"Previously, on Smash..." "This isn't a high school science project, it's a bloody musical." "We're looking at someone else for press secretary." " Sorry to interrupt." " Karen, this is R.J." "New York Times reporter I'm always complaining about." "I kinda got arrested." "My workshop is tomorrow." "You know what I'm in the middle of!" "I do know what you're in the middle of." " Ivy was incredible." " I don't know about incredible." "Get your head in the game." "♪ On Lexington and 52nd Street ♪" "I think the real problem is Michael Swift." "Okay, do you want to fix the show, or indulge in paranoid fantasies?" "We need to rethink some things." "[Tap-dancing]" "Joe, that's perfect." "So you haven't heard any feedback?" "It's only been a few days." "More like a week, guy." "Well, there's always radio silence while they figure out the next step." "I'm sure I'll hear something soon." "You don't think it's dead, do you?" " We're dead." " Stop." "Eileen is not returning my phone calls." "She will call you when she has something to tell you." "[Sighs] I hate show business." "You work with people, day in, day out, putting your soul on the line, and the instant things don't go the way you want, it's as if you've evaporated off the planet." "Julia, the workshop was a success." "Are you ready to go to Broadway?" "No." "But as a first step, it was a success." " I hate first steps." " I know." "I want to be there." "I know." "And now we have Leo's court date." "Don't think about it." "It's next week." "We have to think about it." "Not right this second we don't." "[Crowd cheering]" "Ugh, what're you doing now, Frank?" "You're a musical theater star." "I'm going to sing to you." "Oh, Frank." "[Bob Marley's Three little birds plays]" "♪" "♪ Don't worry" "♪ about a thing I am worried." "♪ 'Cause every little thing ♪" "♪ Is gonna be all right" "I'm worried about your sanity." "♪ Baby, don't worry" "♪ about a thing" "♪ 'cause every little thing ♪" "♪ Is gonna be all right yeah, that Cartwright girl is terrific." "And you think Ryan'll have something ready soon?" "Good." "Okay, I'll book a space." "Thanks, Derek." "[Knocks]" "Door was open." "So I see." "I called your office, they said you were working from here for a couple days." "One of those useless temps actually showed up?" "That's novel." "You need any help with anything?" "Now that the workshop's over," "Tom doesn't really need me as much." "I've got some extra time." "You're such a useful young man." "I try to be." "Want me to call the movers, see when your stuff's getting here?" "No, actually, I don't want any of that old stuff." "No?" "No, I think it's pretty like this." "It's airy." "Light." "Yeah, but it echoes." "If you don't mind, would you help me with a couple of things here?" " Yeah, sure." " [Knocks on door]" "Come in." "It's open." "Hi." "Can I help you?" "Mom?" " Did you bring your demo?" " Yeah." "Uh, yes, I did." "You said you wanted to talk about Marilyn?" "Yeah, I did." "We've come up with a really interesting new situation, and we're talking to a new songwriter." " A new songwriter." " Mm-hmm." "About a new approach." "And one new song, actually, to start." "Okay, so..." "And we need you to sing it." "You want me to s..." "And Tom and Julia, obviously, cannot know." "[Orchestra warming up]" "SMASH s01 ep 08" " The Coup [baton taps]" "So what did she said when you give it to her?" " She didn't say anything." " She just took it." "She looked at it." "And what did she say when you asked her about what was happening?" "She didn't say anything." "Oh, that's great." "Like, nothing?" "She literally said nothing." "Well, her daughter showed up." "Katie's in town." ""Mahatma Katie." That's what she called her." "For good reason." "That girl is a Saint." "She was on the phone with Derek when I got there, something about Karen Cartwright." "She and Derek were talking about Karen?" "That's what I heard." "[Scoffs] I wonder what that's about." "Here, tomorrow you can deliver this." "Call Julia." "Hey." "Hey." " Thanks for coming." " Thanks for calling me." "Uh..." "So, I, um..." "How's your family?" "They're good." "They're right over there." "They are?" " Go on." " They are!" "Good." "Good." "[Laughs]" "And Frank and Leo?" "They're good." "I did want to tell you, um..." "We don't know what's happening with Marilyn, but..." "I'm fired." "[Chuckles] It's okay, um..." "If