02x03 - Masquerade 1966

[bunniefuu]

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♪ ♪

[indistinct chatter]

How's the light? Is it good?

Is-is the light warm enough?

I want to look like a geisha,

only two eyes
and two little nostrils.

All smoothed out, baby.
[chuckles]

[Jacob]
The Monet, of course, Low Tide

has a breadth to it, a sweep.

The Manet, the flowers,
less drama and scope.

[Truman]
Monet, Manet.

Let's call the
whole thing off.

[Babe and Truman laugh]

[Babe]
Well, the Monet is
very alluring.

But the Manet, breathtaking.

Two Roses, a very
late picture.

Mm, it has great
freedom, Jacob.

Mastery.

Concentrated power.

[Jacob]
Well, Mrs. Paley,

I think the thing is,
he's at an age

where he's liberated.

Mr. Horn, it's not liberation.

He's dying.

Syphilis.

We can speak the word
"syphilis."

We're grown-ups.

-Well, I'm not sure if I am.
-[all laugh]

Then came gangrene
and an amputated leg.

He could no longer
even handle a big canvas.

[Jacob]
Precisely.

Exactly. Sad.

No, not sad.

Such glorious delicacy,

just brimming
with how briefly nature lets

beauty remain beautiful.

[chuckles softly]

The roses telegraph
their own decay.

A memento mori.

It has so much wall power.

The Manet over the Monet.

[Truman and Babe chuckle]

Oh, I could

fix my hair.

Or something. Extra lipstick.

♪ ♪

I didn't say only eat
oysters before... [laughs]

-One hour before?
-No.

She's telling me
the secret to romance.

[both laughing]

My dear, what I want to know
is why you love me.

I mean, God knows
I'm not easy to love. [laughs]

No, you're not.
[laughs]

I love you
because you understand.

You just catch
on very quickly.

You're like
a very smart parakeet.

Mm! [laughs]

But seriously.

Why does our friendship mean
so much to you?

We talk several times a day.

We vacation together.

Tell the people.
[laughs]

Well, um...

I'm proud of you.

You, uh...

[clicks tongue, sighs]

I-I just think
it's very important

to find something admirable
about someone in order

to love them unconditionally,
which I do with you.

I do.

And you...

[sighs softly]

Original.

And more than that, loyal.

Loyalty is everything.

Uh, you can be called upon
in any circumstance.

Is that why you want
to buy me a house?

You won't let me.
[laughs]

I suggested
it would be nice to have him

close on Long Island.

What a blessing to have
someone you love close at
hand.

Well, dear...

...for me...

...you know, you are just
the beginning and the end.

Hmm.

Just...

the absolute center of my
world, you know that?

You're gonna make me cry.

Well, I mean it.

[sighs]

something about a man with a camera.

I mean a proper camera.

Holding it like a bazooka.

-[laughter]
-To k*ll you with.

-Oh.
-[Slim] Are they married?

The Maysles brothers?

[Lee]
No, and, Slim,
please don't devour them.

They're artists.

[Truman chuckles]

Well, if no one else
is gonna say it, I will.

I find it impossible to be
one's self with that thing on.

It's absolutely intrusive.

You have nothing to fear
but bad lighting.

-[laughter]
-Good point.

[Lee]
David and Albert are
dear friends of mine,

and I think it's very
important that we document
this.

Besides, Truman has

approval over
everything they sh**t.

Where are they?

Oh, mwah!

The entire point of the
film... to be clear,

is-is not to document

the riveting lunch habits,
for God's sake,

of New York society.
[stammers]

It's an exploration,
it's a celebration.

Of the meaning
of the unparalleled success

-that Truman is experiencing.
-[chuckles]

Yes, we just want
to help him...

capture the moment.

[Truman]
This has never happened
to anybody before.

The product of my immersion
into that hell--

and it was hell--

captures the attention of the
world and outsells the Bible.

So that is why
I am going to have

this very special party.

A masked ball,
a Black and White Ball

for all
the most important people

in the world.

