.

Give him whatever he wants.

There's not an ounce of excitement, not a... whisper of a thrill.

And this relationship has all the passion of a pair of titmice.

I want you to get swept away out there.

I want you to levitate. I want you to...

sing with rapture and dance like a dervish.

- Oh, that's all. - Yeah. Be deliriously happy,

or at least leave yourself open to be.

Okay.

"Be deliriously happy." I shall, uh...

I shall do my utmost.

I know it's a cornball thing.

But love is passion,

obsession,

someone you can't live without.

I say, fall head over heels.

Find someone you can love like crazy and who will love you the same way back.

How do you find him? Well, you forget your head, and you listen to your heart.

And I'm not hearing any heart.

'Cause the truth is, honey, there's no sense living your life without this.

To make the journey and not fall deeply in love,

well, you haven't lived a life at all.

But you have to try, 'cause if you haven't tried, you haven't lived.

Bravo!

Oh, you're tough.

I'm sorry. Okay.

Give it to me again, but the short version this time.

Okay. Stay open.

Who knows? Lightning could strike.

- - Yeah?

Yeah.

What do you think? Is it just the executive committee,

or are you guys gonna use me?

Quince, man, thanks for the offer, but it's all set for just me and Bill.

More people might... I know. I know, gum up the works.

"I want you to get swept away."

Huh? I was just sayin' to Quince that we won't need him until...

Did you hear something? Yeah, but I was just sayin' to Quince...

No, no, no. Not you. What's the matter, Daddy?

Nothing. I'm sorry. "I want you to levitate.

I want you to sing with rapture and dance like a dervish."

"Dance like a dervish"? Daddy, what is it?

Nothing, I'm just talking to myself. You know me.

No, I've never known you to talk to yourself.

Oh, well, can I give you a lift?

No, I'm gonna catch a cab. Listen, are you okay? Yeah.

Got my garters on, my ears pricked... ready for action.

Okay. Well... Go get 'em, Pops.

You're damn right. Okay.

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Oh, haven't heard that one before.

I'm sorry. I had to say it.

Honey? Honey? Hi, George.

Honey, you have to go on.

Okay? There's a time to sow and a time to reap.

You have to sow.

Sorry. Excuse me.

No, I liked him. I don't like him anymore.

'Cause you're my honey.

Someone messes with you, they mess with me.

That's it. I'm on a plane in a heartbeat. You let me know.

Yep, when I get my phone in, you're my first call. I promise.

Hit the books, get the degree. One day we'll be hanging out a shingle together.

How's that? Mmm? Okay.

You all right? Yes.

You bet. Be strong.

I love you. Bye-bye.

Morning. Good morning.

I was talkin' kind of loud there. I'm sorry.

Oh, not at all.

It was fascinating.

Yeah, what was fascinating about it?

Um... You and, uh, "honey"?

It's my kid sister. Oh.

And she just broke up with her boyfriend and was thinking...

about dropping out of law school.

Oh, I'm sorry. No, nothing to be sorry about.

That's the way it is with men and women, isn't it? What's the way?

Nothing lasts.

Oh. Yeah, I agree.

Really? Why?

No, I'm interested.

I was just trying to be agreeable.

- - Okay. All right. I was sharpshooting.

Oh. No, just that "nothing lasts" stuff.

That was the problem with Honey's guy. He didn't know what he wanted.

So, he's fooling around, and she catches him at it.

You know, like one girlfriend isn't enough for him.

- So, you're a one-girl guy. - Yes, I am.

That's right. Right.

Looking for her right now, actually.

Mmm. Who knows? You might be her.

No, don't laugh. I just got into town.

I got the new job.

I'm trying to get into this apartment.

Anyway, so you're a doctor.

Mmm. How'd you know?

'Cause everyone's a doctor around here.

This apartment building... Everyone's in green slippers, the green pajamas.

The guy I'm waiting for to vacate...