1 00:00:56,458 --> 00:00:59,291 Hi. I'm Jon. 2 00:01:01,125 --> 00:01:03,166 I'm a musical-theater writer. 3 00:01:03,250 --> 00:01:05,583 One of the last of my species. 4 00:01:07,041 --> 00:01:10,916 Sorry. So… so, you know, lately, I've been hearing this sound. 5 00:01:12,375 --> 00:01:16,375 Everywhere I go, like a tick, tick, tick… 6 00:01:16,458 --> 00:01:22,041 Like a time bomb in some cheesy B-movie or Saturday morning cartoon. 7 00:01:22,125 --> 00:01:25,875 The fuse has been lit. The clock counts down the seconds 8 00:01:25,958 --> 00:01:30,625 as the flame gets closer, and closer, and closer, 9 00:01:30,708 --> 00:01:33,791 until… all at once… 10 00:01:45,750 --> 00:01:48,333 This is Jonathan Larson's story. 11 00:01:48,416 --> 00:01:50,833 Happy anniversary, I love you so much. 12 00:01:51,708 --> 00:01:53,666 Before the Tony Awards. 13 00:01:54,458 --> 00:01:56,708 Before the Pulitzer Prize. 14 00:01:57,250 --> 00:01:58,250 {\an8}Before… 15 00:01:58,333 --> 00:02:01,083 We dedicate this opening night and every performance 16 00:02:01,166 --> 00:02:03,250 to our friend, Jonathan Larson. 17 00:02:03,333 --> 00:02:05,333 …we lost him. 18 00:02:08,041 --> 00:02:11,000 Everything you're about to see is true. 19 00:02:12,208 --> 00:02:14,583 Except for the parts Jonathan made up. 20 00:02:23,416 --> 00:02:27,250 {\an8}The date is January 26th, 1990. 21 00:02:27,333 --> 00:02:31,916 {\an8}The setting, the barren, unfashionable no-man's-land 22 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:35,000 between SoHo and Greenwich Village. 23 00:02:35,083 --> 00:02:38,958 I have two keyboards, a Macintosh computer. 24 00:02:39,041 --> 00:02:40,791 A cat. 25 00:02:40,875 --> 00:02:43,666 An impressive collection of compact discs, 26 00:02:43,750 --> 00:02:46,541 cassettes, and records of other people's music. 27 00:02:46,625 --> 00:02:51,958 Bookshelves sagging under the weight of plays and novels I didn't write. 28 00:02:52,041 --> 00:02:55,750 I have an original, dystopian rock musical… 29 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:00,416 …that I have spent the last eight years of my life writing… 30 00:03:01,625 --> 00:03:04,833 …and rewriting, and rewriting. 31 00:03:07,208 --> 00:03:11,000 I have rejection letters from every major and minor producer, 32 00:03:11,083 --> 00:03:14,583 theater company, record label, and film studio in existence. 33 00:03:14,666 --> 00:03:16,333 And in just over a week… 34 00:03:19,291 --> 00:03:21,291 I will be 30 years old. 35 00:03:22,833 --> 00:03:26,166 Older than Stephen Sondheim when he had his first Broadway show. 36 00:03:26,250 --> 00:03:30,916 Older than Paul McCartney when he wrote his last song with John Lennon. 37 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:34,916 By the time my parents were 30, they already had two kids, 38 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:36,250 they had careers 39 00:03:36,333 --> 00:03:38,708 with steady paychecks, a mortgage. 40 00:03:38,791 --> 00:03:43,541 And in eight days, my youth will be over forever. 41 00:03:43,625 --> 00:03:46,041 And what exactly do I have to show for myself? 42 00:03:48,875 --> 00:03:50,708 Happy birthday! 43 00:05:25,333 --> 00:05:26,833 I made ten copies. 44 00:05:27,333 --> 00:05:29,000 You are an angel on earth. 45 00:05:29,083 --> 00:05:32,291 - This is the last time. Seriously. - I know. Thank you. 46 00:05:32,375 --> 00:05:33,958 - No, no, no, I got you. - I'm gonna pay. 47 00:05:34,041 --> 00:05:36,916 - I don't want you to pay. - Somebody needs to take out this trash. 48 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:39,125 So I hear you're moving out of Jon's place. 49 00:05:39,208 --> 00:05:41,083 That's the end of an era. 50 00:05:41,166 --> 00:05:44,583 We hear him sobbing in the fridge most mornings. It's very sad. 51 00:05:44,666 --> 00:05:47,041 No, no, no. We are not talking about that. 52 00:05:47,125 --> 00:05:49,375 Wait, Carolyn, you're coming next Friday, right? 53 00:05:49,458 --> 00:05:50,583 What's happening Friday? 54 00:05:50,666 --> 00:05:53,583 - The Superbia workshop. - Surprised he hasn't mentioned it. 55 00:05:53,666 --> 00:05:54,916 That sounds vaguely familiar. 56 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:58,083 Guys, this is the biggest break I've ever had. This is that moment. 57 00:05:58,166 --> 00:06:01,875 It's the first time people are gonna see the show that aren't just us. 58 00:06:01,958 --> 00:06:04,291 It's good you're not putting too much pressure on it. 59 00:06:04,375 --> 00:06:06,500 But it's true, though. 60 00:06:06,583 --> 00:06:11,083 It's like, you get to a certain age and you stop being a writer who waits tables 61 00:06:11,166 --> 00:06:13,875 and you become a waiter with a hobby. 62 00:06:13,958 --> 00:06:16,083 Boo-Boo, you need to ask yourself, in this moment, 63 00:06:16,166 --> 00:06:19,166 are you letting yourself be led by fear or by love? 64 00:07:28,375 --> 00:07:30,166 You just quit? 65 00:07:30,250 --> 00:07:33,458 Well, no, I didn't just "quit" quit. I gave… I gave my notice. 66 00:07:33,541 --> 00:07:37,291 - That's exactly the same thing. - No, I have two weeks left. 67 00:07:37,375 --> 00:07:40,625 I'm allowing myself to be led by love. 68 00:07:40,708 --> 00:07:41,708 What? 69 00:07:41,791 --> 00:07:44,125 You know, Rosa's got another client. Craig Carnelia. 70 00:07:44,208 --> 00:07:46,916 This is Rosa your agent, who hasn't returned your calls in a year? 71 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:48,083 Yeah, yeah. That's the one. 72 00:07:48,166 --> 00:07:52,291 So she invited the entire theater industry to Craig's musical workshop last year. 73 00:07:52,375 --> 00:07:54,250 And by intermission, some producer 74 00:07:54,333 --> 00:07:58,250 had already written him a check for ten thousand dollars. 75 00:07:59,166 --> 00:08:01,666 I just wish that you didn't have to think like that. 76 00:08:01,750 --> 00:08:03,500 Well, it's expensive to make art. 77 00:08:03,583 --> 00:08:05,541 No, baby, it's expensive to make art here. 78 00:08:05,625 --> 00:08:07,750 Yeah, but worth every penny. 79 00:08:07,833 --> 00:08:10,291 - That's beautiful. - I know, right? 80 00:08:10,375 --> 00:08:12,166 How are you gonna pay for this, Jonathan? 81 00:09:47,875 --> 00:09:50,541 Ladies and gentlemen, please give it up for our band, 82 00:09:50,625 --> 00:09:53,375 and also for my very, very, very dear friends, 83 00:09:54,333 --> 00:09:57,416 Roger and Karessa on vocals. 84 00:10:02,375 --> 00:10:03,500 Friday night. 85 00:10:03,583 --> 00:10:05,291 Hi, Jonathan, it's Deborah. 86 00:10:05,375 --> 00:10:07,625 Susan dropped off your music for tonight's dance... 87 00:10:07,708 --> 00:10:10,166 …but I can't get the speakers to work. 88 00:10:12,666 --> 00:10:15,041 - Hey, Pookie. - Hi. 89 00:10:15,125 --> 00:10:16,208 How was Philly? 90 00:10:16,291 --> 00:10:18,125 I went from the airport to a conference room 91 00:10:18,208 --> 00:10:20,250 and then back to the airport three hours later. 92 00:10:21,291 --> 00:10:22,500 - Sounds amazing. - Mm. 93 00:10:22,583 --> 00:10:24,958 Michael was an amazing actor. 94 00:10:25,875 --> 00:10:29,375 Yeah, he was the lead of every play in high school, college. 95 00:10:29,458 --> 00:10:32,208 And then we moved to New York. 96 00:10:32,291 --> 00:10:35,000 I am sick of waking up at 5:00 97 00:10:35,083 --> 00:10:38,416 to get in line outside the Equity Building and wait all day, 98 00:10:38,500 --> 00:10:41,208 praying that the director actually even agrees 99 00:10:41,291 --> 00:10:43,500 to see anyone that's non-union, and then, 100 00:10:43,583 --> 00:10:46,166 when I finally do get in the room, I sing… 101 00:10:46,250 --> 00:10:49,291 I don't know, six measures, if I'm lucky, before they cut me off 102 00:10:49,375 --> 00:10:50,708 and call me the wrong name... 103 00:10:50,791 --> 00:10:52,541 Juan, Pedro, Carlos… lo que sea. 104 00:10:52,625 --> 00:10:57,125 And then a week later, he got a job at a fancy advertising company, 105 00:10:57,208 --> 00:11:00,333 making high five figures. 106 00:11:00,416 --> 00:11:01,958 Healthcare, dental… 107 00:11:03,041 --> 00:11:04,375 He never looked back. 108 00:11:04,458 --> 00:11:06,250 You know, for someone who's broke, 109 00:11:06,333 --> 00:11:09,458 you could probably spend a little bit less on party planning. 110 00:11:09,541 --> 00:11:11,833 Well, what is the point of money, 111 00:11:11,916 --> 00:11:14,125 if you're not gonna spend it on the people you love? 112 00:11:14,208 --> 00:11:16,666 - Yeah, except you don't have any money. - Oh, right. 113 00:11:16,750 --> 00:11:18,875 This has been sitting here for a week. 114 00:11:18,958 --> 00:11:22,166 - I'm on it. - Mm-hm. Yeah. You seem very on it. 115 00:11:22,250 --> 00:11:25,458 Pretty soon you won't have me around to remind you to pay your bills on time. 116 00:11:25,541 --> 00:11:27,583 How will I ever survive? 117 00:11:27,666 --> 00:11:30,250 That's a very real question. Have you found a new roommate yet? 118 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:34,416 I've been a little busy. You know. My workshop is next week. 119 00:11:34,500 --> 00:11:35,750 Wait, what workshop? 120 00:11:39,875 --> 00:11:41,041 That was funny. 121 00:11:45,958 --> 00:11:47,708 What time's the show tonight? 122 00:11:49,708 --> 00:11:50,833 Uh… 123 00:11:51,333 --> 00:11:53,083 - Curtain's at 8:00. - Mm… 124 00:11:53,666 --> 00:11:57,625 I've heard the dancing's amazing, but the music sucks. 125 00:12:13,958 --> 00:12:16,208 Susan grew up in a small town in the Midwest. 126 00:12:16,291 --> 00:12:18,291 She went to college to study biology, 127 00:12:18,375 --> 00:12:20,500 she thought she'd become a doctor, maybe teach. 128 00:12:20,583 --> 00:12:23,166 But then she fell in love… 129 00:12:23,250 --> 00:12:26,333 …with modern dance instead. 130 00:12:26,416 --> 00:12:29,250 Every parent's dream, right? 131 00:12:29,333 --> 00:12:31,958 She moved to New York without knowing a soul. 132 00:12:32,041 --> 00:12:33,666 Four years later, she's already danced 133 00:12:33,750 --> 00:12:35,458 with every major choreographer in the city. 134 00:12:35,541 --> 00:12:37,416 Paul, Trisha, Merce. 