[Lee]
You mean the kind
that European royals

used to have
before being guillotined?

[laughter]

Where?

As far from
Monroeville, Alabama

as you can get, baby.

The Ballroom at
the Plaza Hotel.

And there will be
a guest of honor...

[Slim gasps]

...whom I will announce

at the right moment.

-Truman. Oh!
-[Truman laughs]

-Mm.
-[Albert] So, Slim,

who do you think will be
guest of honor,

you?

It makes the most sense.

Doesn't it?

You see our connection.

Salinas, California is not so
different to where he's from.

These small...

rural towns that made us.

[chuckles]

I taught him
how to dress for this life.

How to stand in it.

The difference
between fashion and style.

I read all the drafts

of Cold Blood.

What's happening
with Truman right now

in this moment...

I mean, it's not something
I want, but...

It is about what I've done
here, isn't it?

Which is?

We made New York
the capital of the world.

The center of everything.

And who is at the center
of that center?

I ask you.

Who?

Hmm?

[laughs]

[C.Z.]
And how do you choose
the guests?

[Truman]
That, my dear,
is almost self-selection.

I mean, let's face it,

when you look
at who's important in the
world

right now,
there is a hierarchy.

But it's not as vulgar
as one of wealth.

No, it's a meritocracy

of those of us
who have done things.

[sighs]

All the people
my mother dreamed of

back in Alabama
that drove her to New York

and that she hoped
to be intimate with.

She would've been in awe.
[chuckles]

Truman, yes, he, uh...

People think of him
as outgoing, but it's an act.

Like me, he's shy.

But he refuses
to be ruled by fear.

So...

he becomes central.

[David]
Truman says your only fault
is that you're perfect.

-[laughs]
-What does that mean?

I'm not perfect.

It's a joke.
[laughs]

I try, but, no.

Nobody is.

[chuckles]

There seems to be
a natural connection

between gay men
and very glamorous women.

Why do you think that is?

Well, we see the importance
of presentation.

That's how we
defend ourselves.

Underneath, though,
is someone who's

just trying
to control their environment.

It's a defense.

Did you offer
to buy Truman a house?

I don't see the need
to discuss that.

[stammers]

Bill was absorbing
some properties

adjacent to us, so...

Do you think it will be you?

The guest of honor
at Truman's ball.

[short laugh]

I don't need an honorary ball

to know that Truman and I have
a singular bond.

It's, well, it's something
every woman deserves,

to be made to feel like the
most important person in the
world

by a man who truly loves her.

Of course, in my marriage
I feel that way, too.

[chuckles]

White tablecloths? No!

Absolutely not.

But the theme is
black and white.

Which means you have room
for a pop of color.

Red tablecloths.

-Yes.
-You're my guardian angel.

-[chuckles]
-Barry!

You, of course,
know Mrs. Paley.

Barry is the general manager
of the Plaza.

-Mrs. P. So good to see you.
-And you.

[Truman]
And, Babe, have you met Lisa?

She's outside council from
Gallery Artists and Company.

They help plan parties and
assist with public relations,

and Lord knows
I need help there,

because the press is
hounding me for the guest
list,

absolutely braying.

Hello.
How do you do, Mrs. Paley?

Mm.

Lisa, share what you're
planning for the tables.

White orchids in
mercury glass.

Chicken hash,
your favorite, Mr. Capote.

And a signature cocktail,

that daiquiri punch.

Yes.

It's not a Labor Day barbecue.

Excuse me. [soft chuckle]

[Truman]
Can you wait right there?

Can you please just excuse me?
So...

As it happens,
and I didn't know this,

the chippy in the ballroom
was Bill Paley's

latest piece of east-side ass.

[groans]

Sometime women need help
being stronger.

And this is
something I can do.

My advice is...

...dispense with the emotion.

Play the strong wife.

Don't let the understudy
replace you.

Life itself is
a masquerade ball.

[speaking French]

...baby.
[chuckles]

[Babe sobbing]

What? Just confront him?

Well, you have to come
from a place of power.

Get all your tears out on me.

