Tony

Okay,

so I'm just going to walk you through the basic vision of the story. You guys

feel free to chime in whenever you want, okay?

So what I'm trying to do is create a metaphorical conversation between George

Orwell and Jack Kerouac.

down and out in Paris and London, was typed out on one long piece of paper.

Snappy, splenetic, high velocity.

At its core, it's a building's Roman, but not in the sad, sounder, smoking,

woman-hating way. It's hopeful.

And I know I put it on my application, but in terms of timeline, I'd want to

have the first draft done by July, and submit for notes from this esteemed

Royka, do a quick polish, and...

Hopefully, spend the rest of my summer in a state of bocchetto.

That's what the Japanese say.

Gaze out in the distance without thinking about anything in particular.

All right.

Very impressive, Anthony.

You know what?

Only my mother calls me Anthony.

Tony.

Okay, then.

Tony.

You'll be hearing from us soon.

And that they just sat there and stared at me.

I'm telling you, we are so fucking stupid.

I said I was going to write the whole thing on one piece of paper, and they

both... They were just nodding like I was explaining the rules of a brothel.

I already found this Upper West Side place right where Salinger grew up.

Fucking perfect.

Just got to tell my parents the fellowship takes place in New York, and

I'm out of here.

Okay, buddy.

You got to write in the book.

Yeah, but that's what I've been trying to do all year.

I swear, it's like God is finally starting to notice me.

Work for that surprise.

The work of what?

It's when God finds me.

It's when God finds me. That's a deal.

That sounds kind of scary.

Yeah, it's scary.

Excuse me, I need to speak with you.

Why don't you get the fuck out of here?

Is someone bothering you?

This is my cousin.

Oh, hey, I went to Dwight Englewood with your cousin, Nancy. Didn't you punch a

hole in the principal's door?

You know, well, that's changed since high school. I'm a writer now.

Oh.

Looks funny.

What's in your pan?

Oh, that's my dick.

Truth is, I'm actually getting a huge writing fellowship. I'm dropping out.

I'm moving to New York.

Sorry, do you think you're a writer or a liar?

Very funny.

Answer the question.

Come with me and see for yourself.

You know, I would, but we're spending the summer in Cape Cod, so... To be

honest, I don't know if this woman has your best interest at heart.

You do.

Enough that I think you deserve a proper valediction.

Goodbye, young lady.

I'm older than you. Goodbye, old lady.

Off to... Providence now.

Do you know the meaning of the word Providence?

Let's go!

So, I'll tell you what.

Come find me in September.

And you can tell me what all those big words mean.

Yeah, except for the fellowship thing.

Fellowship?

It's basically... Wait, wait, wait. Don't tell me now. Let's wait till we're

with your mother.

She's not going to care.

Absolutely, she's going to care.

Are you kidding? She's your mother.

So I was telling Dad on the way back that Vassar gives up its fellowship

every summer to develop a piece of professional writing.

And, yeah, so I applied with a novel. A novel?

You're going to write a novel?

Yeah.

Well, yeah, I did an interview and I told them what I wanted to do.

And, yeah, I think I got it.

Oh!

Right! Attaboy, Tony!

What do you mean you think you got it?

Well, it was heavily implied.

They said they were going to reach out right away.

Yeah, there it is! They will not say that if they're not serious.

How much money do you get?

I don't know, actually, but whatever it is, it's supposed to support me while I

write.

What's it about?

It was the, uh, what's the story?

Crime or romance?

No, no, it's more of like, well,

it's really just an idea for an idea right now.

But it's a buildings Roman story.

Buildings Roman?

Yes, coming of age.

No, I know what it means.

It's one word.

It's a German loan word.

You know, like kindergarten.

Yeah, I know.

I just hope you didn't put that on your application.

If it was in the pile on the fourth in the truck.

What? Yeah, I thought it was garbage. You leave a pile of records on the

living room floor. What am I supposed to do? They're rare records.

They're not even mine yet. Then don't leave them on the floor.

I will.

Not done with them. I was still checking them. I had to go get Tony. Oh, you're

going to blame Anthony for you being a slob. I'm not blaming him. I'm not

blaming anybody. I'm just asking you to please not throw away my record. Please.

Hello?

Tony.

Okay.

Hello? Anthony, this is Professor Dobson from the Gingrich Fellowship Committee.

How are you?

Hi, good. How are you?

Okay, great.

I'm saying you're not receiving the fellowship.

Terrific.

Thank you very much.

Right.

Who's that?

I got the scholarship.

Hey, you told him to.

Tony? Don't come in.

Dad wants to know if you want to go for ice cream.

No, I'm okay.

Okay.

Good job getting the prize.

Thanks.

I was under the cover of the throne.

And they played keep their feet.

We are here to tell you the truth.

Thank you.

Have a drink with me.

I can't.

at that beer, right?

What the fuck are you?

Please, pay your bill, and I will work on you another day.

All right?

But if we have another issue, lifetime ban.

Ten dollars.

What kind of fucking rip-off is that?

Well, that's the price for being good to the lady.

Now,

that's my friend, Mary.

Don't fucking touch me.

Get the fuck off of me.

Fuck you! Hey, sorry guys.

Yeah, you got robbed.

Hey, hey, where do you live?

New Jersey.

Not funny.

Anthony?

Hey!

What are you doing here?

I told you I was going to Provincetown for the summer.

What are you talking about?

When did you tell me that?

Are you fucking with me?

Okay,

look, honestly, I was so awake for that night, I don't remember anything.

If I was rude to you, if I acted like a jerk. No, no.

So, wait, you actually didn't know I was going to be here?

No, not at all.

I just won this writing fellowship. They told me I needed to come to Provincetown

for it.

And, uh, yeah, I literally just got here. So, I don't know what the fuck is

going on.

You don't think this is, like, a crazy coincidence?

What did Carl Jung call it?

Synchronicity.

You read Carl Jung?

Yeah.

When's your birthday?

Uh... June 25th.

You're a cancer.

I'm a what?

It depends on what happened to your eye.

Oh, the eye.

You know everyone calls me Tom.

Bob, you finished your homework.

We're having a party tonight.

Big White House at the end of commercial.

You can't tell I'm winking.

Hey, man,

I'm so sorry.

Can you... Oh, thank you. Thank you so much. Hey,

I'm so sorry.

About yesterday.

Could I stay on that hammock for a few more days?

Yeah, bro.

Good roll, one hot, one cold, hold steady.

God damn it.

Thank you.