135 00:12:38,125 --> 00:12:42,583 1990. This was the year she was finally gonna join a company. 136 00:12:42,666 --> 00:12:46,791 Not just go from job to job. Actually have a home, an artistic family. 137 00:12:46,875 --> 00:12:50,500 And she was ready. This was her year. She knew it. 138 00:12:50,583 --> 00:12:54,500 And then she fractured her ankle during a dress rehearsal. 139 00:12:58,375 --> 00:13:03,083 Six months of rehab later, she's dancing again, it's just… 140 00:13:04,291 --> 00:13:09,000 Whatever that moment was, when she knew… 141 00:13:09,083 --> 00:13:11,166 All of a sudden, she doesn't know anymore. 142 00:13:12,166 --> 00:13:14,000 But Susan is a real artist. 143 00:13:14,083 --> 00:13:18,375 She doesn't care about seeing her name in the New York Times. 144 00:13:18,458 --> 00:13:22,750 It doesn't matter to her if she's dancing in front of five people 145 00:13:22,833 --> 00:13:24,833 or in front of five thousand. 146 00:13:26,416 --> 00:13:28,458 And then there's the matter of us. 147 00:13:33,250 --> 00:13:34,583 Whoo! 148 00:13:49,958 --> 00:13:52,208 You know he can't afford all of this, right? 149 00:13:54,916 --> 00:13:57,958 Well, he loves making a fuss, especially about you. 150 00:13:58,041 --> 00:13:59,291 Hm. 151 00:14:04,208 --> 00:14:06,375 After everything we've done for him… 152 00:14:06,458 --> 00:14:07,958 - Stop! - …he walks away. 153 00:14:08,041 --> 00:14:09,666 Freddy, look, I'm leaving you my mixtapes. 154 00:14:09,750 --> 00:14:12,375 - Oh! - You can play them in remembrance of me. 155 00:14:12,458 --> 00:14:16,083 Jonathan Larson's famous Moondance Diner mixtape. 156 00:14:16,166 --> 00:14:18,833 Who doesn't love showtunes with their French toast? 157 00:14:18,916 --> 00:14:22,625 Actually, it's not just showtunes. It's a very eclectic mix. 158 00:14:22,708 --> 00:14:24,875 - Someone's very touchy about mixtapes. - Apparently. 159 00:14:24,958 --> 00:14:26,416 Okay, listen. I'm happy for you. 160 00:14:26,500 --> 00:14:27,916 - I really am. - Oh, yeah? 161 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:31,125 I'm also extremely bitter and jealous and envious, 162 00:14:31,208 --> 00:14:33,791 and sort of hateful towards you right now. 163 00:14:33,875 --> 00:14:36,541 I mean… he's getting out. 164 00:14:37,166 --> 00:14:38,708 And you're gonna be next. 165 00:14:38,791 --> 00:14:41,666 - Well, I got a callback last week. - Great! 166 00:14:41,750 --> 00:14:43,958 - For a cruise. - What's wrong with a cruise? 167 00:14:45,166 --> 00:14:48,250 It's an Arctic cruise, so pretty much everything. 168 00:14:48,333 --> 00:14:52,083 Uh, every single thing is wrong with that. It's in the Arctic. 169 00:14:52,708 --> 00:14:54,958 - How you feeling? - Um… 170 00:14:55,041 --> 00:14:56,666 It's been a really good week. 171 00:14:56,750 --> 00:15:00,833 T-cell count is good. My doctor feels cautiously optimistic. 172 00:15:00,916 --> 00:15:03,166 Okay, good. You look great. 173 00:15:03,250 --> 00:15:04,750 Oh, my God, thank you. I know. 174 00:15:06,166 --> 00:15:08,083 But for the cruise, I'm gonna have to sort of… 175 00:15:08,166 --> 00:15:10,625 - Tighten up. Pull it, pull it up. - Make it tight. 176 00:15:10,708 --> 00:15:14,041 Scott and I, we used to sing madrigals in high school. 177 00:15:14,125 --> 00:15:16,208 - What? Really? - Yeah, yeah. 178 00:15:16,291 --> 00:15:19,083 I hated singing. I just did it for the pussy. 179 00:15:19,166 --> 00:15:24,250 Ran into Scott in SoHo and he really… really wanted to come. 180 00:15:24,875 --> 00:15:25,791 Got it. Got it. 181 00:15:25,875 --> 00:15:28,291 I never get to go to artist parties, you know? 182 00:15:28,375 --> 00:15:30,916 It sucks. The drugs there are always the best. 183 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:32,500 Mm. Mm-hm… 184 00:15:32,583 --> 00:15:34,833 - Scott's in finance. - Shocking. 185 00:15:34,916 --> 00:15:38,375 - Yeah. What do you do? - I'm the future of musical theater, Scott. 186 00:15:42,166 --> 00:15:45,208 Welcome. I'm gonna get another drink. 187 00:15:47,833 --> 00:15:49,625 That guy's hilarious. 188 00:16:27,125 --> 00:16:28,291 Not today! 189 00:16:31,250 --> 00:16:34,083 Whoo! 190 00:17:03,291 --> 00:17:06,291 Yeah! 191 00:17:15,458 --> 00:17:18,458 One more time! 192 00:17:28,041 --> 00:17:29,958 Whoo! 193 00:17:32,250 --> 00:17:33,875 That was freaking amazing! 194 00:17:34,833 --> 00:17:36,541 - Whoo! - Yeah, Scott! 195 00:17:37,333 --> 00:17:38,375 Whoa. 196 00:17:41,375 --> 00:17:44,250 Hi. Everyone's leaving. 197 00:17:44,333 --> 00:17:46,958 - I just needed some fresh air. - Okay. 198 00:17:47,041 --> 00:17:48,833 It's freezing up here. 199 00:17:49,833 --> 00:17:51,000 Where is your coat? 200 00:17:51,083 --> 00:17:53,375 Oh, I don't know. It's, uh… 201 00:17:54,250 --> 00:17:55,916 It's at the bottom of a very large pile. 202 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:57,125 Oh! 203 00:17:57,208 --> 00:17:58,500 Mm. 204 00:18:03,708 --> 00:18:05,791 Wow. That's pretty. 205 00:18:06,375 --> 00:18:07,875 That's the prison barge. 206 00:18:09,208 --> 00:18:11,750 Oh, yeah. 207 00:18:13,041 --> 00:18:17,833 I heard, uh, in Jacob's Pillow, they're hiring new teachers for the dance school. 208 00:18:18,875 --> 00:18:20,416 - Oh, yeah? - Yeah. 209 00:18:20,500 --> 00:18:24,166 Work a couple of hours a week. Then the rest of the time is yours. 210 00:18:24,250 --> 00:18:27,166 - Free studio space whenever you want. - Hey… Whoa… 211 00:18:27,250 --> 00:18:29,208 - Can we just talk for a second? - Mm. 212 00:18:29,291 --> 00:18:32,000 Can we just talk about how amazing you were tonight? 213 00:18:34,250 --> 00:18:37,125 - Thank you. - I am not messing around. 214 00:18:37,208 --> 00:18:39,708 I could just watch you dancing forever. 215 00:18:44,708 --> 00:18:46,500 I was thinking of maybe applying. 216 00:18:46,583 --> 00:18:49,208 - Hm? - To the job in Jacob's Pillow. 217 00:18:49,958 --> 00:18:52,500 - We went there last summer, remember? - Oh. 218 00:18:52,583 --> 00:18:53,833 We saw the new Mark Morris. 219 00:18:53,916 --> 00:18:55,458 - Oh, yeah! - Yeah. 220 00:18:56,583 --> 00:18:58,666 - That's the place in the Berkshires? - Mm-hm. 221 00:18:58,750 --> 00:19:01,916 So, you're gonna move to the Berkshires? 222 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:05,041 And not have to work 30 hours a week doing word processing 223 00:19:05,125 --> 00:19:07,208 to pay the rent, why not? 224 00:19:07,291 --> 00:19:09,708 I might actually be able to get back into shape. 225 00:19:10,750 --> 00:19:13,875 Okay. Yeah. All right. Let's do it. Let's move. 226 00:19:15,625 --> 00:19:17,875 - I'm being serious. - Hey, I'm being serious. 227 00:19:17,958 --> 00:19:21,375 We're gonna live in a log cabin. We're gonna hunt… acorns. 228 00:19:21,458 --> 00:19:24,708 We're gonna... We're gonna gather squirrels. 229 00:19:24,791 --> 00:19:27,500 What are you even talking about? 230 00:19:27,583 --> 00:19:29,458 It's the Berkshires. 231 00:19:29,541 --> 00:19:32,208 People have vacation homes there. You've been there. 232 00:19:32,875 --> 00:19:35,666 I'm so sorry. Can we... Can we please go inside? 233 00:19:35,750 --> 00:19:37,291 Sorry, I just feel like I'm scared... 234 00:19:37,375 --> 00:19:39,541 I'm beginning to lose sensation in my extremities. 235 00:19:39,625 --> 00:19:41,166 You are such a baby. 236 00:19:41,750 --> 00:19:43,125 Take this. 237 00:19:45,791 --> 00:19:47,541 Whoa. Hold on. 238 00:19:48,958 --> 00:19:51,291 You like? 239 00:19:54,666 --> 00:19:57,333 I thought that you were in a hurry to get back inside. 240 00:20:13,875 --> 00:20:16,458 You know that job in the Berkshires? 241 00:20:16,541 --> 00:20:19,416 - Yeah, sounds amazing. - I already applied for it. 242 00:20:19,500 --> 00:20:20,958 - Oh, yeah? - Yeah. 243 00:20:21,041 --> 00:20:22,958 - And I got it. - Oh… 244 00:20:23,541 --> 00:20:25,333 - Oh, yeah? That's great. - Yeah. 245 00:20:26,500 --> 00:20:28,375 It starts in June. 246 00:20:28,458 --> 00:20:30,625 Okay. So this is just for the summer? 247 00:20:30,708 --> 00:20:32,541 No. Mm-mm, it's permanent. 248 00:20:36,083 --> 00:20:37,125 Jon? 249 00:20:38,166 --> 00:20:41,000 Whoa, the Berkshires? 250 00:20:41,083 --> 00:20:44,791 That is, like, so far from Midtown. 251 00:20:44,875 --> 00:20:46,541 Yeah. Yeah. 252 00:20:46,625 --> 00:20:48,541 Why is she doing this right now? 253 00:20:48,625 --> 00:20:51,041 And she says, "I want you to come with me." 254 00:20:51,125 --> 00:20:54,083 - What did you say? - I said, "Oh?" 255 00:20:57,166 --> 00:20:59,833 What am I supposed to say? I didn't know what to say. 256 00:20:59,916 --> 00:21:02,666 I mean, like, I can't… I can't leave New York. 257 00:21:02,750 --> 00:21:05,000 - Oh, tell her to move in with you. - Move in where? 258 00:21:05,083 --> 00:21:06,583 You need a new roommate, right? 259 00:21:06,666 --> 00:21:09,625 It's two birds, one stone. You are very welcome. 260 00:21:10,416 --> 00:21:13,625 Okay, so, what… what about the guy that you were dating? David? 261 00:21:13,708 --> 00:21:16,500 - I thought you guys were great together. - It didn't work out. 262 00:21:18,291 --> 00:21:20,458 Oh. There's a focus group at the office this week, 263 00:21:20,541 --> 00:21:23,583 and they're looking for a few more people. How about I sign you up? 264 00:21:24,750 --> 00:21:27,333 So you can lure me to the dark side? 265 00:21:27,416 --> 00:21:30,000 No! So I can introduce you to my colleagues, 266 00:21:30,083 --> 00:21:32,000 and show them how brilliant you are. 267 00:21:32,083 --> 00:21:33,500 I don't want a job in advertising. 268 00:21:33,583 --> 00:21:35,541 I don't want you to have a job in advertising. 269 00:21:35,625 --> 00:21:38,666 I want you to have a job in… jingle writing. 270 00:21:40,333 --> 00:21:41,625 No, listen. 271 00:21:41,708 --> 00:21:44,250 You come up with jingles all the time for fun, Jon. 272 00:21:44,333 --> 00:21:46,375 You come up with songs about cereal we're eating. 