-Oh, Truman.
-Come on.

I thought Happy Rockefeller
was the last time.

No, it never ended. I knew it.

The minute I saw
that horrible girl,

-I knew the rumors were true.
-You have to confront it.

Tell him to get rid of it
right away

-or there will be
big consequences, divorce.
-[sniffles]

-Shareholder lunches.
-Show him
you're not gonna stand for it.

Yes, but those luncheons.
Those shareholders alone.

-If it were known
he got a girl pregnant--
-Well, exactly.

[whispers]
My God. We...

I love... I mean,
all of these are beautiful.

But I think this one...

Albert, what do you think?

I love the blue interior,

which is kind of dark
and exciting.

[Babe and Bill arguing
in distance]

And this...

-[Bill] I don't!
-...keep telling lies
upon lies!

-[Bill] It's not
a lie, g*dd*mn it!
-[chuckles softly]

[Babe]
Go to the hotel. I don't care.

I like the gold edge on it.

[door slams in distance]

[footsteps approaching]

[door shuts]

Hi, sweetie.

Tell me they're not filming.

Oh, no, don't worry, dear
heart. I own every frame.

-Nobody will see anything
we don't want them to.
-Okay.

Now, boys, equipment off.
Equipment off.

Thank you.

Now, equipment off.

Yes, he's going
to the Carlyle.

For the next week.

Well, good. Hmm.

Well, I wanted to take you
through all of these--

Truman.

-Oh-- [clicks tongue]
-They're still recording.

-Shut it off! David, I told
you! -Please.

-Shut it off. Please.
-Oh.

-[Babe] Shall we start?
-Turn it.

Okay.

Invitation paper must always
be 100-pound premium matte
stock.

Uh-huh.

-[chuckles]
-And have it individually cut.

Now, this...
[exhales]

Ivory is overused.

I like...

sand dollar.

That's what this is, I think.

-[chuckles softly]
-Now, this is just a template,

but it should read something
like...

"Truman Capote

"cordially invites
you to a ball

celebrating..."

Madame X.

[Bill]
That "X" is where

Babe's name goes, right?

All will be
revealed, Mr. Paley.

[chuckling softly]

This is so beautiful.

It's very important
to have a crisp edge.

Never deckled.

-Fascinating.
-Yes.

That will make it perfect.

Everything must always be
just perfect--

no less, no more.

Perfect.

You see,
this moment in America's...

This gilded age
is so extraordinary.

Nobody ever sees "society."

The dance of old moneys

commingling with the new.

All the rules they have.

That's what this is,

that's what we're documenting.

An American royalty and
the rituals enshrined therein.

The story's never been told.

And the devil is in the
detail, of course,

because their lives
are positively Proustian.

If you can get in.

Their tables,
their invitations,

their who's-whos.

The scandal behind the luster.
Mm.

Like when I made you sh**t
C.Z.'s painting

when she wasn't in the room.
[chuckles]

-[creaking]
-[whispers] Hurry.

[door closes]

So you see,

even the fabulously rich
are naked under their clothes.

Before she was a goddess
of the gilded cage,

C.Z. was a free-spirited girl
living in Mexico City,

enamored of a painter
named Diego Rivera,

and aching for a bohemian life
she could never have.

The girl, like the painting,

would ultimately have
to be curated.

Bought and paid for
by her new husband,

Winston Guest.

And hidden away here,

a joke
for the very few insiders.

-[footsteps approaching]
-She's here.

Cameras off. Cameras off.

C.Z., dear.
[chuckles]

Come to my rescue. I want
to sh**t the conservatory.

I'm all... turned around.

Is it-- It's this way, is it?

-This way, Truman.
-I think so.

-To the left.
-Mm.

But...

...they also have great pain,
these women.

It's all a
masquerade, you see.

Because underneath
the glamour:

pain.

Ballerina pain.

Gnarled feet.

Because it is dance,

requiring...

stamina and endurance.

And I love them
for that rigor.

But for some reason,
I have to protect them

and... maybe shock them a bit
into being on guard against...

...what the world will do.