I weren't fired, I'd quit." "They're everything to me, and I've been really stupid." "Me too." " Good luck with Marilyn." " Thanks." "So Tom and Julia know nothing about it?" "Apparently not, and I'm not supposed to tell them." "I'm supposed to just show up and sing a song that someone else wrote for their musical." "Are they even allowed to do that?" "Ugh, who knows?" "I can't figure these people out." "Seriously, your lot is as bad as my lot." " And my lot are politicians." " Right?" "And he kept saying "we." Like, who is "we"?" "Well, if it's not Tom and Julia, it must be the producer." "Yeah, but he never said it, he just kept saying, "we,"" "like a giant "we," like gods or aliens." "Mm, wow." "Is that cardamom in the shell?" "Where'd you find this?" "Oh, I had to meet him way at the end of 2nd ave, because we were being so secret, so I stopped at an Indian market." "I'm gonna make curry." "Oh, no." "Hon..." "Oh, no, you have to at least let me try." "I mean, seriously," "I can do more than corn on the cob and hot dogs." "Oh, no, no, it's not that." "I'm not in tonight." "I have a dinner with R.J." "She's doing some research for me." "In other words, she's digging up dirt on Paul Nemesis." "You know, it's all politics." "I... mm..." "Denby's not even press secretary yet." "But he might as well be, the way everyone's treating him." "What would you say if I told you I have something?" "I'd say, "fork it over." "Now." "Yesterday."" "Okay, when Denby was down in D.C., he met the mayor's daughter at some benefit." "He tried to woo her with some Anthony Weiner-style photos." "Classy, eh?" "You're welcome." "I'll let you leak it." "Uh-oh, is that a conscience I see?" "Sorry." "Wow, that's so pretty." "You know, mom..." "He sent me all this money." "I was out in the middle of India, and all of a sudden this Fed Ex truck shows up with all these legal docs, and..." "Dad put, like, a ton of money into my trust fund." "Of course he did." "It's why I came home." "I knew that when all of that money showed up, he had to be messing with you." "So, uh, give me a call when you get a minute, okay?" "I love you." "She's still not picking up." "[Panting]" "[Cell phone chimes]" ""Loitering for drugs," the more serious of the charges, we got dismissed." "The only charge outstanding is "failure to obey park signs."" "What was the sign again?" "It said, "please don't walk over here, because the grass has been reseeded."" " Were you walking there?" " No, I wasn't walking there." "It was way over, like, way over there." "So you were actually obeying the park signs?" "My point being, this seems so minor, why don't we just pay the fine?" "You want to get the charges dismissed so the record is expunged." "Otherwise, he has to admit it on college applications." "Walking on the grass." "Which he didn't even do." "You have a summons, and you have to answer it." "Welcome to the legal system." "I'll do the talking." "We'll all be polite, and this will all go away." "Oh, there you are." "I'm really glad you're on board for this." "I'm not, actually." "I've really been thinking, and I'm not comfortable with this arrangement." "And what is the arrangement?" "I don't know." "Well, then, how can you be so sure you're not comfortable with it?" "Julia has been so kind to me." "Yes, she has." "But I don't see how that's relevant." " Well, you told me not to call her." " No, I didn't." "I just said that she and Tom couldn't know about it." "But why not?" "Okay." "[Clears throat]" "As a general rule, composers tend to flip out at the drop of a hat." "So until I know what I want to tell them," "I don't want to tell them anything." "What're you doing?" "There's only one way to find out." "[Electronic music plays]" "A friend of mine's doing a show here at weekends, said we could use the space." "Some of the guys are gonna help us stage it." "Oh, one second, guys." "You're Karen." "Oh, my God." "You're Ryan Tedder." "I heard your demo for Brighter than the sun." "Amazing." "You have an incredible set of pipes." "I love your sound." "Thanks." "I'm..." "I'm such a huge fan of one Republic." "Oh, I'm such a dork." "[Laughs] All right, let's get to it." "Okay." "So this young man was disobey the park's signs?" "There is actually no evidence of that." "Then what're we doing here?" "I might ask the court the same question, your honor." "You want to