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Mikey & Nicky
10.1.2003 by Dan Beirne, every Wednesday.


Nathan Lane comes over every Wednesday to the house to watch a movie, or just chat with Dan. Dan found these little chats so interesting, he decided to tape-record them and tell the world all the neat things Nathan had to say about movies and stuff.


September, the last Wednesday of the month, cloudy.

Mikey & Nicky (1976): One long night between friends. It goes badly. Starring Peter Falk and John Cassavetes, written and directed by Elaine May.

(Nathan sitting by himself by my computer)

Nathan: Dan, come out from under there.

(I come out from under my old-fashioned bed)

Me: I can hide there.

Nathan: Just...

Me: These guys are like us, no?

Nathan: No.

Me: Why not?

Nathan: Well, they're getting things done. They're intense.

Me: They're not getting things done. What, like womanizing and goofing off.

Nathan: They don't seem to share the same grand laziness that...well, you...share.

Me: You said at the beginning of this! You said, "Dan, I don't care if we talk about something or about nothing." That's what you said!

(a car falls off my shelf, the horn honks)

Nathan: (the horn) --no that's what I said, but sometimes we say things.

Me: No, you don't just say things!

Nathan: Okay, fourteen, take a breath.

Me: No, fuck you!

Nathan: So, what did you think of the camera work? It's like Cassavetes was on the set and just couldn't help himself.

Me: Everyone is just so selfish, no one ever thinks of me.

Nathan: Or do you think it was more like he had created a community of filmmakers with similar ideas and ways of making movies?

Me: I just want to work, I don't want anyone to influence me.

Nathan: Funny you should mention 'Influence', speaking of Cassavetes' narrative structure--

Me: People telling other people about how great their lives are going. What a crock.

Nathan: Now, I don't want to discount Elaine May's addition. Her life was really great.

(Nathan is tuning my guitar, so he keeps playing the same note over and over)

Me: I just can't stand up some times. It's too heavy.

Nathan: I always have to be the bearer of bad news.

Me: What? What bad news?

Nathan: Oh, now we're talking?

Me: Tell me!

Nathan: I'm going away.

Me: Where?

Nathan: Far away. This is doing bad things to me.

(the plants in the room give a smile and a nod, but remain silent)

Me: When are you going?

Nathan: Next week.

Me: What, no, you can't!

Nathan: Don't draw me into this any further, Dan.

Me: I'm not drawing you in. Give me a compromise.

Nathan: Hum..

Me: You come every day until you leave.

Nathan: So, seven more of these, I don't think so, Dan.

Me: Just never mention how many are left and you won't even notice.

Nathan: Well, I might as well just stay here, then.

My Mom: I'll get the blankets!

(So, next week, Nathan and I start our last week together. We start next Wednesday with Monday, the next week will be Tuesday etc.)

as always, you can e-mail Nathan, but he probably won't get it. we don't have the internet.

Notes:

at the end of the movie, Nicky is pressed up against Mikey's front door, trying to push inside, when he is riddled with bullets from behind. Go figure.



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