Because the world is
a cruel audience, you see.

[Albert]
Where do you think
that comes from?

The need to protect them.

Oh, Albert.

[chuckles]

Murderers, artists,

accountants
and socialites alike--

our mothers give us
our most engrained patterns.

And mine,

she was the torchbearer
of unbreakable patterns.

What are you--

Wait.

Slowly, C....

[quietly]
You should be rolling on this.

Say again?

The IRS?

They're coming now?

Listen to me, C.Z.,

pour three fingers
of single malt, rocks.

I'll be there by the third.

Come on. Get in the car.

-[David] Where are we heading?
-Get in the car.

-Let's go. Let's go, let's go.
-[stammers]

[Albert]
God, you're so good with 'em.

How did you get so
indispensable to them?

How do you get 'em eating out
of the palm of your hand?

No one is indispensable.

It's all conditional.

It's a subtle contract.

You got to give me some tips,
man.

Oh, Jesus. I play the part.

It's all a performance.

You can do it.

They pick men who are rich
but who cannot act.

And right now,
with Winston and C.Z.,

if he had a clue how to play
it, none of this would be
happening.

Does it give you
a sense of purpose,

being able to swoop in
and fix it?

It does, I think.

-g*dd*mn it, are you filming
me? -[chuckles]

You're gonna catch something
you don't want to see,

leaving me alone in the back
seat with your brother.

[laughing]

Now, don't worry.
I won't try anything now.

We're ten minutes away.
[chuckles softly]

[Albert]
And why are we going
to C.Z.'s again?

So I can swoop in and fix it.

As I do.

[car door shuts]

[soft chatter]

-All right?
-Yeah.

♪ ♪

[dog barking in distance]

Stop.
I promise it will work out.

[sniffling]

Pretend you're in a movie.

-[exhales]
-You've been through worse

and made it to the top
and you'll do it again.

Winston's a silly
supporting character.

-You were the hero.
-[cries]

The humiliation of it.

The phones are ringing now.
[sniffles]

All over the Eastern Seaboard.

It's gotten out.

"G-Men at the
Winston Guest's."

Act the part.

Joan of Arc.

Look, my dear,

you are gonna show up with me
at the ball.

My arm.

-Yes. That's right.
-[sniffles]

-[sighs]
-Because everything
will be about only one thing,

and that is you.

The swan who survives.

[sniffles]
Oh, Truman. [sighs]

-Really?
-Come on.

-[cries]
-Yeah.

And you don't get the same
support from your husband?

Truman said men sometimes have
a hard time playing the part.

"Playing the part."

Winston was unimpeachable.

If Mexican Airlines
nationalizes,

that's not his fault.

Could have happened to anyone.

Was Truman critical
of Winston?

[Albert inhales sharply]

Did Truman ask you
to be guest of honor?

For the ball?

Not in so many words, but...

As a matter of fact, this
afternoon, I believe he did.

It's just a party, but...

God, I could really use
some good news today.

[grunts, exhales]

[dog barks softly, whines]

Shut this off.

[shudders]
I'm a private woman.

[crying softly]

[Albert]
So is it official?

C.Z.'s gonna be
the guest of honor at the
ball?

Oh, dear.
[sighs]

Well, yes and no.

I intimated it,

but don't go spreading it
around.

I have to handle the others.

I love them,
but they frighten me.

They really do.

You've seen
what Slim is capable of.

That temper.

[chuckles]

It's a long list.

We've got a lot of work to do.

-Carson McCullers?
-[Slim] Oof.

Cross her off the list.

All the charm
of a rusty railroad spike.

-No intention, dear heart.
-[chuckles]

[laughing]

Walter Hoving,
the chairman of Tiffany's,

said his wife
was gonna k*ll herself

if she didn't make the list.

Tried to bribe me
with a silver breakfast
service.

Well, it should have been
gold. Off the list!

-Exactly what I said.
-[laughs]

After all the free publicity
I gave him.

You know who's
been hounding me?

Jerry f*cking Zipkin.