dismiss this, or not?" "We want it dismissed." "Do you want it dismissed, young man?" "Yes, sir, your honor." "Because I'm not interested in handing out dismissals for ungrateful, privileged kids who think they can get away with murder in a public park!" "I'm sorry, what did you say?" " Julia..." " "Get away with murder"?" "My son was arrested." "He was handcuffed." "And he did nothing wrong." "Are we ungrateful for that?" "Yes, we are." "But we are grateful, very, very grateful for the court's patience and tolerance." "Tolerance?" " [Laughs]" " I just think that..." "Honey, honey, we know what you think." "Yeah, so does the judge." "That was awesome." "Let's keep moving." "We have to get out of here before they arrest her." "Yeah, for being ungrateful." "I'm not ungrateful." "Hey." "I am so grateful." "Let's get some Chinese food." "[Electronic music]" "♪ Look at me, baby" "♪ tell me, tell me what you see ♪" "♪ Oh, ah-oh" "♪ wanna watch, baby" "♪ like a, like a movie screen ♪" "♪ Oh, ah-oh" "♪ gonna get what I want" "♪ want you on your knees" "♪ oh, ah-oh" "♪ give it up, baby" "♪ don't you, don't you make a scene ♪" "One second." "So, um, we're thinking about switching it up and going to e-flat in the bridge, if that's cool." " Oh, yeah?" " Yeah." " Okay." " I think it'll sound cool." "Actually, yeah, when you get to "on your knees,"" "I think you're holding the note for too long." "Whoa, wait." "Just back off for one second, Derek." "Oh, yeah." "Back off, Derek." "Look, I think she sounds great, so let's not mess with it." "This is a stupid idea." "Well, for the moment, it doesn't seem so good, but I know that you both love me, and that you're going to actually start trying, for my sake, to be civil." "When have I not been civil?" "Dad, I can personally name f..." "Six instances in the past week!" "This money thing is punitive." "Mom needs money to live." "She's producing a musical about Marilyn Monroe." " She can live on that." " She needs money now." "I'm fine, and by the way, I can speak for myself." "Well, can you do that, please?" "'Cause I'm not getting anywhere." "I don't need his money." "You're living in an apartment with no furniture!" " I'm happy that way!" " Good!" "And by the way, it's not his money, it's my money!" "And it's not his business, it's my business!" "'Cause he hasn't produced a play in ten years!" "She's got a point, dad." " Oh, really?" " Yes, really." "And I'm just gonna come out and say it." "It's hideous that you've been squeezing her on the money side, and then you oh, so cleverly put $3 million into my trust fund?" "I really think that's not very nice of you." "Whoa." "Giving you $3 million is not very nice?" "If you can give money to me, you can give money to her." "It's my family's money." "And you're my blood." "Oh, my God." "Tell me you're kidding." "I don't need your family's stupid money!" "She stole the Degas!" "And pawned it for this bloody musical!" "Did she tell you that?" "That's because you poisoned my investors, you jackass!" "Can I help you?" "[Phone rings]" " Hello?" " Who's this?" "It's Ellis." "Eileen's in a meeting." "Right, just tell her it's all going well." "We're on for tomorrow." "Wait, is this that thing you're doing with Karen?" "Just give her the message, Ellis." "[Laughing] Julia was so mad, she almost ruined the whole thing." "She's a lot of fun when she's lit up." "Thank you." "Mm." " [Blows]" " Ooh." "Well?" " Perfect." " Great." "Seriously." "Your tribe is hilarious." "You guys really do need to keep a lawyer around." "I think so." " You really expect me to bowl?" " You're gonna love it." "I've bowled before." "I don't love it." "Ivy, you cannot just sit home, driving yourself crazy, waiting to hear about Marilyn." " That's not what I'm doing." " Yeah, it is." "No, it isn't." " Here, Ivy, this is for you." " Well, I agree with Ivy." "You hate bowling too?" "No, I agree with your anger." "I am not angry." "They pay us nothing for those things, and as soon as it's over, no one calls." "And then we end up prowling around, trying to figure out what's going on." "It's ridiculous." "We did all that work for free, basically, and we have no right to even ask a question." "I hate the theater." "I hate the theater." "I love the theater." "Strike!" "I got a strike!" "Very nice." "[Sly  the family stone's dance to the music plays]" " Aww!" " Get