273 00:21:46,458 --> 00:21:48,500 You could get paid for that. 274 00:21:48,583 --> 00:21:51,291 Well, you know, when Superbia gets produced, 275 00:21:51,375 --> 00:21:54,708 I will be getting paid for my music anyway. So… 276 00:21:55,333 --> 00:21:56,583 That's true. 277 00:21:59,708 --> 00:22:03,541 And we are here. Home sweet home. 278 00:22:09,666 --> 00:22:13,875 Oh… my… God! 279 00:22:15,458 --> 00:22:19,125 Michael tosses the keys to the parking attendant. 280 00:22:20,750 --> 00:22:23,500 What apartment building has a parking attendant? 281 00:22:26,291 --> 00:22:28,250 Fresh flowers in the lobby. 282 00:22:28,333 --> 00:22:31,625 An old, white lady with a tiny dog. 283 00:22:32,083 --> 00:22:33,916 Is this real life? 284 00:25:26,375 --> 00:25:27,791 Ow! 285 00:25:32,791 --> 00:25:34,666 Stand clear of the closing doors. 286 00:25:34,750 --> 00:25:36,666 I swear to God! I'm talking to you in the back. 287 00:25:36,750 --> 00:25:38,708 Stand clear of the closing doors. 288 00:25:39,708 --> 00:25:41,916 You still don't have the song? 289 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:45,041 This has never happened to me before. I… 290 00:25:45,125 --> 00:25:47,625 I don't know. I usually write a song in a day. 291 00:25:47,708 --> 00:25:50,916 Last week, I wrote a song about sugar. It took me three hours. 292 00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:53,000 Song about sugar? 293 00:25:57,625 --> 00:25:59,208 Why would you do that? 294 00:25:59,291 --> 00:26:00,666 An exercise. 295 00:26:01,166 --> 00:26:02,166 In what? 296 00:26:02,250 --> 00:26:04,208 I like to see if I can write a song about anything. 297 00:26:05,125 --> 00:26:08,166 Why don't you try to see if you can write a song for your musical 298 00:26:08,250 --> 00:26:11,166 that's being presented to an audience in six days instead? 299 00:26:11,250 --> 00:26:14,958 Ira Weitzman, head of musical theater at Playwrights Horizons. 300 00:26:15,041 --> 00:26:18,750 The first, and so far, only actual theater person 301 00:26:18,833 --> 00:26:21,541 to offer to put on a workshop of Superbia. 302 00:26:21,625 --> 00:26:25,166 I'm starting to think that maybe I don't need it. 303 00:26:25,875 --> 00:26:29,000 - You do need it. - You know… 304 00:26:29,083 --> 00:26:31,208 …you're the only person who ever said that. 305 00:26:31,291 --> 00:26:32,375 Just so you know. 306 00:26:32,458 --> 00:26:35,708 You're telling me in the five years you've been writing this musical… 307 00:26:35,791 --> 00:26:37,083 Eight years, actually. 308 00:26:37,166 --> 00:26:39,708 …no one else has told you that you're missing a song 309 00:26:39,791 --> 00:26:41,208 for Elizabeth in the second act? 310 00:26:43,625 --> 00:26:44,458 No one. 311 00:26:46,875 --> 00:26:48,208 Okay, I'm lying. 312 00:26:50,791 --> 00:26:53,541 One person did say that. 313 00:27:01,958 --> 00:27:06,500 For years, I was a part of this musical theater writing workshop. 314 00:27:19,750 --> 00:27:26,041 Once a week, we would gather the few surviving members of our dwindling tribe. 315 00:27:26,125 --> 00:27:31,041 We'd watch one of us present what we'd been working on to a panel of, well… 316 00:27:32,083 --> 00:27:33,666 Real writers. 317 00:27:34,833 --> 00:27:38,208 The theater legends, who created the Broadway shows 318 00:27:38,291 --> 00:27:42,541 that we'd grown up dragging our parents into the city to see… 319 00:27:46,416 --> 00:27:49,375 The panel would change every week. 320 00:27:56,416 --> 00:27:59,041 The night I presented, people began to buzz 321 00:27:59,125 --> 00:28:01,416 as soon as we walked through the door. 322 00:28:02,291 --> 00:28:03,875 Is it really him? 323 00:28:05,166 --> 00:28:06,833 It was. 324 00:28:08,291 --> 00:28:12,208 Stephen Sondheim. 325 00:28:15,875 --> 00:28:18,250 All right, I'll start. 326 00:28:19,708 --> 00:28:20,708 I'm lost. 327 00:28:21,708 --> 00:28:23,625 I… I don't know what the show is. 328 00:28:23,708 --> 00:28:26,458 Is it social commentary? Is it science fiction? 329 00:28:26,541 --> 00:28:30,458 And the music is the same thing. Is it rock? Is it Broadway? Is it both? 330 00:28:30,541 --> 00:28:33,166 Is it neither? Steve, what did you think? 331 00:28:36,500 --> 00:28:39,583 I have to say, I disagree pretty strongly, Walter. 332 00:28:39,666 --> 00:28:42,791 I think this is a musical that knows exactly what it is. 333 00:28:44,666 --> 00:28:46,958 Yes. Yes. Of course, yes. Abso... 334 00:28:47,041 --> 00:28:50,291 The world that you've created is really original. 335 00:28:50,375 --> 00:28:51,958 It's fascinating. 336 00:28:52,041 --> 00:28:57,208 The problem is, it's not particularly easy to follow the emotional thread. 337 00:28:57,291 --> 00:29:01,583 The details distract us from connecting with the characters. 338 00:29:01,666 --> 00:29:03,333 - Does that make sense? - Okay. Okay. 339 00:29:03,416 --> 00:29:06,416 Yes, yes. We're on the same page. That's exactly how I felt. 340 00:29:06,500 --> 00:29:09,416 We're saying the same thing, just differently. 341 00:29:09,500 --> 00:29:12,875 But the music, okay, I'm sorry... The music just wasn't there. 342 00:29:12,958 --> 00:29:15,208 I actually... I thought the songs were swell. 343 00:29:15,791 --> 00:29:19,500 Yeah, okay… Yes. Yes. The individual songs. 344 00:29:19,583 --> 00:29:24,000 I particularly like the one the young man sings at the end of the first act. 345 00:29:24,083 --> 00:29:27,416 First rate lyric and tune. Well done. 346 00:29:29,333 --> 00:29:32,208 "First rate lyric and tune." 347 00:29:32,291 --> 00:29:33,291 Thank you. 348 00:29:33,375 --> 00:29:38,708 Those five words were enough to keep me going for the next two years. 349 00:29:40,833 --> 00:29:44,625 You're missing a song for the young woman. Uh… 350 00:29:44,708 --> 00:29:46,208 - Elizabeth? - Elizabeth. 351 00:29:46,291 --> 00:29:48,458 It's the turning point in the show. 352 00:29:48,541 --> 00:29:51,750 Your protagonist is either gonna go in this direction or that direction. 353 00:29:51,833 --> 00:29:55,625 Someone has to wake him up, shake some sense into him. 354 00:29:56,208 --> 00:29:57,333 Okay. 355 00:29:57,416 --> 00:30:02,125 It's so funny because I was gonna say the exact same thing. 356 00:30:02,833 --> 00:30:06,583 Can we talk musicians? Because if it's only gonna be four, 357 00:30:06,666 --> 00:30:10,291 then I gotta figure out how I'm gonna split up the bass parts. 358 00:30:10,375 --> 00:30:11,916 This is for you. Here you go. 359 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:13,416 - Thank you. - Yeah. Uh… 360 00:30:13,500 --> 00:30:15,666 - Jon, this is a reading. - Mm. 361 00:30:15,750 --> 00:30:16,916 You'll have a piano. 362 00:30:17,875 --> 00:30:19,375 I wrote a rock score. 363 00:30:19,458 --> 00:30:23,833 So, at the very least I'll need a synth and drums and a guitar and... 364 00:30:23,916 --> 00:30:28,125 A great song should sound great without any instruments. 365 00:30:28,208 --> 00:30:29,500 Mm. Okay. 366 00:30:29,583 --> 00:30:31,166 Let's just do the song as a cappella. 367 00:30:31,958 --> 00:30:34,500 Oh, actually, you know what? Maybe we'll just skip the songs, 368 00:30:34,583 --> 00:30:37,666 and then we can get the audience in and out in half an hour. 369 00:30:37,750 --> 00:30:39,416 I will take a look at the budget 370 00:30:39,500 --> 00:30:43,000 and I will see if I can dig up some money for another musician. 371 00:30:43,083 --> 00:30:44,125 Two more. 372 00:30:44,625 --> 00:30:46,916 And piano is the absolute bare minimum for this. 373 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:49,250 Have you spoken to Rosa? 374 00:30:51,125 --> 00:30:55,583 Hey, Rosa, this is Jonathan Larson, your client. 375 00:30:55,666 --> 00:30:58,208 I've left multiple messages with your secretary. 376 00:30:58,291 --> 00:31:01,541 - Rosa Stevens is still your agent, right? - Oh, yeah. No, yeah, we… 377 00:31:01,625 --> 00:31:02,625 We talk constantly. 378 00:31:02,708 --> 00:31:05,833 Has she sent out the invites for the presentation yet? 379 00:31:05,916 --> 00:31:07,958 We haven't gotten a lot of RSVPs. 380 00:31:10,125 --> 00:31:11,500 - It's fine. - Mm. 381 00:31:11,583 --> 00:31:14,791 Nobody has more contacts in the industry than Rosa. 382 00:31:14,875 --> 00:31:17,625 I'm sure she'll get some good people there for you. 383 00:31:18,375 --> 00:31:19,500 Yeah, yeah. 384 00:31:21,541 --> 00:31:23,375 - I'll see you Monday. - Yes, sir. 385 00:31:24,166 --> 00:31:25,541 First day of rehearsal. 386 00:31:26,791 --> 00:31:29,708 And finish the song already. Please. 387 00:31:30,750 --> 00:31:32,375 - Thank you, Ira. - Thanks. 388 00:31:32,458 --> 00:31:34,375 Thank you for all this. Thank you. 389 00:31:49,708 --> 00:31:51,875 Yeah. I want to leave a message for Mr. Sondheim. 390 00:31:51,958 --> 00:31:54,083 This is, um… my name is Jonathan Larson. 391 00:31:54,166 --> 00:31:56,291 Hi there, this is a message for Joe Papp. 392 00:31:56,375 --> 00:31:57,250 For Bernie Gersten. 393 00:31:57,333 --> 00:31:59,625 For the Artistic Director of the Shubert Organization. 394 00:31:59,708 --> 00:32:03,416 For La MaMa. So, it's Larson, L-A-R-S-O-N. 395 00:32:03,500 --> 00:32:06,125 No, not Parson. It's something that's never been done before. 396 00:32:06,208 --> 00:32:07,458 It's gonna be quite the event. 397 00:32:07,541 --> 00:32:11,041 It has tremendous commercial possibility. 398 00:32:11,125 --> 00:32:13,666 We're filling up fast. I want to make sure you got your spot. 399 00:32:13,750 --> 00:32:17,041 I know that his time is limited. Oh! It would be such a treat! 400 00:32:17,125 --> 00:32:19,708 Zero pressure. Ha-ha. I really want you there. 401 00:32:19,791 --> 00:32:22,125 So, can I count you in? There'll be a seat reserved for him. 402 00:32:22,208 --> 00:32:24,583 Superbia at Playwrights Horizons. It's at 10:00 a.m. 403 00:32:24,666 --> 00:32:27,333 This Friday at 10:00 a.m. I'm so excited about Friday. 404 00:32:27,416 --> 00:32:31,000 I wouldn't want you to miss it. That's all the information I can give you. 405 00:32:48,583 --> 00:32:51,541 They should put every Sondheim musical on PBS. 406 00:32:52,916 --> 00:32:55,166 Well, Sunday is a pretty good start. 