Wait, the man with a face
like a bidet?

[laughing]

[Nora]
We can make this in white,
too,

or peacock or even ostrich.

[Truman]
Danny Kaye?

[Slim]
Hmm.

Yul Brynner?

Ooh. Not him.

He exposed himself to me
in the hallway at Bemelmans.

Well, well.

I'm not afraid
to say that for the camera,

because I know
you'll never use any of it.

[chuckles]
I wouldn't dare.

-[laughing]
-Yeah.

Or you'd be cut off
from all high society.

And I know you, Truman--

that would k*ll you.

Yul Brynner, not a man of
a great many gifts down below.

[Truman]
Well, all the men at the ball

must be appropriately sized.

-Out! [chuckles]
-[chuckling] Out.

And of course, no Pamela.

[Truman]
What? Pamela Harriman?

What?

-No.
-But, Big Mama,

-I-I already sent it out.
-Tell me you didn't.

-I had to.
-Oh, my God, f*ck you, Truman.

-No.
-g*dd*mn you.

Slim, you have to understand.

Don't run out.

What is there to understand?
She stole my husband

out from under my nose,
blithely,

as if it were a boulevard
f*cking comedy.

-I understand you were hurt,
but I...
-She stole my...

...I had to make
considerations.

f*ck your considerations,
Truman!

Are you saying that there is
no cost to this perfidy?

"Perfidy"?
Don't Shakespeare me, Slim.

Come on, it's politics.
I had to.

I will not be
the f*cking entertainment

at this party, Truman.
I'm telling you, I won't do
it.

Now, you uninvite her.

She stole my g*dd*mn husband,
and you know

I'm still not recovered
from that.

Stop that. Stop it!
For f*ck's sake.

Look. Come here.

Sit down there. Sit down.
Sit down.

-Look in the mirror.
-[Slim sighs]

Look.

You are being insane.

This is not a competition.

In life, you already won,
ages ago.

Pamela is a point on the map
of our world, nothing more.

She should be irrelevant
to you.

This is absolutely
unacceptable behavior from
you.

I love you dearly,
but I'm through

discussing this with you.
Clean yourself up.

Let's go, please.
I have to go.

[Slim]
I'm not coming out there

till he's gone.
Is he gone?

-He's gone.
-Okay.

[quietly]
f*cking hell.

Could they be gone now?
Goodbye, thank you.

Have a nice day. Ta-ta.
Ta. Ta.

[Albert]
Anything you want to say
about the fight?

That was not a fight.

[laughs]

I was just...

I was trying to explain
to Truman that,

if Pamela comes,
Leland will come,

and he will be uncomfortable.

It's not about me. Really.
It's about Leland.

My ex-husband wears his
emotions on his sleeve.

He's... He's not, um, strong.

[Albert] Do you think
most men are like that?

Not as strong as women?

I think when a man sees
strength in a woman,

it's so, so, so intimidating.
[laughs]

Mm.

Look... [chuckles]

...if you are a strong,
intelligent woman

in this world,

you have two options.

You can dumb yourself down,
which I refuse to do,

or you can accept
that you will always be

fundamentally alone.

[chuckles]

You try.
You try again and again,

but nobody lasts.

Except Truman... [laughs]
...of course.

He felt so bad
about that snafu earlier

that he asked me--

shh--

...to be the guest of honor.

So, ha!

I can handle seeing Pamela.

Truman was right.
It's about the social context.

♪ Twist, yeah ♪

♪ Baby, twist ♪

♪ Ooh, yeah... ♪

[Truman] He had his
way-down-yonder voice,

mushy as sweet potato pie.

And he said, "No,
little buddy,

"I don't want to cornhole you.

I just want to put out
my cigar."

[both laugh]

I'm not going to explain it
to you. Or do you want me to?

Come on, I'll show you.
[laughs]

♪ Crazy ♪

♪ I've been crazy... ♪

[Truman]
This is my secret w*apon.

I take him for one more whirl

-at the end of the night.
-[chuckles]

Be the last ones dancing.

Their husbands won't do it,
but I will.

