Before Sunset Page #3

Mostly I was mad we hadn't exchanged

any phone numbers or any information.

That was so stupid.

No way to get in touch.

- Nothing to go on.

- I didn't know your last name.

Remember, we were both afraid

if we started writing and calling...

...that it would slowly fade out.

- It definitely wasn't a slow fade.

No, it sure wasn't.

We wanted to pick up

where we left off.

Which would have been fine

if it had worked. Oh, well.

So...

- How long were you in Vienna, then?

- Just a couple days.

Did you meet another girl?

Yeah, her name was Gretchen

and she was amazing.

The book's really a composite

of the two of you.

No, I'm kidding. You wouldn't believe...

I even went back to the train station.

I put up signs of my number

in the hotel in case you'd been delayed.

- I was a total dork.

- Let's go this way. Did you get any calls?

Just a couple hookers

looking for a gig.

No, it was awful, I mean,

what do you want me to say?

It's so sad. I'm so sorry.

I walked around for a couple days.

Eventually, I flew home.

I owed my dad 2000 bucks...

...who had warned me

about French chicks.

What did he tell you

about French women?

Nothing. He's never met

any French women.

He's never been

east of the Mississippi.

Why didn't you put, "Six months later,

the French b*tch didn't show up"?

No, but I did, I did.

- You did?

- Yeah. No. I made it more hopeful.

I wrote this fictional version

where you do show up.

- Oh, what happens?

- Well...

What?

We make love for about 0 days straight,

that's one part of it.

- Interesting. So the French slut, right?

- Yeah, exactly.

It's just then they get

to know each other better...

...and realize they don't

get along at all.

- I like that. It's more real.

- My editor didn't think that way.

Everyone wants to believe in love.

It sells.

Yeah, exactly, so...

So things are going well for you,

right? I mean...

- Your book is a bestseller in the U.S.

- It's a tiny bestseller.

- Oh, come on.

- All right. Officially, yes.

Most people haven't read Moby Dick.

Why should they read my book?

I haven't read Moby Dick

and I liked your book.

- Thanks.

- Even though...

...I thought you idealized

the night of it.

Come on, it's fiction, right?

- I'm supposed to...

- I know, I know.

I know. I thought there were times

where you made me...

Well, I mean, her, right?

No, me. Okay, whatever.

- A little bit neurotic.

- You are a bit like that, aren't you?

- You think I'm neurotic?

- No, no, no. Come on, I'm kidding.

Where did I do that? I didn't do that.

Oh, maybe it's just me, you know...

Reading something, knowing

the character is based on you...

...it's both flattering and disturbing

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