Let Them All Talk

Oh, God, there must be a better way.

There must be a better way to describe things,

to arrange words in a new way, to use words,

to take you to a place beyond words.

There must be.

I'm so glad that we could finally sit down together.

I know we haven't had a chance to do that since Sonia retired.

I know that she is... She is very sad to go.

-Understandably, but... -It's just such a shame.

Retiring at, what, 70? Why?

-Well-- -It doesn't make any sense to me.

Well, I know that... That her husband obviously hasn't been--

The husband is ill. The children are needy. The children are 40.

But are more needy than ever. So that's confusing.

And how long have you been at the agency?

I know we've spoken on the phone...

...for a couple of years.

Well, I've been...

I think it's been eight years I've been at the agency now,

and I've been assisting Sonia for the last seven.

So, actually, I know it may seem that I'm new, but I've been...

-Gosh. -...working on your account

and working on your sales,

and I should say that there is a lot of excitement at the agency

regarding your new manuscript,

and without wanting to pry too much, is there anything you might be able...

-...to share with us? -Not really. Not at this point, no.

I'm sorry to be so blunt, but...

Sonia never invaded my process in any way,

and she always gave me free rein.

She gave me the dignity and the respect of complete autonomy.

-Everyone's very excited. Um... -Great.

What do you like about my writing?

I mean, what pulls you to the material?

Well, um...

I have to say, I...

The first book of yours that I read was You Always, You Never.

-And I was-- -Did you read A Function of the Body?

Was that one of the ones that you liked?

That was a much, much better book... Quite frankly.

You Always, You Never, yes, it has a residual impact.

Uh, it won the Pulitzer, but it's...

It's a completely different thing than the Footling Prize.

Oh, yes, I meant to bring that up, actually. They are...

They are asking for an answer. They're... they're...

Obviously, they're hoping that you'll be able to make it, and...

Do you realize that they don't give the Footling Prize in fiction every year?

It's something that other writers confer on writers.

-Well-- -I'm so proud, but I just, uh...

I can't attend. I can't attend.

It's killing me.

-But... -Well--

I can't fly, you see, so...

-I can't fly. -Do--

-And along with the other things-- -Would you consider...

I mean, there may be a way for you to get to the UK without having to fly.

I mean, there's a crossing.

There's a ship, the Queen Mary 2, that goes from New York to Southampton.

I happen to know the director of the Cunard Line.

You know, they have regular crossings between--

Transatlantic crossings, and I'm sure...

I'm sure if I spoke to him, they'd be willing to to give you a state room

and whatever you needed. I mean, in exchange for...

Perhaps if you did a little talk on the boat, then...

-Oh, well, I don't think... -Then something could be arranged.

Just hear me out. I think...

Yes, I think that might be the solution to be able to get you there,

because, obviously, this prize means so much to you, as it should,

and I know that they'd be thrilled if you were able to make it.

And it really is a lovely way to travel. It's a beautiful ship.

Could I bring guests?

-Yes, of course. -How many?

And my main feeling is just feeling like I'm a burden on you, and...

Just, like, shoving myself in here when, you know...

And I appreciate it. Mika appreciates it.

You know, I invited you-- May I just remind you?

I invited you. I'm your mom. I'm your family.

What's that for if not to...

I still don't understand it.

What... How could... You did this company together.

And I don't understand how he...

-I think he thinks that I-- -...cut you out. Why he would do that?

He used the program that I had developed or I...

It was my idea. He actually did the... He was the engineer on it.

I don't know, honey. I really don't know.

I'm clueless, actually, about what you're going through with this.

That a friend should do this to you is kind of outrageous.

-It's shock... It's... -It makes me feel violent.

-Mom. -It does. Easily.

Don't let that motherfucker near me.

Why wouldn't you go on this trip? I mean, it sounds fascinating.

Well, Cheryl needs more prep time before her parole hearing.

Mom, the hearing is six months from now.

-Roberta's going, right? -Yes, Roberta's definitely going.

And you haven't heard from Alice since Dad died.

And when did you last see her and Roberta?

Wow, I don't think we've seen each other since... Whoa...

Since we all got together in San Francisco.

-That was, like, when was that? -That was...that was over 30 years ago.

Well, you got to go.

You have... I think you have to go, just to find out why she's reaching out.

And why you two? Why now?

-How are you? -Fine.

So I am very frustrated right now.

-Oh, dear. -I know.

-I called ahead... Are you Carol? -No, I am Roberta, as you can see...

-I do see it now. -If you have eyeballs.