I make them feel seen

and safe.

I feel bad for them,
you know?

Their lives... They got
everything they wanted,

-but they're so sad.
-Mm.

It reminds me of a quote,
Saint Theresa of Avila.

Something like,
"More tears are shed

over answered prayers
than unanswered ones."

♪ Why do I let myself worry? ♪

Answered prayers.
Answered prayers.

♪ What in the world
did I do? ♪

Thank you, Albert.

Thank you.

[laughing]

♪ ♪

[indistinct chatter]

♪ ♪

[laughter]

♪ ♪

[indistinct conversations]

[Truman] Well, I feel like
a Christmas present

tied up with a big red bow.
[laughs]

Do I look flushed?

I must have run
about 40 miles

between greeting everyone
and scuffing the parquet.

And, yes, I might have had
a glass of champagne.

Possibly two. [chuckles]

Did you get all the arrivals,
Albert, did you get them all?

[conversating indistinctly]

♪ ♪

Bill.

[Truman gasps]

Oh, my goodness.

[chuckling]

-You're gorgeous.
-Thank you.

You're so kind.

[laughs]

You are incredible.

-Perfect.
-Amazing.

[Albert]
How are you feeling,
Katharine?

-Oh. Uh... Terrified. [laughs]
-Having a good evening.

Luckily, I've got Tru.
And a mask, so...

[Albert] How did you come
to pick Katharine

as your guest of honor?

Well, in every category,
you know,

she's just tens
across the board.

There's beauty and brains,
of course,

but what it really
comes down to is bravery.

She's got a story.

Her husband k*lled himself
a few years back

with a shotgun.

It's no fault of hers.
He was mentally unstable.

But Katharine
pulled herself up,

singlehandedly raised
the children,

and now she's running
the Washington Post.

It's a true American
success story.

That's what we're
here for tonight.

It's, uh... The American dream
is alive and well.

[chuckles]

♪ ♪

[indistinct chatter, laughter]

[Albert] What do you think
of Kay as guest of honor?

I knew it wasn't going
to be me.

It's not about that.

Kay is a national figure.

None of us wanted it.

It would have sown jealousies.
I didn't want that.

You know, this evening is
for Kay, as it should be.

♪ ♪

[Albert] What did you think
about Kay as guest of honor?

Oh, I-I'm very happy for Kay.

Yes, a woman at the very top
of the news business

-in this country. Right?
-That's right.

There ought to be
more Kay Grahams

running companies,
right, Bill?

-That's right.
-She deserves it.

[Albert] But did you think
it would be you?

Well, that wasn't even
a consideration, really,

that I entertained.

No. Why would I...

That's enough, thank you
very much, thank you.

♪ ♪

Hi.

[Albert] Everyone is talking
about who isn't here.

Well, the point and fun
of having a party

is who you don't invite.
[laughs]

Mm-hmm.

For example.

♪ ♪

[all cheer]

[laughing]

You shouldn't keep
a lady waiting.

Just offer her the light.

Is she even old enough
to smoke?

[indistinct chatter]

[woman 1]
It's too priceless.

The Winston Guests living
in the guest house.

[woman 2] A friend
at Skadden Arps said

they're repossessing
everything.

[woman 1 laughs]
I hope she invested

in a decent mask.

I would not have
shown my face tonight.

♪ ♪

Uh, is this the only option
for supper?

Yes, ma'am.

But this looks like dog food.

This can't be
the only option.

Some people flew
all the way from Europe

for this party;
this cannot be supper.

Well, so it is, fancy-pants.
Grin and bear it.

No scenes tonight,
Slim, darling.

Everyone's waiting for one,
so let's not.

But one hates to disappoint,

and you're such
a natural performer.

Oh, here we go.
Two bourbon sours, please.

Oh, so now you've got
my ex-husband on brown booze.

Are you here looking
for your next victim?

[gasps] Is this the part
when you say,

"You stole my man"?

And I retort, "You shouldn't
have left Leland

-so unattended."
-[laughs] No.

I was just wondering
why you're here.

