Chapter 6
Judge Boyle: Why did you buy a boat?
Billy: Joe DiMaggio bought Marilyn Monroe flowers every single day for 30 years after her death. We call that romantic.
Judge Boyle: Yes, flowers. But he bought a boat.
Opposing counsel: Your Honor, as the previous court correctly held, Mr Little is no longer capable of managing his own affairs. There's a slew of anecdotal evidence. Just look at the papers before you. This man is not well.
Judge Boyle: Step up here, Mr Little.
Ally: (Oh God.)
Judge Boyle: Let me see your teeth.
Ally: (This was bound to happen.)
Judge Boyle: I want a full hearing.
Paula: So what does that mean?
Ally: Seymore takes the stand and undergoes questioning. Paula, what's the deal?
Paula: I'm sorry?
Ally: I know you're an art student. You probably admire him. But, look, I'm gonna be honest with you. I'm smelling a rat in the wedding cake, and I think that is you.
Paula: I'm after his money?
Ally: That would be my guess.
Paula: Except I'm willing to sign a prenup that says I get nothing?
Ally: That doesn't stop him from giving you everything while he's still alive.
Paula: Ally, may I call you Ally?
Ally: Yes.
Paula: I think your job here is to give the client what he wants.
Ally: My job is to protect my client's interests.
Paula: Fine. Figure out his interests and protect them.
Chapter 7
Billy: John, come on in.
John: I'm loath to intrude.
Billy: What's up?
John: As you know, I'm on the precipice of a date with Ally.
Billy: And?
John: I'm fraught with anxiety. Should I endeavor to kiss her? Well, according to Cosmopolitan magazine, women draw significant conclusions about the man's potential technique as a lover simply by the way he kisses. I'm not saying I agree with an excess, but being prone to high saliva secretions, I'm fraught.
Billy: You came here for advice on how to kiss Ally?
John: I apologize.
Billy: The truth is, John, as a senior partner it doesn't make a lot of sense for you to be dating associates.
John: I'd only planned to date one. But I appreciate your candor.
Georgia: John.
John: Georgia.
Georgia: You seem a little miffed there.
Billy: Do you think it's right? He's a founding partner.
Georgia: Right, and she's an associate.
Chapter 8
Sam: I didn't bring a lawyer because I'd like to keep this under the table. My father's liquid estate is worth a little over 800,000. I will sign it over to you if you walk away. I cannot put him through this hearing tomorrow.
Billy: Whoa whoa whoa. We don't represent her. We represent your dad. So even if…
Paula: I have a counter. You keep all of his money, except provide living expenses. You keep his entire estate. In exchange you agree to revoke guardianship and let us be married. You get all of the money. And I only get him.
Sam: I will not let you hurt him.
Paula: And I won't let you.
Billy: Am I the only one who doesn't have a clue?
Ally: She can't be a gold digger. She's willing to give up his whole estate. And certainly he's not gonna make any more money. It's… What are we missing?
Billy: Maybe they do love each other. I mean, this one-love-forever thing, that's silly. Somebody else is gonna always come along.
Ally: Somebody did. Paula.
Billy: Uh, yeah.
Ally: Do you believe what his son said, that some people meet somebody who they never stop loving?
Billy: Uh, well, it's been known to happen.
Ally: Yeah, yeah. It's been known to happen. You know, every time I get by this something comes along to tear the lid off. Am I the only one…
Billy: It's not right to talk about a thing which I can't also talk about with Georgia. And I can't talk about this. It's just the case affecting us.
Ally: Yeah, yes, it's the case.
Billy: And you and I, we're still going through a stage.
Ally: Yeah, it's… It's a stage.
Billy: And we're making good progress, I think.
Ally: Yeah, most of the time I don't even think about you.
Billy: Excellent.
Ally: Yeah. Well, let's get over our case. Go over our case. Tomorrow. The case.
Billy: Right, okay, you take him on the stand. I'll take the son.
Ally: Sounds good.
Billy: So let's go over the evidence.
Ally: Yeah, let's. Okay, anecdotal evidence of incompetence.
Billy: Yep, okay, incompetence. The conversation with the dead wife...
See the pyramids along the Nile
Watch the sunrise on a tropic isle
Just remember, darling, all the while
You belong to me
See the marketplace in old Algiers
Send me photographs and souvenirs
Just remember when a dream appears
You belong to me
Chapter 9
Renee: But nothing happened?
Ally: Of course nothing happened. He's married. I like his wife, and I gave up adultery for Lent.
Renee: But you're obviously upset.
