Burton and Taylor Page #3

- I can't.

I'm meeting Sally,

back at the apartment.

I'm seeing Mike first to sort out

some business, but she's joining us.

Oh!

Oh, I...

Right.

Is she staying around? Sally is?

For all the rehearsals?

Well, what did you and I do

when the other was working?

That was us, Richard.

No, no, it's great, I mean...

No, I just assumed that she'd,

I don't know,

have other stuff to get on with

back in Europe, but...

No, it'll be lovely for you

to have the company.

Yes, it will.

Well, I'd better go.

I'm only just around the corner.

Thank you for the scarf.

Any more news on the Lear deal?

- No. I'll chase it up this afternoon.

- Good, if you could.

"Thou shouldst not have been old

till thou hadst been wise."

Elizabeth. Of course she hasn't read it.

I mean, that's our girl.

That's what she does.

Doesn't mean it isn't irritating.

Well, so what, though?

She just works differently to me,

that's all.

You know, when we did Cleopatra,

I'd come straight from the Old Vic.

I went over to Hollywood

and she walked out onto the sound stage.

She was just tits and make up.

And then we had our first scene together

and she did nothing.

Nothing. No voice,

no movement, no performance.

I thought she'd had

a bloody stroke or something.

And then I saw the rushes

and I was acting Antony.

But she was Cleopatra.

She just sort of bleeds into a role.

Like osmosis.

- Hard to rehearse around.

- Impossible at times.

But God, she's good, Mike.

She's so bloody good.

Anyway, this last scene's

a bit of a worry.

I'm afraid I won't be able

to carry her on.

What?

Cordelia, Lear. "Howl, howl, howl."

How will I do that?

My arms are bloody useless at times.

Then don't take it on!

Three hours on stage every night...

No, no. No, I've made promises.

To myself.

I must do it.

What's the matter, darling?

Are you hungry?

Not a bit.

You're very strange all of a sudden

and rather cruel.

Just because I'm feminine, it doesn't

mean I'm crafty and calculating.

I never said you were

either of those things.

I hate these half... Sorry.

Half-masculine.

Can I take the line again?

Well, sure, go ahead.

I hate these half-masculine women

who go banging about.

I hate anyone who goes banging about.

I should think you needed

a little quiet womanliness after Amanda.

Why do you keep on talking about her?

That's good. That's a great idea, Rich,

holding the lighter away from her.

Works for me!

Right.

Let's go back to Amanda's entrance.

- Oh! That's me.

- Great, Rich.

- Whoa!

- That's great, darling.

- Ooh!

- You okay?

You were wonderful.

- Thank you.

- No, it was... No, it was...

Well, you were just funny.

- You all right, love?

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