up!" " [Laughs]" " And dance to the music!" "♪" "♪ Dance to the music" "♪ dance to the music" "♪ dance to the music" "♪ dance to the music" "♪ all we need is a drummer ♪" "♪ For people who only need a beat, yeah ♪" "♪" "♪ I'm gonna add a little guitar ♪" "♪ And make it easy to move your feet ♪" "♪" "♪ I'm gonna add some bottom ♪" "♪ So that the dancers just won't hide ♪" "♪" "♪ You might like to hear my organ ♪" "♪ I said, ride, Sally, ride, now ♪" "♪" "♪ Dance to the music" "♪ dance to the music [all scatting]" "Hey!" "Saint Darrow." "Oh, Ted." "I'm gonna need that speech you've been working on for the 9/11 memorial on Staten Island." "Oh, yeah?" "Why?" "Andrew didn't tell you?" "Why don't you tell me?" "Okay." "Don't shoot the messenger." "There's some thinking this whole Oxford thing you got going on doesn't play so well out there." "So Andrew asked me to take it on." " And when did this happen?" " Last night." "Man, get a few drinks in that guy, he just goes on and on." "You can put it on my desk." "Ivy!" "Hey." "Ellis." "Hi." "What're you doing here?" "I'm taking the next class." "Ballet?" " Yeah." " Oh." "How's Tom?" "Great." "How's Derek?" "Oh, Derek and I are taking a little bit of a break." " Really?" " Why?" "I gotta be honest, I feel like he's up to something." " What do you mean?" " I wish I knew." "Something to do with Karen, though." "Karen?" "You've got to be kidding me." "Wait, so you haven't talked to Tom," " you haven't talked to anybody?" " No." "Huh." "Oh, God, if they're gonna replace me with a star, that's bad enough, but Karen Cartwright is nobody." "Well, don't quote me on that." "I don't really know what it is." "I'm gonna go find out." "See ya." "I'm so sorry I'm late." "Not at all." "I was early." "I'm being a big pig." "Got you a beer." "It's great seeing you." "I'm glad you had time." "Are you kidding me?" "I was so excited to get your call." " I actually miss the workshop." " Right?" "I can't believe we work so hard for those things, and we only get to do it once." "But why do you miss it?" "I heard you're still working on it with Derek." "Who told you that?" "Am I not supposed to know that?" "Well, no, they told me, like, "you can't tell anybody."" "Tom and Julia can't know." "No one's supposed to know." "I don't know what to say to that, because I actually heard about it from a couple people." "What did you hear?" "Just that it was happening." "When is it?" "Tomorrow, actually." "And what is it, exactly?" "Now run this by me again." "You're messing in this why?" "Tom asked me to." "He did not ask you to spy on Ivy." "Look, I'm just trying to stay on top of things." "There's something going on, and they want to know what it is." "He finds out you messed with Ivy, he's gonna fire you." "I don't want to work for him anyway." "He's an artist." "He's a loser." "Ivy too." "You know, she works her ass off for this workshop, and then nobody even gave her a call or the time of day." "Mm." "Artists get treated like dirt." "I'm gonna be a producer." "What do producers do?" "I am figuring that out." "No, it happens every time." "Well, he still has it for you." "Oh, he has it in for me." "Surely, you realize he wants you back." "Oh, that's the reason for all the endless torture?" "It's his way of saying, "je t'aime"?" " Eileen." " Nick." " I was hoping you'd be by." " Thanks." "This is my daughter Katie." "Lovely, like her mother." "How's Marilyn doing?" "Oh, she's having some growing pains." "She'll make it through." "Okay." " This is your new favorite bar?" " Yes." "I can see why." "[Glasses clink]" "Got your message." "What's up?" "I need everything you have on Denby's text to the mayor's daughter." "Where'd your conscience go?" "Conscience is a luxury in an economy this lousy." " I need my job more." " All right." "Uh, I have a couple of friends who know more about how to do this..." "Let me get them over here." " [Presses key] All:" "Ooh..." "Yeah, it's bad." "And the fact that she was 17..." "Ouch." "I thought she was in college." "The older daughter was in college." "But Denby didn't send them to her." "He sent them to the other one." "[Laughs] I think it's time to break out the cocktails." "This is amazing!" " Cocktails..." " What I'm talking about." "Wow." "What's this?" "A party?" "Oh, hey, Karen." "We're just... just working." "Yeah, I can see that." " Hey, R.J." " Hi, Karen." " Hey, we'll