Ally: Because I feel myself falling backwards.
Renee: Ally, if you so much as touch that man, I will break your skinny little knees.
Ally: I'm not going to touch him. What do you think I am?
Renee: Who knows what you are! For all I know, that damn ooga-chucka will come out again. You'll be on the floor with...
Ally: I will not! I am just admitting a relapse. I just need...
Judge Boyle: A protective order?
Opposing counsel: There's no reason for any of this to be public, Your Honor. My client feels these proceedings could cause embarrassment to his father.
Billy: We have no objection to sealing the room, Judge.
Judge Boyle: Fine. Done. Now, I must admit that this man is somebody I've looked up to. Besides Picasso, he's one of my favorites.
Ally: (Picasso?)
Judge Boyle: As officers of the court, do you believe in the legitimacy of this marriage?
Billy: We certainly don't doubt his sincerity. We have no real cause to doubt her since money has been excluded as a motive.
Judge Boyle: All right. Let's go.
Billy: Are you ready?
Ally: I'm ready.
Billy: Use the velvet glove. Whatever you do, don't provoke the guy.
Ally: I won't.
Billy: Just keep it gentle and nothing fancy. Keep it soft like…
Ally: What are you doing?
Billy: Something I gotta do. Just once.
Ally: Billy…
Billy: Ally. Are you okay?
Ally: Me?
Chapter 10
I heard people say that too much of anything is not good for you, baby.
But I don't know about that.
There's many times that we've loved.
We've shared love and made love.
It doesn't seem to me like it's enough.
There's just not enough, babe.
There's just not enough.
Oh Babe.
My darling, I can 't get enough of your love, babe
Seymore: So I forget things. I'm old.
Ally: Okay, Mr Little. Aside from the memory loss, your son…
Seymore: I remember him.
Ally: You love him?
Seymore: Like a son.
Ally: And there's really no question of his motive here, is there?
Seymore: I'm sure in his mind he's protecting me. I guess at some point the child becomes the parent. And like the parent, the child can sometimes victimize with good intentions and fear.
Judge Boyle: Why did it have to be such a big boat? This is a big, big boat.
Seymore: Your Honor, you know, sometimes when a person gets older, and there's a certain point where they are not really there mentally. Not really.
Judge Boyle: Yes.
Seymore: Are you one of those people?
Judge Boyle: Mr Little, don't you be trickery with me.
Ally: (Be trickery?)
Seymore: Your Honor, Paula makes me happy. I'm old. I'm lonely. Why do I have to come into court to ask for her company?
John: I won't stand to be disparaged.
Richard: What are you doing?
John: I'm preparing myself rhythmically.
Richard: Ah! What about the kissing issue? Did Billy give you any help?
John: I decided it might be best not to kiss her.
Richard: No, wrong wrong wrong! You have to…
John: I don't want to goo her.
Richard: John… Elaine! Excellent. You probably grew up kissing everybody, right?
Elaine: Actually, no. I was known as a giver in high school. So even on first dates boys go directly to second base. But I am a good kisser.
Richard: Have you ever kissed a guy, you know, with too much saliva?
Elaine: The worst.
Richard: But it's not too, too bad, is it?
Elaine: Oh. No. No. Some girls like the slobber. Anyway, it's easy to fix.
John: It is?
Elaine: Yes. When kissing becomes really sensual, sometimes you actually suck the other person's tongue. It's kind of like a vacuum effect. You can actually swallow your own saliva, maybe even some of hers, without her noticing. She'll just think it's an incredibly erotic kiss.
John: You suck on it?
Elaine: Can I show you? You see? You secreted. But I swallowed. No slobber.
John: I need ice.
Chapter 11
Judge Boyle: It's irregular, but I'll let him ask a few questions.
Sam: Thank you.
Sam: Dad. Why are you saying you love this woman?
Seymore: Gee, I don't know. Maybe because I love her?
Sam: But you're not over Mom yet, Dad? You refuse to visit her grave, you say so yourself, because you refuse to admit she's gone.
Seymore: I don't have to be told that she's gone, Son.
Sam: Doesn't this demean your marriage to Mom?
Seymore: No.
Sam: You said that you would never let her go.You said that you would always cherish her and her memory. This isn't cherishing her, is it?
Seymore: You shut your mouth!
Sam: I don't know what's going on here. I do know that this doesn't seem like you. My dad doesn't seem right.