And then I remember
no one is as familiar

with the ceilings of
rich men's bedrooms

-as you, darling.
-Oh...

You shouldn't have come.
It's a spectacle.

And I thought you were raised
so very well.

How nice to see my wives
getting on so well.

I've waited so long for this.

We can't seem
to tear ourselves apart.

What is this?
Smells like a dead animal.

Chicken hash.

It's all Truman is serving.
Can you believe it?

-Can we lose the cameras now?
-Hmm.

There are two selves.

The one we present
to the world,

and the one we keep
hidden away.

But behind a mask,
all that's buttoned up.

It's chaotic, marvelous
and messy.

It's Carnival. It's everything
I've dreamt of

since I was a little boy.

This kind of true nakedness.

Excuse me, Candy.

We appear to have
party crashers.

Jesus Christ,
isn't this thrilling?

[laughs]

Unmask yourselves,
trespassers.

Show your mortal facades.

[woman] Well, I am the Ghost
of Christmas Past,

and he's the Ghost
of Christmas Future.

That's funny, I don't remember
inviting anyone from Dickens.

[both laugh]

[woman]
Well...

Ann Woodward. Well, well.

-And this must be your son.
-Yes.

-Jimmy.
-Hi, Jimmy.

[Ann] We thought it would
make you laugh.

And besides, I was practically
one of your swans.

[chuckles]
No, dear, never a swan.

A peafowl at best.

Really, dear, do leave.

Don't do this to your boy.

Everyone knows.

Everyone here knows
your dirty little secret.

They're all whispering
about it behind your back.

My dirty little secret,
Truman,

is that I still like you.

-Aw.
-I mean, it's been frosty

between us,

but we were friends once,
you know that.

And you always said that
I reminded you of your mother.

Would you kick your mother
out of a party like this?

My mother was kicked out
of parties like these.

That's why she was miserable
and cruel.

And that's why
she k*lled herself.

Goodbye, Ann.

Look, you know that
there are at least

a dozen people crashing here.

Yeah, of course there are,
but I like them.

You don't have to do this.

I came here tonight for him.

I-I want him to be seen,
to get out and...

-I don't want him...
-To be ostracized?

Because you sh*t his father
in the face?

Makes perfect sense to me.

What are they doing?

Are you filming me?
Why are you filming me?

Mom, please, let's just go
before people know...

He can stay. Guards,
show this murderess the door.

She told me we were invited.

[Truman]
You are like her.

You're a rotten criminal
and a lousy mother.

What you're doing to us

is so low.

So poisonous.

One day you will know
what this poison tastes like.

And remember, the only
unforgiveable sin is

deliberate cruelty.

You wrote that, didn't you?

Well, this is that.

This is that.

[sniffles]

Well, one did write that.

At least we know
she was paying attention.

[Frankie Trumbauer's "Taboo"
playing]

♪ ♪

[indistinct chatter]

[laughing]

[laughs]

♪ ♪

Don't mind if I do.
[laughs]

Oh...

Come on, darling. Oh.
What's got into your knickers?

Oh!

I said shut up.
Just stop it.

No, I will not.
This is my party,

and you will not quiet me
into oblivion

with your usual
smug superiority.

Oh, come on, guys.
Truman, honey,

why don't you drink
some coffee?

Okay? We were just
having fun.

It was vulgar
is what it was.

All of you flopping about
like a school of diseased
trout

on a Michigan deck,

which, of course,
Jack does so naturally,

with his common
chorus boy background.

"Okla-h*m*, where the winds

come sweeping down
the plain."

-How dare you.
-[Jack] It was boring in
there.

People were fleeing
the party of the century

from f*cking boredom.

It was a dull party, and I
was just trying to help.

Why don't we get some
of that delicious hash?

Do you want to? Do you want
to get some hash?

Where's Johnny?

Fingering a coat-check girl,
I'm sure,

as is his wont.

Hi, guys, this is a private

cocktail club conversation.

[Jack] Bullshit.

Nothing's private with you.

