Which of course I would be happy to do. In retrospect, it was lucky that I didn’t.
LIPSKY:
Why?
DAVID:
Basically, it just would have made me feel lonely.
LIPSKY:
Why lonely?
DAVID:
Because it wouldn’t have had anything to do with me, it would have just been...
LIPSKY:
Your fame?
DAVID:
Yeah. Whatever.
19.
LIPSKY:
You’re famous. You can say that.
Except... if they’re responding to your work, and the work is so personal... then trading on it is actually another way of meeting you, isn’t that right?
A beat. David is impressed by Lipsky’s analysis.
DAVID:
That is so good.
LIPSKY:
Thank you.
DAVID:
This piece’ll really be good if it’s mostly you. Talk all you want, man, save me a whole lotta trouble.
Lipsky laughs, sensing his stock has risen, relaxing more into the rhythm of their conversation.
34 I/E. CAR/COMMERCIAL DRAG - BLOOMINGTON - 1996 - NIGHT 34 David at the wheel, driving Lipsky’s rental. Lights from fast-food restaurant signs light up their faces. Tape running.
DAVID:
So this is what a real car feels like.
The one I have is like riding a power lawn mower.
LIPSKY:
You think being handsome has anything to do with your success?
DAVID:
(incredulously) What?
LIPSKY:
You are photogenic... You look good in your author’s photo.
DAVID:
You’d have to come put me down if I even start thinking that way.
LIPSKY:
Thinking what way? About how books are sold?
20.
DAVID:
Like, “Do you want to do a Rolling Stone interview, do you want to do X, do you want to do Y” worries me that what I’m doing right now is being a whore.