Seymore: Was it right for her to die? Was it right for the old world to just end, for me to go on living in it? The sun still comes up. People still go about their lives like it was nothing. It's no tragedy when an elderly person dies. She didn't suffer. It was a blessing. There was no suffering. No suffering.
Sam: You don't think people knew your suffering?
Seymore: I want my gallery! I want to marry whoever I want! I'll buy any kind of boat that I want! Huh? Oh. I know, sweetheart. I know. It's how I get, Gail. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Ally: I asked you before, and I'll ask again. What is going on? And don't tell me how much you love him. Now, is this more about that art gallery?
Paula: Yes. All he wants is to open a little place and paint pictures of his wife, Gail. Maybe sell some. But his son doesn't think he's either competent or capable. So he says no.
Ally: So how does your marrying…
Paula: Well, if we get married, in time I could be named guardian, and I could let him open his little shop.
Ally: So that's what this is all about? Well, why didn't you tell us?
Paula: Tell you it's a pretext and expect you to argue it?
Ally: So this is just so he can start a gallery, and you would profit from the sales of his pictures?
Paula: Ally, I paint better than he does right now. He's not going to sell much, and he knows that. He just wants his gallery.
Ally: Does his son know this?
Paula: Yes. I don't think he knows that's what this marriage is all about. So now what?
Ally: Well, you're right. I can't go back in there asking a judge to allow a sham. But I can talk to his son.
Sam: So that's what this is. I endow her guardianship so he can open up his art gallery.
Ally: So if you just let him, the marriage will be off. And you can still be the guardian.
Sam: I can't let him. I can't let him open his art gallery.
Billy: Why not?
Sam: This is what he paints. Her. Her. All day long.
Ally: These are pretty good.
Sam: Ally, my father may be the most important American impressionist of the century. This is not the work of an icon.
Ally: So? If this is what he wants to paint, then…
Sam: If these ever found their way to the marketplace, not only would they be ridiculed but his, his legacy would be ruined. I will not let him be laughed at.
Ally: You're more concerned with what people would say when he's dead than letting him do what he wants to do?
Sam: Every night my father would pray that he'd leave behind him two things. My mother. He couldn't bear the thought of her dying first. And his artistic legacy. My mom died first. I couldn't help him there. But his reputation, that I can help preserve. And I will.
Chapter 12
Ally: Even so, he's doing what he says his father wants while his father says he wants something else.
Billy: What if your dad wants to continue practicing law after he lost and other lawyers start laughing at him. Would you wanna step in?
Ally: Well, I suppose….
Billy: Ally, we all think about our legacy, and we hope we know when to get out before we get hurt.
John: Ally, it's eight o'clock.
Ally: Oh! Right. Yes. John and I have a date.
Bily: Great. Have fun.
Ally: Thanks. Well, see you tomorrow.
Billy: Tomorrow it is.
Ally: Let's go! (Boring. Narcissistic. And we're off.) I really wanted to do my hair, put a few spirals in it. But I didn't have enough time to get any real spring. Usually I can get ready for a date quickly. Just a little smudge plum on my cheeks. I like a stiff brush. It looks great, especially when I can rim my eyelashes with a nice white pencil. I'm really concerned more with how I dress. I like a high waist. Of course, I can't bear not being symmetrical.
Man: Hold it.
Ally: Some men like makeup. Now I have this sweeping beige cream pink blush. I almost ??? Do you ever wake up with puffy eyes?
Oh, some things I can't get used to
No matter how I try
It's like the more you give, the more I want
Baby, that's no lie
Tell me, what can I say?
What am I gonna do?
How should I feel when everything is you
ALLY: God, I'm trapped in '70s hell and I cannot get out.
What kind of love is this that you've given me?
Is it in your kiss just because you're sweet?
Boy, all I know is every time you're near I feel a change
Something moves I scream your name
ALLY: And he's having a great time.
Ally: And of course I don't prefer speckled nail polish. I just can't find deeper shades. And I found this wonderful blueberry enamel. It really brought up my eyes. I tried it with this gold-loaded cheek powder. Oh my god, I had foreplay with my mirror.
John: Excuse me, why, why are you talking so fast?
Ally: What?
John: Subject matter aside, the rapidity of speech puzzles me.
Ally: Oh. Um. Well... This case I'm working on. This man still loves his dead wife.
It's really hit me. I'm a sucker for unrelenting love, I guess.
John: I have unrelenting impulses.
Ally: Sorry?
John: Oh!
Ally: Oh, John. You knocked me off my feet with that one.
John: Are you hurt?
Ally: No. I'm fine. That's one to call it a night on, don't you think?
John: I've been untoward.