407 00:32:55,250 --> 00:32:58,958 I don't understand, why can't he just tell her he loves her? 408 00:32:59,583 --> 00:33:02,208 Why can't he be an artist and love her? 409 00:33:02,291 --> 00:33:04,125 He... He does love her. 410 00:33:04,208 --> 00:33:06,333 Yeah, but, like, he can't express it. 411 00:33:06,416 --> 00:33:08,208 That's a personal problem. Yeah. 412 00:33:08,291 --> 00:33:09,708 I'm sayin'… 413 00:33:10,666 --> 00:33:11,791 Men! 414 00:33:13,958 --> 00:33:16,083 Bernadette in that corset… 415 00:33:16,666 --> 00:33:19,041 Like, that waist is just like… 416 00:33:19,125 --> 00:33:21,583 How did he do that? 417 00:33:42,541 --> 00:33:45,166 - Did you crack it yet? - Oh, I'm getting so close. 418 00:33:46,125 --> 00:33:50,250 - Call me if you need inspiration. - No, no, don't go. Hang out. 419 00:33:50,333 --> 00:33:52,291 You can… you can sleep in your old room. 420 00:33:52,375 --> 00:33:53,875 Mm-hm. 421 00:33:53,958 --> 00:33:56,708 Write the song, Boo-Boo. 422 00:33:59,000 --> 00:34:00,583 …with AIDS. 423 00:34:00,666 --> 00:34:02,458 North Carolina Senator, Jesse Helms, 424 00:34:02,541 --> 00:34:05,458 is worried the legislation was sending the wrong message. 425 00:34:05,541 --> 00:34:08,916 Let me say that if IV drug users and homosexual men 426 00:34:09,000 --> 00:34:12,250 would stop their activities today, 427 00:34:12,333 --> 00:34:16,791 there would never be another case of AIDS in this country 428 00:34:16,875 --> 00:34:19,375 other than the ones already in progress. 429 00:34:19,458 --> 00:34:22,083 Henry Champ, at the US Capitol. 430 00:34:22,166 --> 00:34:25,250 The Senate has overwhelmingly approved legislation 431 00:34:25,333 --> 00:34:27,416 providing nearly $3 billion… 432 00:34:35,333 --> 00:34:38,166 - Hi. - Hey. Oh, my God! I love you. 433 00:34:40,083 --> 00:34:42,708 Uh, they want an answer by Wednesday. 434 00:34:42,791 --> 00:34:45,333 So I was wondering if we could maybe talk about it? 435 00:34:46,125 --> 00:34:47,250 Uh… 436 00:34:47,333 --> 00:34:48,666 - The job. - Oh. 437 00:34:51,208 --> 00:34:53,041 Yeah. Um… 438 00:34:53,750 --> 00:34:56,416 Can we, uh, talk about it tomorrow? 439 00:34:56,500 --> 00:34:59,750 'Cause I have to finish this song right now. Is that okay? 440 00:34:59,833 --> 00:35:00,750 Sure. 441 00:35:02,333 --> 00:35:03,666 You sure you're sure? 442 00:35:04,291 --> 00:35:05,416 I'm sure. 443 00:35:06,750 --> 00:35:07,875 Okay. 444 00:35:10,375 --> 00:35:12,041 You don't seem sure. 445 00:35:13,250 --> 00:35:16,083 - Good night, Jonathan. - Okay, good night. Um… 446 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:18,250 I'll be in. 447 00:39:01,291 --> 00:39:03,291 Freddy's in the emergency room. 448 00:39:03,375 --> 00:39:04,583 What? 449 00:39:04,666 --> 00:39:07,583 He woke up Saturday morning with a fever, he could... 450 00:39:08,666 --> 00:39:10,500 He couldn't stop shivering. 451 00:39:10,583 --> 00:39:12,666 Wait, wait, no. Wait. 452 00:39:13,458 --> 00:39:16,583 La... He told me last week his T-cell count... 453 00:39:16,666 --> 00:39:20,083 The doctor said that it was exactly where they wanted it, four days ago. 454 00:39:20,166 --> 00:39:21,750 I guess it changed. 455 00:39:23,625 --> 00:39:24,791 Shit. 456 00:39:29,875 --> 00:39:32,250 - He's gonna be fine. - Yeah, you know… you're right. 457 00:39:32,333 --> 00:39:34,375 I mean it. He's gonna be fine. Think about it. 458 00:39:34,458 --> 00:39:37,208 You know how stubborn he is. He's a pain in the ass. 459 00:39:37,833 --> 00:39:38,958 - Right? - Yeah. 460 00:39:39,041 --> 00:39:41,791 Frankly, we should be pissed at him that he's left us understaffed. 461 00:39:41,875 --> 00:39:43,083 - At Sunday brunch. - Right. 462 00:39:43,166 --> 00:39:44,666 - You know what I'm saying? - Yeah. 463 00:39:47,583 --> 00:39:48,750 Okay. 464 00:39:51,916 --> 00:39:54,541 Freddy, shit! I should go to the hospital. 465 00:39:54,625 --> 00:39:57,125 When am I gonna go to the hospital? I need to write. 466 00:39:57,208 --> 00:39:59,375 When am I gonna write? I need to talk to Susan. 467 00:39:59,458 --> 00:40:02,625 I need to see Freddy. I should call Susan. Why can't I write this song? 468 00:40:02,708 --> 00:40:05,166 How can you possibly be thinking about your show 469 00:40:05,250 --> 00:40:06,875 when your friend is in the hospital? 470 00:40:06,958 --> 00:40:08,291 What am I doing here? 471 00:40:08,375 --> 00:40:11,958 I need to leave. I need to walk out that door and go. 472 00:40:14,041 --> 00:40:18,000 But it's 9:30 on a Sunday morning at the Moondance Diner. 473 00:40:18,791 --> 00:40:20,541 I'm not going anywhere. 474 00:40:22,541 --> 00:40:23,875 Eggs up! 475 00:40:28,375 --> 00:40:31,750 Do you have any of that wonderful Jewish bread? 476 00:40:31,833 --> 00:40:35,291 It's "holly," dear. They call it "holly" bread. 477 00:40:35,375 --> 00:40:37,125 Would you like some challah bread? 478 00:40:37,208 --> 00:40:38,916 Somebody pick up these eggs. 479 00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:40,583 Tranquilo, tranquilo. 480 00:40:40,666 --> 00:40:42,083 Ya, tranquilo. ¡Termina tu obra! 481 00:40:42,958 --> 00:40:45,875 Harrington for four. Harrington? Harrington? 482 00:40:47,750 --> 00:40:48,791 Uh, ex... 483 00:40:50,000 --> 00:40:51,916 Moondance. What do you want? 484 00:40:52,500 --> 00:40:54,500 That was a Ghostbusters reference. 485 00:40:55,000 --> 00:40:58,041 Do we take reservations? No, we do not... We're a diner. 486 00:40:59,000 --> 00:41:00,916 - Where's my rye bread? - Name, please? 487 00:41:01,000 --> 00:41:03,916 - Richard. - Richard. How many? 488 00:41:04,000 --> 00:41:05,625 - Caplan. - Richard Caplan. 489 00:41:05,708 --> 00:41:07,208 How many in your party? 490 00:41:07,291 --> 00:41:09,458 - With a "C." - Got it. How many in your party? 491 00:41:09,541 --> 00:41:11,666 "C" as in "cat." 492 00:41:11,750 --> 00:41:13,375 - I understand. - Can we order? 493 00:41:13,458 --> 00:41:14,833 One second. How many in your party? 494 00:41:14,916 --> 00:41:17,083 It's not a math test. 495 00:41:17,166 --> 00:41:19,250 Order. 496 00:41:20,625 --> 00:41:22,250 Thank you for your patience. 497 00:41:22,333 --> 00:41:24,500 I said an omelet with no yolks. 498 00:41:25,208 --> 00:41:26,916 This is why you're just a waiter. 499 00:41:28,041 --> 00:41:29,500 Tension. 500 00:41:32,541 --> 00:41:34,916 Major vomit situation in the ladies' room. 501 00:41:35,500 --> 00:41:37,666 - Check! - Can we get two more mimosas, please? 502 00:41:37,750 --> 00:41:39,583 'Cause she got a new job, okay? 503 00:41:39,666 --> 00:41:41,500 Either put some Baileys in this coffee 504 00:41:41,583 --> 00:41:43,791 or put some vodka in this orange juice, please. 505 00:41:43,875 --> 00:41:46,625 Something. 506 00:41:46,708 --> 00:41:48,291 Balance. 507 00:41:53,958 --> 00:41:55,333 BLT up. 508 00:41:55,416 --> 00:41:57,208 ¡Si se quejan de que se enfría, no es culpa mía! 509 00:41:57,916 --> 00:41:59,791 Fudge! 510 00:41:59,875 --> 00:42:02,000 - Carolyn. - Can we get the check? 511 00:42:04,583 --> 00:42:05,708 - Carolyn? - Hey. 512 00:42:05,791 --> 00:42:07,708 - Excuse me. Do you have any Baileys? - One sec. 513 00:42:07,791 --> 00:42:09,291 Jesus Christ! 514 00:42:11,833 --> 00:42:13,875 Brunch. 515 00:45:06,083 --> 00:45:07,958 Monday morning. 516 00:45:09,458 --> 00:45:14,333 My first day of rehearsals for the Superbia workshop, which is still, 517 00:45:14,416 --> 00:45:18,583 in case you'd forgotten, missing its crucial Act Two musical number. 518 00:45:20,041 --> 00:45:23,416 I make my way there through the land of the dead… 519 00:45:23,500 --> 00:45:25,291 The Theater District. 520 00:46:40,041 --> 00:46:43,041 I'll be auditioning for the role of Old Deuteronomy. 521 00:46:43,125 --> 00:46:46,708 On behalf of Playwrights Horizons, I want to welcome everyone 522 00:46:46,791 --> 00:46:52,500 and thank you all for taking part in this very exciting new musical 523 00:46:52,583 --> 00:46:56,166 by a very exciting young writer, Jonathan Larson. 524 00:46:58,875 --> 00:47:00,375 He's not even 30. 525 00:47:00,458 --> 00:47:02,833 Oh, wow. Thank you, Ira. 526 00:47:02,916 --> 00:47:09,208 Um… this is the first real workshop that this musical has ever had. 527 00:47:10,208 --> 00:47:12,708 And now you guys are part of the family. 528 00:47:12,791 --> 00:47:16,458 So, any questions before we, uh, get going? 529 00:47:18,333 --> 00:47:19,958 - Yeah, no. Yeah. - Um… 530 00:47:20,625 --> 00:47:24,375 Could you… um… Could you explain it, maybe? 531 00:47:25,000 --> 00:47:25,958 Yeah. Explain what? 532 00:47:27,041 --> 00:47:30,458 Oh, just the musical. The story. 533 00:47:30,541 --> 00:47:34,625 It's a little, um, confusing in certain places. Not in a bad way. 534 00:47:34,708 --> 00:47:39,500 Superbia, a satire set in the future on a poisoned planet Earth, 535 00:47:39,583 --> 00:47:43,083 where the vast majority of humanity spend their entire lives 536 00:47:43,166 --> 00:47:47,208 just staring at the screens of their media transmitters, 537 00:47:47,291 --> 00:47:51,708 watching the tiny elite of the rich and powerful, 538 00:47:51,791 --> 00:47:56,166 who film their own fabulous lives like TV shows. 539 00:47:57,875 --> 00:48:02,666 A world where human emotion has been outlawed. 540 00:48:03,458 --> 00:48:07,916 This will be the first musical written for the MTV generation. 541 00:48:08,000 --> 00:48:09,458 This is my... 542 00:48:09,541 --> 00:48:13,083 Is it supposed to be aliens? I wasn't sure if it was all, like, aliens. 543 00:48:13,166 --> 00:48:18,208 Nope, not aliens. Um… But it is set in the future. 544 00:48:31,583 --> 00:48:33,666 It's perfect. Keep going. Keep going. 545 00:48:45,458 --> 00:48:46,416 I love it. I love it. 546 00:48:47,125 --> 00:48:50,250 - You told me you needed a drummer. - Oh, my goodness. 547 00:48:50,333 --> 00:48:52,666 Good night. Wonderful work. Really wonderful work. 548 00:48:53,375 --> 00:48:58,333 No… I… I told you I needed a band. 549 00:48:58,958 --> 00:49:01,166 It's 100 dollars for every musician. 