celebrate later." " Oh." "Oh, yeah, of course." " Thanks again so much." " Yeah." "Have a good night." " Don't work too late." " Yeah." "What are you guys celebrating?" "I actually, um..." "Actually, I can't tell you." "Why?" "No one else keeps secrets in this town, why should you?" "I am so not interested in R.J." "Well, then why can't I know what she was doing here?" "We were looking at racy photos on the Internet." "Some politician's been caught with his pants down." "Oh." "Your lot's as bad as my lot." "Why?" "What's your lot been up to?" "I still haven't figured it out." "I spent the whole day singing touch me to a bunch of dancers." "Oh, yeah?" "Anybody take you up on it?" "No." "Not yet." "Wait, what was it you were singing again?" "Touch me." "I wanna feel it on my body." "Put your hands on me." " You sang great." " Thank you." " You look great too." " Aww, thank you." "Just one note." "Don't be afraid of the sex." " I'm not afraid..." " You are." "And it's beautiful." "It's what Marilyn had." "Purity." "And on top of that purity was sex." "Just think about it, okay?" " I heard you were in town." " Hi, Tom." "I'm so sorry I missed the Marilyn workshop." "You have a whole world to save." "With us, it's just the American theater." " No small feat." " Ooh!" "Julia!" "You look gorgeous as usual." "Me?" "You!" "So what're we all doing out in the middle of Brooklyn anyway?" "Let's find out." " There's a stage door there." " Okay." " Seven, eight..." " [indistinct]" "Okay." "Hi, Mrs. Rand." "It's great, you're gonna love it." " Excellent." " Karen, you're in on this too?" " Yeah, I guess." " Wha... what's going on?" "I was gonna show you, darling." "Tom." "[Clears throat]" "Now, this is a little bit unusual, guys, so just bear with us." "Karen, you set?" "Yup." "Ready!" "Okay." "Ryan, let 'er rip!" "One, two, three, four..." "[Plays electronic music]" "♪" "♪ Look at me, baby" "♪ tell me, tell me what you see ♪" "♪ Oh, ah-oh" "♪ wanna watch, baby" "♪ like a, like a movie screen ♪" "♪ Oh, ah-oh" "♪ gonna get what I want" "♪ want you on your knees" "♪ oh, ah-oh" "♪ give it up, baby" "♪ don't you, don't you make a scene ♪" "♪ Oh, oh, ah-oh" "♪ so, come and turn me on ♪" "♪ Baby, be my marlon Brando ♪" "♪ Take a good snapshot" "♪ get me from my better angle ♪" "♪ 'Cause I like it hot" "♪ and you know I love a scandal ♪" "♪ Tell me what you, what you waiting for ♪" "♪ Touch me" "♪ I wanna feel you on my body ♪" "♪ Put your hands on me" "♪ come on and love me" "♪ you wanna get it, boy" "♪ I give you to the count of three ♪" "♪ Pull me closer, don't wanna take it slow ♪" "♪ I wanna go somewhere we can be alone ♪" "♪ Touch me" "♪ I wanna feel you on my body ♪" "♪ Put your hands on me" "♪ do you like" "♪ when I'm leaning, leaning into you ♪" "♪ Oh, ah-oh" "♪ close your eyes, baby" "♪ breathe in, breathe in my perfume ♪" "♪ Oh, ah-oh" "♪ dim the lights" "♪ take it slow like a dream come true ♪" "♪ Oh, ah-oh" "♪ 'cause tonight" "♪ I'm show you what to do" "♪ oh, oh, ah-oh" "♪ so come and turn me on ♪" "♪ Baby, be my marlon Brando ♪" "♪ Take a good snapshot" "♪ get me from my better angle ♪" "♪ 'Cause I like it hot" "♪ and you know I love a scandal ♪" "♪ Tell me what you, what you waiting for ♪" "♪ Pull me closer" "♪ don't wanna take it slow ♪" "♪ I wanna go somewhere we can be alone ♪" "♪ Touch me" "♪ I wanna feel it on my body ♪" "♪ Put your hands on me" "♪ every move that I could make ♪" "♪ You're watching me" "♪ put your hands around my waist ♪" "♪ Boy, set me free" "♪ not much more that I can take ♪" "♪ If you don't take it all" "♪" "♪ Touch me" "♪ I wanna feel it on my body ♪" "♪ Put your hands on me" "♪ come on and love me" "♪ you wanna get it, boy" "♪ I give ya to the count of three ♪" "♪ Pull me closer" "♪ don't wanna take it slow ♪" "♪ I wanna go somewhere we can be alone ♪" "♪ Touch me" "♪ I wanna feel it on my body ♪" "♪ Put your hands on me" "♪" "All right." "So what you've just seen is a potential direction for Marilyn." "Now, we all know there's a historical Marilyn, but there's also a contemporary Marilyn." "A Marilyn for a new generation." "Wait, hang on." "Look, we're not talking about an entirely new take, just breaking open what we have." "We were afraid that, um, you'd be resistant to the idea in the abstract, so..." "[Laughs]" "We thought we'd show something to you." "So you did this as a favor