Ally: No, it's okay. We'll talk tomorrow. I had a great time. Night, buddy.
John: Night. She called me "buddy."
Chapter 13
Richard: Look, first dates are sometimes rocky.
John: I was untoward.
Richard: John, you probably just surprised her. That's all.
ELAINE: Did you suck her tongue?
John: I may have drawn blood.
Richard: Look, the worst thing isn't startling your escort. My first date with Whipper, she called the police. Next day, I got wattle. Bygones. He was untoward.
Seymore: Come.
Ally: Hey.
Seymore: Skirtless. You make house calls?
Ally: Yeah. Listen. We need to make a final argument to the judge this morning, and we really don't have one. These are beautiful.
Seymore: For an amateur.
Ally: Your son... Well, it seems what he really wants to protect in all this is your name in the art world. Which you say isn't important to you. But the problem is that according to him, it is. Or at least, it was. And he thinks that when you were more...
Seymore: Competent.
Ally: I'm here trying to figure out what you really, really want. Mr. Little, tell me what you want.
Seymore: What I've always wanted… Paint what I feel and share it.
Ally: And all you paint is her.
Seymore: Yeah. Yeah.
Chapter 14
Ally: John, I'm sorry.
John: It's quite all right. I suppose we're even.
Ally: I wasn't looking where I was going. I am so sorry. Are you okay?
John: Yes. Fine. Ally, I replayed the date several times. And I realize that your cosmetic babbling was designed to incur my disinterest. You're a very sensitive person.
Ally: Um, John, I... I think that... Sometimes I just know that it's not a match, even when I don't know the why part. Renee and I, we call it the "ick."
John: Ick? I don't like this word, ick.
Ally: Well, it sounds pejorative, but it really just means..."not meant to be." I mean... It could be that you and I work together. It could be that you're kind and I need somebody who would be miserable to me. And it could be...
John: You're in love with somebody else.
Ally: What? No, no. I don't think that's it. I'm not even seeing anybody else. Are you really okay?
John: I've jammed my flusher. I'm fine.
Ally: Well, um... I am due in court, so I better get going. We'll talk later, okay?John: Sure. Something tells me he's still in love too.
Chapter 15
Opponent counsel: We have provided the court with substantial documentation showing the financial hardship to the estate if Mr. Little were allowed to open a gallery and display his recent works…
Billy: It's servitude.
Opponent counsel: It's protecting his interest...
Billy: Guardianship doesn't presuppose...
Opponent counsel: Guardianship presupposes his incompetence! I'm sorry to have to say this in this room, Your Honor, but you have forced this ugliness. Mr. Little is incompetent. Now, if he were allowed to open a gallery, display picture after picture after picture of his dead wife, inferior works, the estate gets hurt. His reputation gets hurt. For God's sake, his son is just trying to protect him. Art students all over the world revere this man. Let that be. Please. Let that be.
Ally: He still loves his wife. He wants to continue experiencing it and sharing it. And maybe that makes him crazy, but we should al nl be so lucky to end up with somebody with a bit of that insanity. Somebody who never lets you go. Somebody who cherishes you forever. Talk about a legacy. Loving somebody forever. That's a legacy. You want his world to go on, Sam. So does he.
Judge Boyle: I'll have to figure out the logistics, but I believe I can construe a guardianship that allows him to open a shop.
construe
verb con·strue
construe
-
transitive verb
-
1 : to analyze the arrangement and connection of words in (a sentence or sentence part) construe this Latin sentence by Cicero
-
2 : to understand or explain the sense or intention of usually in a particular way or with respect to a given set of circumstances construed my actions as hostile Her frustration was construed as anger.
-
intransitive verb
-
: to construe a sentence or sentence part especially in connection with translating
construable
adjective
Opponent Counsel: Your Honor, nobody here wants to see him get hurt.
Judge Boyle: I see that. That's why I think it will work.
Why does the sun go on shining?
Why does the sea rush to shore?
Don't they know it's the end of the world
'Cause you don't love me anymore?
Billy: Will you forgive my letting go?
Ally: I forgive it. But I'm still not sure I'll ever understand it.
Why do the stars go above?
Don't they know it's the end of the world?
It ended when I lost your love
I wake up in the morning and I wonder
Why everything is the same as it was
I can't understand, no, I can't understand
How life goes on the way it does
Why does my heart go on beating?
Why do these eyes of mine cry?
Don't they know it's the end of the world?
It ended when you said goodbye
Don't they know it's the end of the world?
It ended when you said goodbye