I Shot Andy Warhol

There's the elevator, Valerie. Just take it.

Louis ? Look, I think your daughter's on TV.

Why did you shoot Andy Warhol ?

Well, it's a very involved, uh-- a lot of very involved reasons.

Read my manifesto. It'll tell you what I am.

Isn't that Valerie ?

At exactly 4:30 P.M. on June 3 at 33 Union Square West,

two males were shot by one female.

One of these males was Andy Warhol.

Jesus Christ. Now she's shot somebody.

I-I always thought Andy was a great artist. He made three films with me.

My most recent role was, uh, in ' I, a Man '

where I lie on the floor naked...

while discussing the philosophy of love.

Uh, perhaps you've--

He go to mass every day, St. Paul's.

Perhaps we all owe Andy a personal--

I am not surprised. Violence today is in the air everywhere.

Andy got hurt in the big game of reality.

You know, the wonderful thing about Andy, of course,

he was life plus, plus, plus.

It's a fascinating thing that he--

You are Valerie Jean Solanas ?

Solanas. That's right.

And where do you live ?

Nowhere.

Where do you come from ?

The river.

Miss Solanas, you don't have to answer any of my questions

if you don't want to. Do you understand that ?

Mm-humm.

Instead of saying 'mm-hmm,' because she has to take it down, on the machine,

could you say either yes or no ?

- Yes. - All right. Now...

knowing what your rights are...

knowing that I'd like to ask you a few questions

about what happened yesterday,

do you want to tell me what happened ?

Yes.

You tell me in your own words what happened.

Very simply, I shot him.

Who did you shoot ?

Andy Warhol.

What did you shoot him with ?

A gun.

- That gun ? - Yeah, .32 caliber Beretta.

Why did you want to shoot Andy Warhol ?

Well, that's somethin'-- no, no. That's very involved.

I don't want to get into that right now.

You don't have to get into anything if you don't want to.

Do you know on what part of his body you shot him ?

Well, according to the papers, it was a chest wound.

And nat-naturally, I was--

I was sort of like, to the side.

And-and I thought that I was shootin' from like here.

What did you need the ice pick for ?

Oh, I actually been carryin' that on me for several days

and I didn't intend to use that.

I brought it with me.

I'd been carryin' all my things in a bag, including the ice pick,

which I'd forgotten.

Why did you want to shoot Andy Warhol ?

I told you.

I don't want to get into that right now.

The patient is a 28-year-old single woman

who was admitted to this hospital on June fifth.

She was born and raised in Atlantic city, New Jersey.

She describes a rather pitiful childhood, including parental conflict,

sexual molestation by her father and separation from her home.

By the age of 13, she had many sexual experiences.

It was about this time, her mother remarried for the second time.

At age 14, she was sent to boarding school

where she stayed for about 2 years.

It was here that she had her first homosexual experiences.

At age 16, she returned home.

Her schoolwork improved

and it was noted that she seemed to possess

exceptional intellectual ability.

- - Over here, Val. - This way. Right here.

- Where'd you get the gun ? - In Vermont.

Is it true you were an actress in Warhol's movies ?

Yeah, but I'm really a writer.

Would you consider this a-a political assassination ?

No. - What'd you write ?

' SCUM Manifesto.'

Oh yeah ? Are you a member of some revolutionary organization ?

- Yeah, my own. - Why did you shoot Andy Warhol ?

Yeah, yeah, I have a lot of very involved reasons.

Read my manifesto. It'll tell you what I am.

Do you have copies of any of the school reports ?

I have this.

In 1954,

her high school principal wrote a letter on her behalf.

"I understand that Valerie Solanas needs a letter of recommendation."

Valerie, you got a boyfriend ?

"She's proved to be an exceptionally bright girl

with lots of courage and determination."

So, do you consider yourself a revolutionary ?

"Valerie's a highly responsible and dependable person,

"well suited to the study of psychology at university level.

"She possesses much initiative

and always meets her obstacles by setting new goals."

"The male is a biological accident.

"The "Y" male gene, is an incomplete "X",

or female gene.

"It has an incomplete set of chromosomes.

"It's now technically possible to reproduce without the aid of males

"and to produce only females.

We must begin immediately to do so."

On the subject of student vandalism,

I've been told that 100 ashtrays have been taken

from the Student Union following its opening.

After the pep rally on Saturday, someone unscrewed all the mirrors

in the men's room and would have taken the mirrors

had they not been glued to the wall.

- Getting this ? - All right.

Last year one or two students delighted in breaking--

I like that quote. On second thought--

Hey, listen to this.

It's from the head of Sigma Delta Chi.

"Dear editor:

"Is a corsage appropriate only at class formals,

"or should one be worn at more casual affairs ?

"I think it would be helpful to all students

"if the university adopted a definite policy

on the corsage issue."

An earth-shattering dilemma.

Yeah, it is a tricky one.

Do you want to answer it ? - Yeah.

Yeah, okay. I got it.

Thanks for doing this with me, Val.

Now, remember, say the first thing that comes into your mind.

Lamp. - Shade.

Hat. - Cap.

Mountain. - Hill.

Suicide. - Kill.

Black. - White.

Cat. - Mouse.

God. - Atheist.

Man. - Woman.

Love. - Hate.

Boyfriend. - Girlfriend.

You know, I think we should end there because

Bill's comin' to pick me up.

Maybe we'll do it another time. - Yeah.

Jean, you led me on ! Jean !

- I don't know what you're talking about. - Yes, you know !

You're a fucking liar ! - Valerie !

Miss Solanas entered the University of Maryland

in 1954,

and completely supported herself during the next four years,

during which time she earned "A"s in her major of psychology.

During the summers of her third and fourth college years,

she made money by prostitution,

while living a homosexual life for enjoyment.

She tells us for the last five years

she knocked around

and lived with several men, none of whom she liked.

For many years, the patient has been

developing an interest in the natural superiority

of women over men.

Within the past three to four years, she decided

to put her thoughts on paper.

" 'Life' in this 'society' being, at best an utter bore

"and no aspect of 'society' being at all relevant to women,

"there remains to civic-minded, responsible, thrill-seeking females

"only to overthrow the government, eliminate the money system,

institute complete automation and eliminate the male sex."

I have two dollars and six cents. Man, I'm so bored with turning tricks.

I hate money. Why do we have to need money ?

I need money so I can get a room somewhere.

I'm sick of sleepin' on roofs.

Come on, let me just stay with you, Stevie.

Hey, Sheila, how ya doin', sweetheart ?

Are you kidding ? My girlfriend would kill you !

Yeah, I know.

God, the shit we have to go through just to survive.

- Oh. - Jimmy ! Hey !

Jimmy, this is Valerie. Valerie, Jimmy. - Hey.

I'm called Candy now.

You-you're a guy ?

My God, I thought you were lesbian.

Oh, thank you. A lot of people say that.

May I have a cigarette ? - Yeah.

So, you live around here ? - Who lives ?

Natalie Wood, 'Rebel Without a Cause'.

I need a room.

Try the Hotel Earle.

Comfort and convenience for the modern girl.

Hey, I thought I told you no more visitors !

Edna, darling, you're divine.

Oh, my God ! Look at you !

You make me sick ! I'm throwing up !

I'm coming after you. You hear me ?

Here I come, ready or not.

Aren't you gonna run after us ?

That's a terrible thing to say !

Honey, it's a terrible world.

Dear Diary:

I try to get what I want whenever it's possible.