to us." "While you were busy not answering our phone calls and our emails, and after we worked our hearts out on this workshop?" "I'm sorry." "Hey, is something wrong?" "I'm so, so sorry." "Mom, can I talk to you outside, please?" " Right now?" " Yes, right now." "[Sighs]" "I can't believe you would do that." "To people you know, who you've worked with, who trust you." "You don't understand show business." "I grew up in show business!" "And it's this kind of crap that made me want to flee to Micronesia." "What are you thinking?" "I'm thinking I have half a terrific show, and it needs help." "You know what, mom?" "This is exactly the kind of garbage dad would pull." "Your father's a very good businessman." "He's a jerk!" "He's a colossal..." "Ugh, but I love him, and he's my father." "You would never do something like that." "You know, people always say" "I'm such a good person, and they're all "Mahatma Katie,"" "but I do, I try." "I don't want to put toxic garbage into the world," "I want to put something good into the world." "So do I." "I know you do." "How do you think I got like this?" "You can't just turn into dad, mom." "Really, you can't." "Proposing a new direction for material that is not working is not beyond the realms of acceptable behavior!" "I am the director!" "I am so uninterested in what you think of as "acceptable behavior."" "Enough!" "Enough!" "Enough!" "Enough!" "Listen, I want to thank you for all your work." "But I'm afraid we've made a terrible mistake." "Oh, come on!" "They were terrific!" "Julia," "I apologize." "Tom, I apologize to you too." " Derek, I apologize to you too." " Oh..." "This wasn't meant to happen." "I think that what Eileen means to say is we'll put a meeting on the books for tomorrow morning, discuss the next step?" "How did he get here?" "Does that really matter?" "I think that what's important is that we dial this down for now, and give everyone a chance to gather their thoughts." "Let me call you a car." "Look, guys, I'm so sorry." "I honestly had no idea they didn't tell you what was going on." "It's okay." "Get in." "[Engine starts]" " Didn't go so well?" " Ivy." "You know, this wasn't what I thought it was going to be." "Apparently wasn't what anyone thought it was going to be." "It's okay." "It's a dirty business." "I totally understand why you'd stab Tom and Julia in the back like that." " I didn't stab Tom..." " Didn't you?" "It's okay, Karen." "I understand." "You comin'?" "Nope." "[Door opens, closes] [Sighs]" "Oh, what?" "I should never have let you near this project." "But you did." "'Cause you haven't got the edge, or the insight, or the balls to make Marilyn what she needs to be." " That is completely..." " Completely what, Tom?" "Do tell." "What, the truth?" "There was no other reason to hire me, and everyone is well aware of how angry you are at me for whatever nonsense you think I pulled 11 years ago." "You mean when you tried to destroy my career?" " You mean that "nonsense"?" " We did a show together, Tom." "It went badly." "It happens." "You botched that production." "Not according the New York Times." "That critic was in your pocket!" "No." "He liked my direction." "He didn't like your songs." "It happens." "You bragged about it." "[British accent] That's what you get when they've known you since birth!" " Oh, listen!" " I don't care about the critics." " Oh, we all care about the critics." " What I care about still is the fact that you went to every theater in town, and trashed me." "[Laughs]" "You were vicious." "You told every producer I know that I was unstable, that my talent had always been overrated, that I would never be an artist." "Well, that is an interesting fiction." "That last one you said to my face, screaming at me in the middle of Bar Centrale." "No, don't remember any of that." "We were friends!" "Do you remember that?" "Do you know what?" "Gay men never cease to amaze me." "You own the New York theater scene, but yet you constantly prance around, whining about what victims you are." "The logic of the bully." "You're allowed to hit me, but it's my fault if I breathe." "How have I hit you?" "What was this?" "Don't bother answering that." "And for your information, homophobe, that critic wasn't in your pocket, he was having sex with your father." "Everyone knew about it." "Never heard you bragging about that." "Mm-hmm." "Mm-hmm." "Yeah." "Good