550 00:49:01,958 --> 00:49:07,291 Yeah. And your annual operating budget is half a million dollars? 551 00:49:08,041 --> 00:49:10,625 So far we're up to 12 RSVPs, Jon. 552 00:49:10,708 --> 00:49:12,708 You don't need a band with an audience of 12 people. 553 00:49:12,791 --> 00:49:13,916 You'll outnumber them. 554 00:49:16,208 --> 00:49:17,875 If you want more musicians, 555 00:49:17,958 --> 00:49:21,125 you're gonna have to find the money for it somewhere else. 556 00:49:22,208 --> 00:49:23,291 I'm sorry. 557 00:49:25,500 --> 00:49:26,750 Thank you for everything. 558 00:49:39,750 --> 00:49:42,833 I went to three friends' funerals last year. 559 00:49:43,750 --> 00:49:46,125 The oldest one was 27. 560 00:49:47,291 --> 00:49:50,625 Pam, Gordon, Ally. 561 00:49:51,875 --> 00:49:53,875 Freddy's not even… 562 00:49:53,958 --> 00:49:56,458 He turned 25 two weeks ago. 563 00:49:57,416 --> 00:49:59,916 And nobody's doing enough. 564 00:50:00,000 --> 00:50:01,791 I'm not doing enough. 565 00:50:01,875 --> 00:50:05,208 There's not enough time, or maybe I'm just wasting my time. 566 00:50:05,291 --> 00:50:07,083 And what about Susan's time? 567 00:50:07,166 --> 00:50:08,958 When am I gonna talk to Susan? 568 00:50:09,041 --> 00:50:11,416 What am I gonna say? I don't know what to say. 569 00:50:11,500 --> 00:50:15,125 So Susan waits, and the time keeps ticking. 570 00:50:15,208 --> 00:50:18,250 Tick, tick, tick. 571 00:50:18,333 --> 00:50:20,791 And I have three days left until the workshop. 572 00:50:20,875 --> 00:50:24,416 Three days left to write this song. And if the song doesn't work, 573 00:50:24,500 --> 00:50:27,916 the show doesn't work, and then it's all been a waste of time. 574 00:50:28,000 --> 00:50:30,250 Who gives a shit about a song? 575 00:50:30,791 --> 00:50:32,791 And I miss Michael. 576 00:50:32,875 --> 00:50:35,000 I need to talk to Michael. 577 00:50:35,083 --> 00:50:37,583 I don't have time to talk to Michael. 578 00:50:52,583 --> 00:50:54,083 Make sure you're not speeding up. 579 00:51:01,166 --> 00:51:04,208 I'm missing consonants in "quintessential social adventure." 580 00:51:05,416 --> 00:51:07,250 - Hi. Thanks. - It sounds great. 581 00:51:07,333 --> 00:51:09,333 Why didn't you tell me you were coming? 582 00:51:09,416 --> 00:51:12,291 - I thought it might be a nice surprise. - Oh, no. It is. It is. 583 00:51:12,375 --> 00:51:13,875 Okay. It's Tuesday. 584 00:51:16,083 --> 00:51:17,541 Mm… 585 00:51:17,625 --> 00:51:21,291 I need to give them the decision about the job by tomorrow, so… 586 00:51:21,375 --> 00:51:24,291 Is there a moment where you can take a break? 587 00:51:25,125 --> 00:51:29,041 I can't. No, the actors take breaks. I don't… I don't have any breaks. 588 00:51:29,125 --> 00:51:31,708 I just don't know what I'm gonna do. So… 589 00:51:31,791 --> 00:51:33,041 Um… 590 00:51:33,125 --> 00:51:35,041 Can you… Can you ask for an extension? 591 00:51:36,041 --> 00:51:39,250 I'm sorry, can we… Can we talk about this tonight? 592 00:51:39,333 --> 00:51:41,333 I'm so… One second. 593 00:51:41,416 --> 00:51:43,583 This is… Can we get this section… 594 00:52:29,708 --> 00:52:33,791 I can give you 50 for everything. 595 00:52:34,875 --> 00:52:37,291 You're gonna sell it for five times that amount. 596 00:52:37,375 --> 00:52:38,791 Fifty's the best I can do. 597 00:52:43,125 --> 00:52:45,125 - Cash? - Great. 598 00:52:49,083 --> 00:52:52,083 Oh, no. He's keeping the Godspell. 599 00:52:53,125 --> 00:52:54,708 "Day by Day." 600 00:52:56,166 --> 00:52:58,000 Yeah, yeah. I love it. 601 00:52:58,083 --> 00:52:59,583 Ah, ah, ah! 602 00:52:59,666 --> 00:53:04,083 I'd love to take you to lunch. Celebrate your birthday. 603 00:53:04,166 --> 00:53:05,458 I can't this week. 604 00:53:06,625 --> 00:53:09,500 I could really use your advice on some things. 605 00:53:09,583 --> 00:53:12,250 Hey, Michael? I'm sorry, can I call you back later? 606 00:53:12,333 --> 00:53:15,041 I'm just… I'm right in the middle of something here. 607 00:53:15,833 --> 00:53:18,125 Oh, uh, that focus group I mentioned… 608 00:53:19,125 --> 00:53:21,333 They're still looking for one more person to sign up. 609 00:53:21,416 --> 00:53:24,125 It's Thursday at 11:00. I know money's tight for you right now. 610 00:53:24,208 --> 00:53:25,625 You know what? Never mind. 611 00:53:25,708 --> 00:53:28,416 Uh, wait. How much does it pay? 612 00:53:28,500 --> 00:53:31,500 It's only 75 bucks, but it could be a thing. 613 00:53:34,583 --> 00:53:35,500 I'll be there. 614 00:53:35,583 --> 00:53:37,916 Thank you really. That's… Yeah, thank you. 615 00:53:38,000 --> 00:53:40,416 - Wow. - Okay, bye. Bye-bye. 616 00:53:40,500 --> 00:53:41,833 All right, see you. 617 00:54:02,250 --> 00:54:04,291 - You were right. - I know. 618 00:54:56,000 --> 00:54:57,958 Can I hear it? 619 00:54:58,041 --> 00:54:59,958 - Huh? - The new song. 620 00:55:02,166 --> 00:55:05,125 Any day now. 621 00:55:05,208 --> 00:55:07,916 You're killin' me, Larson. 622 00:55:17,375 --> 00:55:19,333 Oh, sh… 623 00:55:19,958 --> 00:55:21,208 Shh! 624 00:55:24,083 --> 00:55:26,750 My God. 625 00:55:32,458 --> 00:55:35,375 Hey, it's me. Just pick up the phone. 626 00:55:35,458 --> 00:55:37,916 I know you're screening your calls. 627 00:55:38,000 --> 00:55:40,833 Every light is on in your apartment right now. 628 00:55:47,833 --> 00:55:49,125 I can see you! 629 00:55:55,916 --> 00:55:58,875 Hey. Hi. You could have called first. 630 00:55:58,958 --> 00:56:00,750 - I just did. - Mm. 631 00:56:00,833 --> 00:56:02,333 It's good to see you too. 632 00:56:05,625 --> 00:56:08,208 I didn't mean it like that. 633 00:56:09,416 --> 00:56:11,541 Jesus, Jonathan. 634 00:56:11,625 --> 00:56:13,250 I need you to talk to me. 635 00:56:14,083 --> 00:56:15,708 I'm writing, Susan. I'm writing. 636 00:56:15,791 --> 00:56:18,916 You're gonna write a great American musical in the next ten minutes? 637 00:56:19,000 --> 00:56:21,000 Thank you for being so supportive of my work. 638 00:56:21,083 --> 00:56:24,166 Because you've been such a champion of mine? 639 00:56:24,250 --> 00:56:26,500 - What's that supposed to mean? - What do you think it means? 640 00:56:28,375 --> 00:56:32,250 And now, ladies and gentlemen, we present you with… 641 00:56:33,333 --> 00:56:39,375 …scenes from a modern romance as told in song. 642 00:56:47,083 --> 00:56:48,625 I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I... 643 00:56:48,708 --> 00:56:51,958 I'm not allowed to talk about my needs. What needs? 644 00:56:52,041 --> 00:56:54,791 - Did I say that? - You didn't have to say it. It's implied. 645 00:56:54,875 --> 00:56:56,500 How is it implied? 646 00:56:56,583 --> 00:57:00,791 You're the artist and I'm the girlfriend. That's how you feel, right? 647 00:57:27,833 --> 00:57:31,791 - Can we talk about this later, please? - When, Jonathan? When is later? 648 00:57:32,375 --> 00:57:34,125 Not tonight. 649 00:57:54,500 --> 00:57:58,041 I have been rehearsing all day. I have been up since four this morning. 650 00:57:58,125 --> 00:58:02,875 I have been trying to write a song for a week and I am nowhere. 651 00:58:08,833 --> 00:58:11,833 I've been telling you how unhappy I am for months. 652 00:58:18,208 --> 00:58:22,416 Everyone's unhappy in New York! That's what New York is! 653 00:58:32,125 --> 00:58:34,166 I don't know how to get through to you anymore. 654 00:58:34,250 --> 00:58:36,958 You keep shutting me out, you keep putting up these fences. 655 00:58:37,041 --> 00:58:40,583 - I'm not. I'm not shutting you out. - You're a million miles away all the time. 656 00:58:40,666 --> 00:58:44,000 - Actually, I'm right here. - Are you, Jonathan? 657 00:58:44,083 --> 00:58:46,375 Actually? Because I know you. 658 00:59:00,708 --> 00:59:04,875 You're right. I've been distracted, but I promise you, after the workshop... 659 00:59:04,958 --> 00:59:06,083 After the workshop. 660 00:59:06,666 --> 00:59:08,833 After the workshop! 661 00:59:08,916 --> 00:59:11,083 Everything is after the workshop. 662 00:59:11,166 --> 00:59:12,166 Yeah. 663 00:59:12,250 --> 00:59:15,125 What if the workshop happens and nothing changes? 664 00:59:15,208 --> 00:59:17,333 No producer with a big check. 665 00:59:17,416 --> 00:59:19,500 You don't go straight to Broadway. 666 00:59:19,583 --> 00:59:25,000 You're still a waiter, you're still living in this apartment, you're still broke. 667 00:59:25,083 --> 00:59:29,250 What then, Jonathan? What about me? 668 00:59:39,458 --> 00:59:41,083 I can't move to the Berkshires. 669 00:59:42,541 --> 00:59:44,500 I can't leave my career behind. 670 00:59:45,291 --> 00:59:46,958 You think I don't know that? 671 00:59:47,875 --> 00:59:48,750 What? 672 00:59:50,083 --> 00:59:54,083 What are you…? What is this? What do you want? 673 00:59:56,541 --> 01:00:00,583 I guess I just… I wanted you to tell me not to go. 674 01:00:13,250 --> 01:00:15,666 Of course I don't want you to go. 675 01:00:16,791 --> 01:00:19,083 - Really? - Obviously. 676 01:00:19,166 --> 01:00:21,541 'Cause this is the first time you've ever said it. 677 01:00:42,500 --> 01:00:43,958 Oh, my God. 678 01:00:46,666 --> 01:00:50,250 You're thinking about how you can turn this into a song. Aren't you? 679 01:00:55,208 --> 01:00:57,208 No. What? 680 01:00:58,166 --> 01:01:02,375 You know what, Jonathan? I'm done. 681 01:01:03,708 --> 01:01:06,375 Susan? Susan, wait. 682 01:01:06,458 --> 01:01:10,125 I hope that you have an amazing workshop. 683 01:01:10,208 --> 01:01:13,166 Susan, hold on. Susan? 684 01:01:45,666 --> 01:01:48,333 So, just waiting on one more person. 685 01:01:48,416 --> 01:01:50,250 Enjoy those waters. 686 01:01:51,500 --> 01:01:52,666 So… 687 01:01:53,416 --> 01:01:54,250 I'm Jon. 688 01:01:54,333 --> 01:01:56,708 - Yes, Mr. Larson, you're Michael's friend. - Yeah. 689 01:01:56,791 --> 01:01:58,500 - How are you? - Good. You're late. 690 01:01:58,583 --> 01:01:59,916 - Oh. - Okay. 691 01:02:00,000 --> 01:02:01,458 - Sorry about that. - That's okay. 692 01:02:01,541 --> 01:02:04,041 - No, because of the subway. - Yeah, I'm sure. 693 01:02:04,125 --> 01:02:05,666 Take a seat when you can. 694 01:02:05,750 --> 01:02:07,041 - Hi. - Welcome. 