Mistress

It's called days gone by.

Days gone by?

We made that years ago.

You're kidding.

No, I'm not.

It was called flesh tone.

Oh, yeah.

It was a terrific film.

Thank you.

Ah, let's see what we got here.

O.k.

I understand that.

I'm trying to get a hold of him.

Doesn't he have an agent?

Agent? No.

Well, how the hell do you contact him?

Well, we don't contact him.

It's a cult. We're not allowed to contact up there.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

I'm sorry.

It's all right.

Hello.

Hello?

Is this Marvin landisman?

Yes.

Marvin, this is Jack roth.

Uh-huh.

You know, Marvin,

strange things happen in this business.

Maybe that's why I love it so much.

I was cleaning out my files last night,

and I came across a script of yours.

I reread it, and I liked it.

I really liked it.

Marvin?

What script?

It's called the darkness and the light.

I haven't given out that script in years.

Well, you know what?

It's more timely than ever.

Um, would you hold on a second, please?

Sure.

I'm sorry, who are you again?

Jack roth.

Didn't I meet you at the commissary at universal?

Oh, yeah.

Marvin,

your script's a knockout.

In fact, I think I know

where we can get it made.

You interested?

Look, I wrote... I wrote that script

for me to direct, so...

Sure.

Sure. All the better.

What say we get together tomorrow

and talk about it.

How about lunch?

O.k.

Would you mind meeting me at Shelby's?

I know it's not the greatest food,

but it's convenient.

Which one?

The one on 3rd. How about 1:00?

[Singing in foreign language]

And now we light a match...

And presto.

Hold it. Hold it.

What's wrong?

This is no good.

What isn't?

You can see here.

It didn't poof.

It's supposed to poof with a big flame.

O.k., put some more Brandy on it.

No, there's...

ooh, there's plenty of Brandy on this one.

I got to be out of here by 12:30.

What about lighter fluid?

Lighter fluid will ruin the pan.

O.k. O.K.

Hans, all right.

O.k. I've had it.

Marvin?

Jack.

It's wonderful to see you.

You haven't changed a bit.

You look great.

Come on. I got a table in the back.

Normally I like to meet somewhere else,

but since I was at Paramount,

I figured what the hell.

The food's not half bad.

There's somebody here I'd like you to meet.

This is Stuart stratland, a very talented young writer.

Nice to meet you, Marvin.

If you don't mind, I figured Stuart would sit in.

No, that's o.K. Sure.

Good.

So, come on, guys. What are you going to have?

Marvin, order something good.

The steak sandwich isn't bad.

Honey, what's good? These men are very hungry.

Same old thing.

The Turkey's on special.

Is that good? Do you like Turkey?

Turkey's all right.

Fine. I'll have the Turkey sandwich.

I'll have a bacon cheeseburger, onion rings,

and a large coke.

I'll have the... I had a late breakfast.

I'll just have a salad.

They put a lot of shrimp on it?

Yeah.

Tell the chef

to really heap the shrimp on.

O.k.

Thanks.

So...

I remember at universal there was a lot of good talk

about that picture of yours.

Too bad about what happened.

Yeah, well, that was a long time ago.

So, have you done any directing since?

Uh, lately I've been working in video.

Mtv?

No, uh,

instructional cassettes for the home market.

Oh. Uh-huh.

You know, that script of yours

has all the right elements, I mean...

It's got good characters and a terrific story.

I don't know if you agree with me,

but story is the most important script element.

Well, yeah, I do agree. Story is very important.

You know, I liked it so much,

I reread it last night after we talked.

It was a real pleasure.

It's got great parts for actors.

It's...it's modern, it's timely.

What the hell more could you ask for?

Thanks. I worked hard to get the right balance.

That's a good way to put it, Marvin.

It is balanced.

You may not agree, but it does get heavy in places.

Well, the painter kills himself.

That's what I mean. The whole thing is very heavy.

Well, suicide is a dark subject.

Depends on how it's handled.

Stuart here's very talented.

He wrote a terrific science fiction thing.

The backer I've got wants to do a smaller film,

something more artistic.

I'm not sure they'll go for a script about suicide.

It's not about suicide.

It's about an artist's courage.

He's driven to kill himself. I won't change that.

Naturally. I'm not asking you to change that.

It's an important element. I find it very moving,

but maybe it could be handled a little differently.

Does he have to kill himself?

Couldn't he just leave town at the end?

The whole point is that he's destroyed by society.

No, he can't just leave.

What if he was killed in an accident?

Stuart had the same teachers as Spielberg at Cal state.

Marvin, you're in the driver's seat,

but Stuart has some very, very interesting ideas.

I figured that you guys could,

you know, sit down,

you know, look at it.

I could have made this film years ago

if I wanted to play footsie-wootsie.

Marvin, we're just talking here.

I knew it.

I'm not changing one word!

I don't need to make this film,

and I don't need your sandwich.

Let's...let's just forget it, o.K.?

Jesus, I love your passion. It's so refreshing.

I was at universal years ago

when Nick ray threw a projector out of a window.

This is what a good director has to have, Stuart.

I'm just here to be used.

Cheeseburger...

Oh, that's uh...

Turkey...

And shrimp...

And the ketchup,

and I'll bring your coke.

Maybe I am a little too apprehensive,

but it's because

I want to get this picture made, Marvin.

Maybe I'm being too cautious.

Why don't you meet my money guy?

My gut tells me he'll like you.

He's going to finance the film?

Very interesting guy. He's a real player,

and he's got this girl. I think she's terrific.