for you, Tom." "Welcome to my level." "Now, if you want to talk about Marilyn, let me tell you a couple of things." "Now, your songs are beautiful." "They're fun." "They're too nice." "Yeah, Marilyn was gorgeous and wounded, but she was also a drug-addicted, suicidal sexual icon, the like of which the world cannot get enough." "She is an insanely provocative and timeless figure." "She is not..." "Some sweet, little gay male fantasy." "You don't get to say what she was." "Neither do you!" "I'm not quitting." "Neither am I." "All right." "Yesterday's experiment provided us with some interesting information." "We don't need different composers, since the ones we have are brilliant." "However, if this project is going to move forward, we do need a star." "[Scoffs]" " Ivy..." " Is terrific." "But we have to be realistic." "So I'm gonna talk to Bernie and ask him to put together a list of people who are available and interested for Marilyn." "That's all." "Oh, Tom." "Julia." "We're also gonna need a title." "Ellis." "What're you doing here?" "Do you work for Eileen now?" "Actually, I do." "Thanks for the opportunity." "I really enjoyed working with you." "[Phone rings] Tom." "Eileen Rand's office." "Who may I ask is calling?" "I'd say, "good riddance," but we're still stuck with him." "One moment, please." "Well, I'm stuck at this cultural affairs thing" " in midtown till about 3:00..." " Hey!" "Andrew." "Get a chance to look at the press release for this afternoon?" "Yeah, it's terrific." "Just send it out." " All right." "See you upstairs?" " Yeah." "Be right there." "What is he still doing here?" "That stuff I sent you is horrific." "You gotta leave it alone." " W-why?" " I don't know." "What do you mean you don't know?" "Look..." "I took that stuff over to the chief of staff's office." "It disappeared." "I don't know what his story is, but he's untouchable." "Oh!" "[Giggles]" "I know you're going through, like, huge changes, mom, but..." "You can't sleep on the floor." " Beautiful." " [Giggles]" "It's how I see you." "Mm." "You're leaving, aren't you?" "Well, these people I know are going to Alaska to count wild salmon." "So they asked me to give them a hand." "Why are you doing that?" "You know, mom, I don't ask you why you produce plays on Broadway." "Tom!" "Hi." " Thanks for meeting me here." " Oh, I'm so glad you called." "I know, I should've called sooner." "No, no, no." "I know there's all kinds of stuff to be sorted out after these workshops." "You've been swamped, I'm sure." "You were so great, and I know it's just completely nerve-racking not to hear." "Well, I know you were working." "So tell me what's going on." "[Sighs] Well..." "I hope you didn't read the blogs." "Why?" "Did they say something mean about me?" "Oh, they just complain in general." "And so we're working and writing, and Derek has some crazy ideas, and..." "Eileen wants to go with a star." "For Marilyn." "She does." "I mean, who knows when, or if, we'll keep going, or what will happen if we do, but right now they're thinking..." "To get this to Broadway, we need a star." "They do." "Of course they do." "You were wonderful." "You are wonderful." "[Sniffs]" "But I'm not a star." "You know you can come back heaven on earth." "Whenever you're ready." "[Breathes deeply] Mm..." "Hey." "How was your day?" "Uh, you know." "Politics." "Oh, tell me about it." "No, no." "Actually, don't tell me about it." "I'm terrible at it, and I can't do it, and..." "Ugh, here." "Taste this." "Mm?" "Come on." "Well, that is really..." " That is really, really good." " See?" "Cooking and singing, that I can do." "[Sighs]" "Ooh." "♪ Fade in on a girl" "♪ with a hunger for fame" "♪ and a face and a name" "♪ to remember [knocks on door]" "Go away." "[Knocks]" "I'm not kidding." "Go away." "[Bangs on door]" "Are you all right?" "What do you think?" "I think show business sucks." "I think you are truly gifted." "And I think you're beautiful." "It's okay, Derek." "You don't have to take care of the loser." "That's not what I'm doing." "They want me back in the chorus." "You don't have to think about that tonight." "I was good." "Ivy, Ivy..." "You were better than good." "You asked Karen to do her." "It was a failed experiment in every way." "You've been hideous." "You told me I was lousy in bed." "[Chuckles] In front of everyone." "I lied." "Good."