695 01:02:07,125 --> 01:02:08,583 Oh. Thanks. 696 01:02:08,666 --> 01:02:10,541 You sure there's no way to get into the bathroom? 697 01:02:10,625 --> 01:02:12,458 Oh, no, you're not allowed to use the bathroom. 698 01:02:12,541 --> 01:02:15,208 Sorry, did she mention when we were gonna get paid? 699 01:02:15,291 --> 01:02:18,791 Okay, um, so now that we're all here… 700 01:02:18,875 --> 01:02:21,083 - Hi. - Hey. 701 01:02:21,166 --> 01:02:24,583 Why don't we begin with a quick brainstorming session? Right? 702 01:02:24,666 --> 01:02:28,041 Just to get those creative juices flowing. You know what I mean? It'll be fun. 703 01:02:30,125 --> 01:02:31,541 Two hours of this. 704 01:02:31,625 --> 01:02:35,083 For one extra musician. 705 01:02:35,166 --> 01:02:37,958 So why don't we start by you just throwing out some ideas 706 01:02:38,041 --> 01:02:41,916 when you hear me say the word "America." 707 01:02:42,000 --> 01:02:44,041 - George Washington. - Excellent. 708 01:02:44,125 --> 01:02:46,375 - Abraham Lincoln. - Abraham Lincoln. Okay. 709 01:02:46,458 --> 01:02:49,166 Empire, racism, genocide, Vietnam. 710 01:02:49,250 --> 01:02:50,666 Grover Cleveland. 711 01:02:52,375 --> 01:02:54,375 - The Constitution? - Yes. 712 01:02:54,458 --> 01:02:56,458 - Yeah. - Magna Carta. 713 01:02:57,083 --> 01:02:58,166 - The Bill of Rights. - Mm-hm. 714 01:02:58,250 --> 01:03:00,500 - The right thing to do. - Ooh. 715 01:03:00,583 --> 01:03:04,375 - The right stuff. - Right stuff. 716 01:03:05,000 --> 01:03:06,666 An open road at sunset. 717 01:03:09,083 --> 01:03:10,541 Wind in your hair. 718 01:03:11,875 --> 01:03:15,291 Nothing in your way, except horizon. 719 01:03:19,500 --> 01:03:23,625 That is beautiful, Mr. Larson. 720 01:03:23,708 --> 01:03:27,208 Wow. Okay. That goes on the board. 721 01:03:27,833 --> 01:03:30,708 - The sun. - Sunrise. 722 01:03:31,291 --> 01:03:32,916 The dawn of a new day. 723 01:03:33,000 --> 01:03:36,083 - Oh! Where did you come from? - It all goes back. 724 01:03:36,166 --> 01:03:38,958 - You're amazing. - That is incredible. 725 01:03:39,041 --> 01:03:41,041 A window looking out on a field. 726 01:03:41,125 --> 01:03:44,500 Oh, and I look out, and I see the bunnies and little squirrelies... 727 01:03:44,583 --> 01:03:46,625 The beating heart of the nation. 728 01:03:47,125 --> 01:03:49,291 - Ooh! - Oh, my gosh. 729 01:03:49,375 --> 01:03:52,041 - Absolutely. That's absolutely what it is. - Beautiful. 730 01:03:52,125 --> 01:03:55,208 - I've never even heard that before. - You are gifted. 731 01:03:56,708 --> 01:03:58,500 I could get used to this. 732 01:03:58,583 --> 01:04:00,916 I could get paid for this. 733 01:04:01,000 --> 01:04:04,666 I could get health care. A 401. 734 01:04:05,541 --> 01:04:10,125 A BMW. A luxury apartment… on Central Park West. 735 01:04:10,208 --> 01:04:12,791 No, no, no… East. 736 01:04:12,875 --> 01:04:18,041 I could actually be rewarded for my creativity, 737 01:04:18,125 --> 01:04:21,416 instead of rejected and ignored. 738 01:04:22,416 --> 01:04:24,416 This could be the rest of my life. 739 01:04:25,208 --> 01:04:29,166 Now that we have all those fabulous ideas of yours in our heads, 740 01:04:29,250 --> 01:04:32,125 we are going to turn to the task at hand. 741 01:04:32,208 --> 01:04:36,916 We are here to develop a name of a revolutionary consumer product 742 01:04:37,000 --> 01:04:39,208 that is just about to hit your shelves. 743 01:04:39,291 --> 01:04:40,500 Oh. Wow. 744 01:04:40,583 --> 01:04:41,791 This is where we're gonna need 745 01:04:41,875 --> 01:04:44,458 that incredible imagination of yours, Mr. Larson. 746 01:04:44,541 --> 01:04:48,708 So the product we're looking at is a tasteless, odorless chemical compound 747 01:04:48,791 --> 01:04:51,625 that will be used as a fat substitute in cooking. 748 01:04:51,708 --> 01:04:52,583 Mm. 749 01:04:52,666 --> 01:04:57,083 And it's been successfully tested on a number of mammals. 750 01:04:57,166 --> 01:04:58,958 Well, that's good. Mm. 751 01:04:59,041 --> 01:05:01,166 There are some side effects associated with the product 752 01:05:01,250 --> 01:05:03,125 that I've been instructed to tell you about. 753 01:05:03,208 --> 01:05:05,000 So it's skin scales. 754 01:05:05,750 --> 01:05:07,458 Um… full hair loss. 755 01:05:07,541 --> 01:05:10,125 Hair, eyebrows, eyelashes… 756 01:05:10,208 --> 01:05:12,458 This could be the rest of my life. 757 01:05:12,541 --> 01:05:15,458 And finally, in a small number of users, 758 01:05:15,541 --> 01:05:18,166 there were reports of toxic shock syndrome… 759 01:05:18,958 --> 01:05:22,375 Resulting in a brief hospitalization. 760 01:05:22,958 --> 01:05:25,416 - Eh, no big deal. - There are no bad ideas. 761 01:05:27,166 --> 01:05:29,333 - Free oil. - Love it. 762 01:05:29,416 --> 01:05:31,291 - Oil free. - Okay. 763 01:05:31,375 --> 01:05:35,208 - That's the same thing she just said. - I switched the words around. 764 01:05:35,291 --> 01:05:37,541 That's totally fine, Kim. Thank you so much. 765 01:05:37,625 --> 01:05:39,458 - The American Dream. - Okay, well… 766 01:05:39,541 --> 01:05:41,250 - Dreams of freedom. - Okay. 767 01:05:41,333 --> 01:05:43,666 - Nutra-oil. - That's not bad, Todd. 768 01:05:43,750 --> 01:05:45,750 Waist oil. No. 769 01:05:52,541 --> 01:05:53,708 I got it. 770 01:05:56,791 --> 01:05:59,666 - I have it. I have the exact... - Go, go! 771 01:05:59,750 --> 01:06:03,083 You wanna hear? I got the exact right thing for this product. 772 01:06:04,583 --> 01:06:06,500 Chubstitute. 773 01:06:10,166 --> 01:06:11,875 Chubstitute? 774 01:06:11,958 --> 01:06:14,375 - It's a joke. - It's not funny. 775 01:06:15,000 --> 01:06:18,375 - Well, maybe not to you but... - I recommended you, Jon. 776 01:06:19,208 --> 01:06:21,458 I put my name on the line for you. 777 01:06:22,250 --> 01:06:24,875 - Tell them I had a stroke. - It isn't funny. 778 01:06:26,333 --> 01:06:27,916 This is my life. 779 01:06:28,000 --> 01:06:31,541 No, it's not your life, it's advertising. 780 01:06:31,625 --> 01:06:33,708 It's figuring out how to trick people 781 01:06:33,791 --> 01:06:36,833 into buying shit that they don't want. 782 01:06:36,916 --> 01:06:39,000 Actually, it's a lot more complicated than that. 783 01:06:39,083 --> 01:06:41,833 I don't understand how you can take any of this seriously. 784 01:06:41,916 --> 01:06:44,166 - Because they pay me to. - Money isn't everything. 785 01:06:44,250 --> 01:06:46,833 - Well, it doesn't hurt. - Are you sure about that? 786 01:06:48,041 --> 01:06:50,541 What are you doing with your life that's so noble? 787 01:06:52,208 --> 01:06:55,375 - I'm making art. - That's what the world needs. More art. 788 01:06:55,458 --> 01:06:59,416 Actually, yes. And at least I'm not perpetuating a system that's... 789 01:06:59,500 --> 01:07:00,958 Spare the self-righteousness, Jon. 790 01:07:01,041 --> 01:07:02,708 You're writing musicals in your living room, 791 01:07:02,791 --> 01:07:04,500 you're not saving the rainforest. 792 01:07:07,125 --> 01:07:08,416 Wow. 793 01:07:09,416 --> 01:07:11,833 Gosh, I wish I could be more like you, 794 01:07:11,916 --> 01:07:14,916 and spend my life caring about driving the right car 795 01:07:15,000 --> 01:07:17,333 and wearing the right suits and living in a doorman building. 796 01:07:17,416 --> 01:07:20,375 Why shouldn't I want those things, Jon? Not all of us have options you do. 797 01:07:20,458 --> 01:07:22,625 All the things that you take for granted. 798 01:07:22,708 --> 01:07:25,375 - What? Like what? - Like a life with the person you love. 799 01:07:25,458 --> 01:07:30,416 Do you know what I would give for that? You... You turn your nose up at it. 800 01:07:30,500 --> 01:07:33,125 If that's what you want, what's stopping you? 801 01:07:33,208 --> 01:07:36,833 What's stopping me? How about Jesse Helms and the Moral Majority? 802 01:07:36,916 --> 01:07:39,083 How about the people that run this country? 803 01:07:39,166 --> 01:07:41,541 I can't get married. I can't have kids. 804 01:07:41,625 --> 01:07:46,625 Half our friends are dying and the other half are scared to death they are next. 805 01:07:46,708 --> 01:07:49,291 So, I'm sorry for getting a nice car, Jon. 806 01:07:49,375 --> 01:07:52,958 I'm sorry for moving into an apartment with central heating. 807 01:07:53,041 --> 01:07:56,750 I'm sorry for enjoying my life while I still have time. 808 01:07:56,833 --> 01:07:57,875 I gotta go. 809 01:07:57,958 --> 01:07:59,083 Hey. 810 01:08:00,291 --> 01:08:01,833 You wanna come take the subway? 811 01:08:01,916 --> 01:08:03,916 - I'd rather walk. - Michael. 812 01:08:04,000 --> 01:08:04,916 Michael. 813 01:08:14,458 --> 01:08:15,458 Hello? 814 01:08:15,541 --> 01:08:18,416 Johnny, darling. It's Rosa. 815 01:08:20,208 --> 01:08:22,333 - Hello? - Rosa Stevens? 816 01:08:22,416 --> 01:08:25,833 - Are we excited for tomorrow? - Tomorrow? 817 01:08:26,541 --> 01:08:28,500 The presentation. You remembered the presentation? 818 01:08:28,583 --> 01:08:31,583 Remembered it? I got every producer in town coming. 819 01:08:32,916 --> 01:08:34,791 So it better be good. 820 01:08:34,875 --> 01:08:39,500 Yeah, it's, uh… it's gonna be amazing. 821 01:08:39,583 --> 01:08:42,208 Let's see if we can't get a bidding war started 822 01:08:42,291 --> 01:08:44,916 on this musical of yours. What do you say? 823 01:08:45,791 --> 01:08:48,208 Yes, sure. 824 01:08:48,291 --> 01:08:50,166 Okay, doll. 825 01:08:50,250 --> 01:08:53,833 Charlie, get me Hal Prince on the line. 826 01:08:53,916 --> 01:08:55,250 Rosa? Um, I... 827 01:09:20,458 --> 01:09:21,750 I'm so sorry. 828 01:09:33,750 --> 01:09:35,208 Yeah. I know, I know, I know. 829 01:09:54,666 --> 01:09:56,083 Oh, no. 830 01:09:57,166 --> 01:09:59,791 Why wouldn't you have called me to tell me my payment was late 831 01:09:59,875 --> 01:10:02,000 before you just cut off my power? 832 01:10:02,083 --> 01:10:04,291 How is...? How does that make sense? 833 01:10:04,375 --> 01:10:06,541 Sir, as I explained before, you received a notice... 