Can I just say
what a joy it is

to be included in this party?

The best thing about
being in Truman's orbit

are just the things like this.

The-the parties,
the beautiful people.

[whispering]
But the worst part is,

you actually have
to pretend to like him

to get in.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[Albert]
Come on, we're friends.
Weren't you upset

to be passed over
as guest of honor?

-Tell the truth.
-[Lee] You know,

it's always refreshing
to be reminded

of certain verities.

So, no, I was not.

What verities?
You mean facts?

Fact.

[chuckles]

We have a man,
a celebrated little man,

trying to outdo himself
in a ballet called

Dance of the Seven Trumans.

Wherein he spins himself
into butter

for having made
so many declarations

to so many friends.

Best friends.

[imitating Truman]
"Oh, you're my best friend

"in the world; of course.

"Of course you're
the guest of honor, babe.

"I mean Slim. I mean Lee.

I mean..."

Et cetera.

And it's women, always,
because he knows that women

are always being
betrayed in the world,

and they are hungry
for that kind of intimacy.

Here's the fact.

Truman takes advantage
of this fear and aloneness.

He makes us into
his number-one friend.

He makes himself out to be
our great protector,

but really, is he?

So we all thought-- and
some of us swans still think--

that he's our best friend.

But here's the truth.

To be a woman
is to be very much

out on a limb alone.

So don't pretend that there is
such a thing as a best friend,

because even your sister
will steal your man.

Mm-mm. Hmm.

Make it higher.

What you're doing to us
is so low.

So poisonous.

One day you will know
what this poison tastes like.

And remember, the only
unforgiveable sin is

deliberate cruelty.

You wrote that, didn't you?

Well, this is that.

This is that.
[sniffles]

[projector shuts off]

Albert.

[Albert]
Yes?

Hi. [chuckles]

[Albert]
Hello.

Can I watch that back again?

[Albert]
The whole thing?

The Ann Woodward scene, yes.

And then afterwards, um,
the Lee Radziwill interview

in Kenneth's salon.

Is that okay?

Johnson, can you play
reel 25 again?

Thank you.

[projector whirring]

[Truman on film]
Unmask yourselves,
trespassers.

Show your mortal façade.

[Truman]
So...

I don't think this idea

of a documentary recording
this time in my life works.

It's...

You see, in my opinion...

the material's
better as a book.

Tru, we have
some extraordinary footage.

Are you worried about
how other people are
reflected,

or yourself?

A bit of both.

-But I'm itching to write it.
-[sighs]

It needs to be written.

It needs words, not pictures.

It needs my clarity,
my process of distilling,

the endless jostling
that I'm witness to.

You can film it, but...
not describe it.

No, Tru.
You're not just witness, kid.

You're party to it.

[Albert sighs]

It will make a good book.

You gave me a title, and
for that, I am forever
grateful.

-Did I?
-Answered Prayers.

Answered Prayers.

-[crowd chatter]
-[piano plays slow dance
music]

[band joins in]

Hmm. Now what is the purpose

of inviting
a bunch of celebrities

if you're only going to get
them to cover their faces?

I didn't know if you got
my invitation, Mother.

I mean, where to send it?

But here you are.

Why would I miss
the pinnacle of your
existence?

Never miss an opportunity
to see or...

to be seen, hmm?

You're too
ravishing for words.

I'm speechless.

Well, that is a first.

[Truman laughs]

Isn't this great, Mama?

[Nina]
Well, hmm.

The décor?

Balloons? [laughs]

No, but...

Truman, I am very proud.

Oh, you are?

Mm.

Some of the women
were upset about

Kay Graham being
the guest of honor,

but I had to.

[Nina]
I understand.

Shall we go be seen?

♪ ♪

The truth is, there's only one
true guest of honor.

I don't know
if I ever told you this, Mama,

-but you...
-[song ends]

-You're my best friend.
-[laughs]

[intro to Tchaikovsky's
"Swan Lake Waltz" plays]

Well, then...
do take your best friend

for a dance,
would you, please?

[Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake
Waltz" plays]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