I do. Okay, I called ahead and spoke to someone named Carol.

Perhaps was your manager, I don't know. And I don't want to get you in trouble.

But she did tell me that you have a peacock blue panty and bra set.

And that is what I'm here for, and all I am seeing is teal.

-So... -Can I just point out

that the difference between teal and peacock is as fine as a hair.

Maybe to you. I have a highly developed sense of color. I'm a designer.

There's too much yellow in this. Now, let me help you understand.

Clovis, remember, I am leaving today for two weeks,

and I'll be back on the 16th, okay?

-Wait, you're going away? -Yeah.

I told you all this in the email about three weeks ago.

-I gave you the whole itinerary. -I didn't get your email.

-I think you did. -I didn't get an email from you.

-Because I sent it. -Okay, can you get someone to cover you?

-'Cause I have you five days next week. -No, but I think you can.

Because that's your job as manager. Bye-bye.

Who are the other two people she invited?

They're her... like, her two oldest friends from college.

-Really? -They've been friends for 50 years.

-Jesus. -Just been chillin'.

Or I guess they haven't seen each other in a while, I'm not sure.

I don't know, for our generation,

what friendship will look like over a long period of time.

At least, I've only had friends for four years at a time,

and these women have been friends for 50 years, so--

Trying to study them and learn. Maybe I can learn something from it, you know?

-And, what, she's, like, a TV person? -No, she's a writer. She's... An author.

-Do you not know this? -You didn't tell us anything about this.

What do you mean? You don't know who my aunt is? You don't?

Alice Hughes, You Always, You Never.

It won the Pulitzer Prize. It's been turned into a movie and a miniseries

in the last, I don't know, 15, 20 years or something.

-You haven't seen it? -This was years ago? Or this was recent?

I'm really surprised. It's, like... Well, you should read it.

It's an unbelievable book and a great movie.

Can you not go? Why would you go?

-Yeah. -Aw, thanks.

No, it's not a "thanks" moment.

I felt so much love from you in that moment, so I had to say thanks.

No, I got to go. I got to go do, um...

I just got to go do my thing, you know? Take care of these lovely old women.

She desperately wants to accept the Footling Prize, but she can't fly,

so I've booked her on the Queen Mary 2 with her two friends and her nephew.

I'm not... She gets on the boat, she takes the boat,

and then you take the boat, too, for what purpose, exactly?

For years, she's been hinting to Sonia she's revisiting one of her characters.

And we're hoping it's Rowena from You Always, You Never.

Then again, whenever anyone mentions You Always, You Never, she slags it off.

If she hated that book so much, why'd she put it out in the first place?

-It was a long time ago, I understand... -Know what we're gonna get?

Our luck, we're gonna get a sequel to A Function of the Body.

Well, she did mention she considers that to be a much better book.

Oh, my God. Of course she did. Here's a thought.

How about a sequel to You Always, You Never,

and maybe make it better than the original? How's that for a bold idea?

I completely agree, which is why I think I need to be on that ship.

It's a big ask. It's not just the cost of the trip. You'll be out of office.

-I don't see that there's any other way. -All right.

But if this doesn't work out, you're gonna wear it.

All right.

-I feel useful. I feel useful. -Yeah.

-It's a wonderful feeling. -That's a good feeling.

Sometimes it's a heartbreaking thing 'cause, you know, they won't get parole.

You've been preparing, and the parole board just...

Yes, yes.

-Anyway, anyway... -You're fighting the good fight.

I don't know. I'm trying. I'm trying.

The main thing is the connection with the women...

-Is just such a gift. -It's everything.

It's a gift.

What about you, Bert? What have you been up to?

Oh, well... Not much, really, not much.

I don't advocate for anybody except...

I advocate for women's brassieres, basically. Just...

-For what, hon? -I sell lingerie.

-Your what, honey? You're in what? -I sell lingerie.

Tyler, you brought the books. I've brought you books.

-Oh, how wonderful. -So that I hope...

I hope you'll look at the Realm of the Owl, which is her seminal work.

She didn't write very much, but the work that she did write is...

Groundbreaking, and I think it's important that we all somehow...

share the work before we go and stand at her... at her grave.

Thank you.

So... speaking of writing, I'm just... I'm just not going to be available.

I've got a draft of a novel I'm trying to finish.

I have, uh...

This address that's...

You know, they don't give this prize every year.

-But we'll have supper together and-- -Good. Yes.

You can tell me all the things that I'm missing out on.

Here's to picking up the conversation where we left off.

You know? And here's to, maybe,