834 01:10:06,625 --> 01:10:08,208 No, no, no, listen. 835 01:10:08,291 --> 01:10:10,500 You don't understand. I have a workshop. 836 01:10:10,583 --> 01:10:14,500 I have a public presentation of my musical in 12 hours… 837 01:10:14,583 --> 01:10:17,166 Sir, if you are going to raise your voice… 838 01:10:17,250 --> 01:10:18,750 I'm sorry. I'm sorry. 839 01:10:18,833 --> 01:10:22,208 Look, look, look. I can pay you over the phone, right now. 840 01:10:22,291 --> 01:10:25,875 - I have my credit card right here… - The billing office is closed. 841 01:10:25,958 --> 01:10:28,416 I would love to figure it out right now. 842 01:10:28,500 --> 01:10:30,666 The billing office is closed for the night. 843 01:10:32,125 --> 01:10:35,416 - What am I gonna do? - Sir, like I've said, call... 844 01:10:48,375 --> 01:10:52,125 - Hello? - Hey, Beth. Hey. 845 01:10:52,208 --> 01:10:54,666 How are you? It's Jon. 846 01:10:54,750 --> 01:10:55,791 Hi, Jon. 847 01:10:55,875 --> 01:10:58,708 Hi, um… is Susan there? 848 01:10:58,791 --> 01:11:00,583 She doesn't wanna talk to you, Jon. 849 01:11:03,000 --> 01:11:03,833 Yeah. 850 01:11:04,750 --> 01:11:05,875 Um… 851 01:11:06,875 --> 01:11:08,291 Sure, sure. Uh… 852 01:11:08,375 --> 01:11:12,375 Well, can you… um… can you give her a message for me? 853 01:11:12,458 --> 01:11:15,208 - What is it? - Well, it's just, you know… 854 01:11:16,250 --> 01:11:20,333 I wanted to remind her that tomorrow is my workshop and you know, I… 855 01:11:21,041 --> 01:11:24,000 I know I don't have any right to ask this. It's just that… 856 01:11:25,916 --> 01:11:28,250 I would just really love her to be there. 857 01:11:28,791 --> 01:11:30,500 I'll tell her you called. 858 01:11:37,250 --> 01:11:38,833 Here I am. 859 01:11:41,125 --> 01:11:44,541 The musical to which I have devoted my youth 860 01:11:44,625 --> 01:11:49,750 is about to be put on public display for every producer in New York. 861 01:11:51,708 --> 01:11:56,083 I haven't written a single note or a single lyric 862 01:11:56,166 --> 01:11:59,625 of the most important song in the show. 863 01:12:01,375 --> 01:12:03,166 I have no electricity. 864 01:12:04,125 --> 01:12:08,375 My best friend is furious with me. My girlfriend isn't speaking to me. 865 01:12:09,375 --> 01:12:13,000 And there is only one thing I can think of to do: 866 01:12:15,625 --> 01:12:16,625 Swim. 867 01:15:26,958 --> 01:15:28,625 The show is about to begin. 868 01:15:29,666 --> 01:15:32,333 The room is completely empty. 869 01:15:34,541 --> 01:15:39,041 The show is about to begin, and I am looking 870 01:15:39,125 --> 01:15:43,833 at 60 empty folding chairs. 871 01:15:47,791 --> 01:15:48,708 Hi. 872 01:15:49,708 --> 01:15:51,291 Hey, boy genius. 873 01:15:53,541 --> 01:15:55,500 I'm turning 30 on Sunday, you know. 874 01:15:56,208 --> 01:15:57,791 Oh, well, happy birthday. 875 01:15:58,500 --> 01:15:59,375 Thank you. 876 01:16:00,625 --> 01:16:03,458 - Thirty's still young, you know. - No one's here. 877 01:16:04,625 --> 01:16:06,583 Oh. It's not even 9:00. 878 01:16:08,791 --> 01:16:11,166 The presentation doesn't start till 10:00. 879 01:16:16,666 --> 01:16:17,791 Oh… 880 01:16:18,375 --> 01:16:19,750 That's good. 881 01:16:20,333 --> 01:16:22,208 Cool. 882 01:16:22,291 --> 01:16:24,416 Okay. 883 01:16:25,208 --> 01:16:27,416 - Can you sight read? - Yeah. 884 01:16:33,000 --> 01:16:37,500 Slowly, miraculously, people start to show up. 885 01:16:37,583 --> 01:16:40,291 - Johnny. - Be right back. 886 01:16:40,375 --> 01:16:43,708 This is phenomenal. Look at the space, it's just phenomenal. 887 01:16:43,791 --> 01:16:47,333 - It's a rehearsal studio, Dad. - It's a Broadway rehearsal studio. 888 01:16:47,416 --> 01:16:50,416 - This is the real thing. - We're so excited for you, dear. 889 01:16:50,500 --> 01:16:52,875 - Thank you. - Are they paying you? 890 01:16:54,375 --> 01:16:56,166 No. 891 01:16:56,250 --> 01:16:58,458 - Next time. - Sure. 892 01:16:58,541 --> 01:17:01,208 - Oh, look, for us. - No, that's not… 893 01:17:01,291 --> 01:17:04,333 - That's for someone else, actually. - Mm. Do you like that? 894 01:17:04,416 --> 01:17:08,416 You can literally sit in any other seat. 895 01:17:09,291 --> 01:17:11,291 - Okay. Break a leg. - Shall we sit there? 896 01:17:11,375 --> 01:17:13,791 - I love you. Thank you. - I love you. 897 01:17:20,000 --> 01:17:21,958 His hair is ridiculous. 898 01:17:29,083 --> 01:17:30,083 Good turnout. 899 01:17:32,041 --> 01:17:33,875 Yeah, mostly friends. 900 01:17:34,916 --> 01:17:36,708 Mm, what a nightmare. 901 01:17:41,833 --> 01:17:45,416 Thank you… for being here. 902 01:17:46,583 --> 01:17:49,625 Wild horses, Jon. You know that. 903 01:17:53,125 --> 01:17:56,375 - Oh! Okay. Break legs. - Yeah. 904 01:17:59,416 --> 01:18:01,791 Oh. Thank you. Thank you. 905 01:18:02,500 --> 01:18:04,875 Ira, you son of a gun. 906 01:18:04,958 --> 01:18:08,166 - Jonathan, how are you? - Rosa. 907 01:18:09,958 --> 01:18:12,541 - Jon Larson. - Oh, there he is. 908 01:18:12,625 --> 01:18:16,750 Just the man I'm looking for. You nervous? Don't be nervous. 909 01:18:16,833 --> 01:18:19,833 - Yeah. A little nervous. Sure. - Of course you're nervous. 910 01:18:19,916 --> 01:18:24,791 The first presentation of your musical is like having a colonoscopy in Times Square. 911 01:18:24,875 --> 01:18:27,416 Only with a colonoscopy, the worst thing that could happen 912 01:18:27,500 --> 01:18:29,333 is you find out you have cancer. 913 01:18:29,416 --> 01:18:32,958 With a musical, you find out you're already dead. 914 01:18:35,958 --> 01:18:38,416 Have a good show. Can't wait to see what you did. 915 01:18:44,791 --> 01:18:47,541 We can't keep waiting. It's quarter past. 916 01:18:47,625 --> 01:18:49,208 I know. I know. I know. 917 01:18:49,833 --> 01:18:51,333 - Break a leg. - Okay. 918 01:18:52,333 --> 01:18:54,041 Come here. Thank you. 919 01:19:10,625 --> 01:19:13,208 Hello. Hi, welcome. 920 01:19:14,416 --> 01:19:16,041 I'm Jonathan Larson. 921 01:19:18,083 --> 01:19:20,583 Whoa… Hey, well… 922 01:19:20,666 --> 01:19:24,625 You don't have to do that. Thank you so much, that was very kind. Uh… 923 01:19:24,708 --> 01:19:27,416 Thank you for being here, um, this morning. 924 01:19:27,500 --> 01:19:28,833 This is, um… 925 01:19:34,833 --> 01:19:37,666 - That's Stephen Sondheim. - Right. Like I was saying… 926 01:19:37,750 --> 01:19:41,000 Thank you all for being here. This is my musical, Superbia, 927 01:19:41,083 --> 01:19:45,166 and I've been working on it for… a little while now. 928 01:19:46,750 --> 01:19:49,458 And I just really hope you all like it. 929 01:19:51,250 --> 01:19:52,291 Thank you. 930 01:20:01,166 --> 01:20:05,583 And the next hour and a half are a blur. 931 01:20:43,375 --> 01:20:44,791 And then… 932 01:20:46,000 --> 01:20:49,541 Karessa steps forward to sing my new song. 933 01:20:50,458 --> 01:20:52,333 Not even 12 hours old. 934 01:20:52,916 --> 01:20:54,375 I close my eyes. 935 01:20:55,666 --> 01:20:57,291 I brace myself. 936 01:20:58,416 --> 01:21:00,333 I don't dare take a breath. 937 01:21:04,708 --> 01:21:06,416 But when I open my eyes… 938 01:21:07,833 --> 01:21:09,708 I don't see Karessa there. 939 01:24:37,333 --> 01:24:38,750 Whoo! 940 01:24:50,583 --> 01:24:52,875 - Hello? - Hi, honey, it's Rosa. 941 01:24:52,958 --> 01:24:54,916 Hi, Rosa. Thank you so much for calling. 942 01:24:55,000 --> 01:24:57,791 Well, you already left six messages. 943 01:24:57,875 --> 01:25:02,083 Yeah. Um… So have you heard anything yet? 944 01:25:02,166 --> 01:25:07,125 Honey, I have heard nothing but raves all day long. 945 01:25:07,208 --> 01:25:09,708 I'm getting call after call after call. 946 01:25:10,875 --> 01:25:12,083 Wow. 947 01:25:12,166 --> 01:25:15,375 Okay. Yes! That's great news. 948 01:25:15,458 --> 01:25:19,041 Everyone is telling me the same thing. "That Jonathan Larson!" 949 01:25:19,125 --> 01:25:22,041 "I can't wait to see what he does next." 950 01:25:23,625 --> 01:25:26,666 What do you mean, what I do next? What about Superbia? 951 01:25:28,000 --> 01:25:31,083 I always told you, it was a tough sell. 952 01:25:31,166 --> 01:25:33,208 It's too arty for Broadway. 953 01:25:33,291 --> 01:25:36,500 Tourists aren't gonna shell out 50 dollars 954 01:25:36,583 --> 01:25:39,083 to see a show about spaceships and robots. 955 01:25:39,166 --> 01:25:42,833 Um… That's not what it's about. Um… 956 01:25:42,916 --> 01:25:45,541 Well, of course, I know that, Jonathan. 957 01:25:45,625 --> 01:25:49,583 But you know these producers, they care about one thing and one thing only. 958 01:25:49,666 --> 01:25:54,541 Okay. Uh… So what about Off-Broadway? 959 01:25:54,625 --> 01:25:57,083 It's too expensive for Off. 960 01:25:57,750 --> 01:26:00,958 You got a cast of thousands, with the special effects… 961 01:26:01,041 --> 01:26:03,416 Uh… Charlie, tell him I'll be on in a sec. 962 01:26:03,500 --> 01:26:05,416 - Listen, sweetie, I gotta run. - I'm sorry, Rosa… 963 01:26:05,500 --> 01:26:08,708 Congratulations on a terrific presentation. 964 01:26:08,791 --> 01:26:10,208 Rosa, Rosa, hold on. 965 01:26:10,791 --> 01:26:12,750 So, okay… 966 01:26:13,541 --> 01:26:16,041 So what am I supposed to do now? 967 01:26:19,125 --> 01:26:21,041 You start writing the next one. 968 01:26:21,833 --> 01:26:25,208 And after you finish that one, you start on the next. 969 01:26:25,291 --> 01:26:31,000 And on and on, and that's what it is to be a writer, honey. 970 01:26:31,791 --> 01:26:34,541 You just keep throwing them against the wall 971 01:26:34,625 --> 01:26:39,541 and hoping against hope that eventually, something sticks. 972 01:26:46,875 --> 01:26:47,708 Listen. 973 01:26:47,791 --> 01:26:52,458 Little advice from someone who's been in this business a long, long time? 974 01:26:54,500 --> 01:27:00,208 On the next one, maybe try writing about what you know. 975 01:27:04,208 --> 01:27:05,583 Okay, kiddo? 976 01:27:07,250 --> 01:27:08,083 Yeah. 977 01:27:08,833 --> 01:27:11,416 Start sharpening those pencils. 978 01:27:12,208 --> 01:27:13,666 Yeah, yeah. 979 01:27:23,625 --> 01:27:27,791 I think let's give it a minute and see what happens next week. 980 01:27:27,875 --> 01:27:29,291 Hey, I need a job. 981 01:27:29,375 --> 01:27:32,750 - Can you hold on a second? - I'll apologize to the focus group lady. 982 01:27:32,833 --> 01:27:35,916 I will never say anything bad about marketing research ever again, 983 01:27:36,000 --> 01:27:37,333 I swear to God. 984 01:27:37,416 --> 01:27:39,208 I'm gonna call you right back. 985 01:27:39,291 --> 01:27:41,250 I wanna do what you do. I wanna have what you have. 986 01:27:41,333 --> 01:27:45,666 I want the BMW, I want the doorman, I want it, I want all of it. Okay? 987 01:27:45,750 --> 01:27:47,875 - What's going on? - Oh, it's good. It's good. 988 01:27:47,958 --> 01:27:49,916 I just spent the last eight years killing myself 989 01:27:50,000 --> 01:27:52,041 on a musical that's never gonna happen. 990 01:27:52,125 --> 01:27:55,333 I find that very hard to believe. It was incredible this morning. 991 01:27:55,416 --> 01:27:57,875 Well…But not incredible enough. 992 01:27:58,375 --> 01:27:59,708 I can't do it again, Mike. 993 01:27:59,791 --> 01:28:03,333 I can't stomach five more years of waiting tables, 994 01:28:03,416 --> 01:28:06,708 five more years of writing things that no one will ever see 995 01:28:06,791 --> 01:28:08,875 while Broadway just churns out mega-musicals 996 01:28:08,958 --> 01:28:12,125 without a hint of even the slightest thing original 997 01:28:12,208 --> 01:28:16,416 or, God forbid, something to actually say about the world! 998 01:28:17,708 --> 01:28:18,916 Are you done? 999 01:28:19,958 --> 01:28:22,666 - No, actually... - The presentation, Jon, it was amazing. 1000 01:28:23,958 --> 01:28:26,625 It would be a tragedy to give up what you have. 1001 01:28:27,666 --> 01:28:30,500 - You did it. - Please! 1002 01:28:30,583 --> 01:28:32,583 I was a mediocre actor. 1003 01:28:32,666 --> 01:28:35,916 Do you know how many mediocre actors there are in New York City? 1004 01:28:36,000 --> 01:28:38,958 Do you know how many Jonathan Larsons there are? 1005 01:28:39,958 --> 01:28:40,916 One. 1006 01:28:43,166 --> 01:28:45,916 I can't keep wasting my time, Mike. 1007 01:28:46,000 --> 01:28:48,416 - I turn 30 in two days. - And? 1008 01:28:49,416 --> 01:28:53,750 And Stephen Sondheim was 27 when he had his first show on Broadway. 1009 01:28:53,833 --> 01:28:56,791 Well, guess what? You're not Stephen Sondheim. Wait a little longer... 1010 01:28:56,875 --> 01:28:59,291 I'm not waiting anymore. I can't keep waiting. This is my life. 1011 01:28:59,375 --> 01:29:02,083 - I understand. - No, you don't. I'm running out of time. 1012 01:29:02,875 --> 01:29:06,875 - You are not running out of time. - You don't know anything about it. 1013 01:29:06,958 --> 01:29:08,541 I'm HIV-positive. 1014 01:29:16,833 --> 01:29:17,833 What? 1015 01:29:23,750 --> 01:29:26,250 - How long have you known? - A few days. 1016 01:29:31,166 --> 01:29:32,250 Who knows? 1017 01:29:33,666 --> 01:29:35,416 I might get lucky. People do. 1018 01:29:37,375 --> 01:29:40,000 Live a year, longer even. 1019 01:29:42,833 --> 01:29:46,625 Anyway, I think I might know a thing or two about running out of time. 1020 01:29:47,708 --> 01:29:49,208 Why didn't you tell me sooner? 1021 01:29:55,750 --> 01:29:56,750 You tried. 1022 01:30:01,958 --> 01:30:04,625 Jill Kramer returning, line two. 1023 01:30:06,750 --> 01:30:08,458 I have to take that. 1024 01:30:08,541 --> 01:30:11,583 - Mike... - I can't talk about this now, please. 1025 01:30:15,541 --> 01:30:18,500 Jill. Hey, it's Michael. 1026 01:30:18,583 --> 01:30:21,166 Yeah, I just want to see how the Downy account was going. 1027 01:30:21,250 --> 01:30:23,875 Mm-hm. 1028 01:30:32,250 --> 01:30:34,291 I think of the day I met Michael. 1029 01:30:36,250 --> 01:30:40,375 It was the first day at sleep-away camp, 22 years ago. 1030 01:30:41,583 --> 01:30:42,958 We were eight. 1031 01:30:44,125 --> 01:30:47,666 I think of high school, all the shows we did together. 1032 01:31:02,833 --> 01:31:05,916 I think of the summer that our parents decided to stay 1033 01:31:06,000 --> 01:31:09,916 in the same town in Cape Cod, a mile away from each other. 1034 01:31:10,000 --> 01:31:12,541 And we'd meet on the beach every night and, um… 1035 01:31:13,791 --> 01:31:19,500 We'd just sit there talking till three in the morning about our plans. 1036 01:31:21,458 --> 01:31:25,333 About how one day we were gonna move to the city together and… 1037 01:31:26,333 --> 01:31:30,000 …find a cheap apartment and be discovered, 1038 01:31:30,750 --> 01:31:32,458 and change the world. 1039 01:31:33,375 --> 01:31:36,125 Hey, you've reached Susan, Beth... 1040 01:31:39,333 --> 01:31:42,625 I think of the first summer back from college. 1041 01:31:42,708 --> 01:31:46,875 We smoked a bowl on Kennedy breakwater and Michael told me he was gay. 1042 01:31:58,583 --> 01:32:01,625 I think of our friends, so many. 1043 01:32:02,541 --> 01:32:04,791 I think of their funerals. 1044 01:32:04,875 --> 01:32:07,000 I think of their parents not even 50, 1045 01:32:07,083 --> 01:32:09,833 saying the Kaddish over their children. 1046 01:32:16,625 --> 01:32:19,250 I think of them and I think of Michael. 1047 01:32:19,333 --> 01:32:23,083 And before I understand what's happening, I start running. 1048 01:32:30,125 --> 01:32:33,208 Past the pond, past the carousel. 1049 01:32:40,125 --> 01:32:43,875 The ticking is so loud now, I can't hear anything. 1050 01:32:48,708 --> 01:32:51,875 My heartbeat is pounding in my throat. 1051 01:32:51,958 --> 01:32:55,291 The wind is shrieking through the trees. 1052 01:32:55,375 --> 01:32:57,166 The sky is darkening. 1053 01:32:57,250 --> 01:33:01,083 I want it to stop. I want it all to stop! 1054 01:39:33,458 --> 01:39:38,125 Hey. Whatever happens next, I'm here. I promise. 1055 01:39:39,958 --> 01:39:43,458 There's, um… there's a support group, it's called Friends In Deed. 1056 01:39:43,541 --> 01:39:45,875 I just called them. They have a meeting tomorrow morning. 1057 01:39:45,958 --> 01:39:48,833 You look like shit. 1058 01:39:48,916 --> 01:39:50,041 I'm so cold. 1059 01:39:51,625 --> 01:39:52,833 Come on. 1060 01:39:54,916 --> 01:39:56,375 Oh, Mike. 1061 01:39:57,916 --> 01:40:00,125 I'm sorry. 1062 01:40:07,208 --> 01:40:08,541 Sunday. 1063 01:40:10,666 --> 01:40:12,958 My 30th birthday. 1064 01:40:31,916 --> 01:40:33,500 Jon? Steve Sondheim here. 1065 01:40:33,583 --> 01:40:36,291 Rosa gave me this number, I hope it's okay to call you. 1066 01:40:36,375 --> 01:40:39,041 I didn't get a chance to speak with you after the reading, 1067 01:40:39,125 --> 01:40:42,000 but I just wanted to say it was really good. 1068 01:40:42,083 --> 01:40:43,625 Congratulations. 1069 01:40:43,708 --> 01:40:46,708 I'd love to get together and talk to you about it, if you have any interest. 1070 01:40:46,791 --> 01:40:48,208 No pressure. 1071 01:40:48,291 --> 01:40:52,458 The main thing though, is that it's first-rate work and has a future. 1072 01:40:52,541 --> 01:40:53,958 And so do you. 1073 01:40:54,041 --> 01:40:56,708 I'll call you later with some thoughts, if that's okay. 1074 01:40:56,791 --> 01:40:58,833 Meanwhile, be proud. 1075 01:41:30,958 --> 01:41:34,791 You know, there was a small... Very, very small piece of me 1076 01:41:34,875 --> 01:41:39,000 that was the teensiest bit happy to hear you're not leaving. 1077 01:41:39,791 --> 01:41:42,166 I'd have been sad not to see you every Sunday morning. 1078 01:41:42,250 --> 01:41:43,458 Oh. Cheers. 1079 01:41:44,208 --> 01:41:47,375 I told Freddy. He's pissed off at your agent. 1080 01:41:47,458 --> 01:41:50,208 How is he? 1081 01:41:51,000 --> 01:41:53,291 - He should be going home soon. - Really? 1082 01:41:53,375 --> 01:41:55,583 Yes. Yes. 1083 01:41:55,666 --> 01:41:58,666 God… 1084 01:42:07,916 --> 01:42:08,958 Oh. 1085 01:42:16,375 --> 01:42:18,875 - Uh, I'll be... Yeah. - You go handle that. 1086 01:42:22,833 --> 01:42:24,375 - Hi. - Hi. 1087 01:42:24,458 --> 01:42:25,791 I didn't know you were, um… 1088 01:42:25,875 --> 01:42:29,000 I wasn't sure whether you would want me here. 1089 01:42:33,166 --> 01:42:34,583 I'm so happy you're here. 1090 01:42:36,958 --> 01:42:39,708 So how was the reading? Did anybody...? 1091 01:42:44,916 --> 01:42:48,083 - I'm sorry. - No, it's okay. 1092 01:42:51,083 --> 01:42:54,000 - I really wanted to be there. I just... - Susan… 1093 01:42:55,916 --> 01:42:57,125 I know. 1094 01:43:02,041 --> 01:43:03,708 What are you gonna do now? 1095 01:43:05,958 --> 01:43:07,291 I'm gonna start the next one. 1096 01:43:13,041 --> 01:43:14,583 I decided to take the job. 1097 01:43:17,541 --> 01:43:18,541 Okay. 1098 01:43:22,958 --> 01:43:24,083 I'm happy for you. 1099 01:43:28,250 --> 01:43:29,583 Happy birthday. 1100 01:43:32,583 --> 01:43:33,666 Thank you. 1101 01:43:34,875 --> 01:43:37,416 You really didn't have to get me anything. 1102 01:43:49,250 --> 01:43:50,833 It's for the next one. 1103 01:43:54,208 --> 01:43:55,750 Got any ideas? 1104 01:43:59,791 --> 01:44:01,000 Just questions. 1105 01:44:02,666 --> 01:44:04,833 That seems like a really good place to start. 1106 01:44:16,000 --> 01:44:17,375 Goodbye, Jonathan. 1107 01:44:25,958 --> 01:44:29,041 The next one was tick, tick… BOOM! 1108 01:44:29,125 --> 01:44:34,083 After that, he went back to a project he'd started and put away, called Rent. 1109 01:44:35,708 --> 01:44:38,375 It ran on Broadway for 12 years. 1110 01:44:40,041 --> 01:44:43,125 It changed the definition of what a musical could be. 1111 01:44:44,333 --> 01:44:46,291 What it could sound like. 1112 01:44:47,416 --> 01:44:49,583 The kinds of stories it could tell. 1113 01:44:50,583 --> 01:44:53,166 Jonathan never got to see it. 1114 01:44:53,666 --> 01:44:58,458 The night before Rent's first public performance, he died… 1115 01:44:58,541 --> 01:45:00,625 From a sudden aortic aneurysm. 1116 01:45:02,041 --> 01:45:03,916 He was 35 years old. 1117 01:45:16,541 --> 01:45:19,208 He still had so many questions. 1118 01:49:55,791 --> 01:49:57,208 Make a wish. 1119 01:56:54,208 --> 01:56:56,500 One, two…