English Audio Request

Scene I – Shakespeare & Co. Bookstore

Location notes: the Shakespeare & Co. Bookstore is located at 37 rue de la Bûcherie in the 5th arrondissement. It faces la Seine river from the Left Bank, looking out toward Notre Dame Cathedral from the south. The surrounding neighborhood is densely populated by students who attend high school and university, including la Sorbonne, where Céline studied. This is one of the best walking neighborhoods in all of Paris. Metro: St. Michel stop on line 4, or Maubert stop on line 10. Web: .

(We see the outside of the bookstore, then two signs: the first, a printed sign that reads “New Release, Jesse Wallace, This Time”; the second reads “Today, In Store Appearance, Author Jesse Wallace, Reading & Q & A, 5:30 P.M.” Inside, Jesse is sitting at a table with copies of his book lying in front of him. Several reporters sit opposite Jesse. The bookstore owner sits to Jesse’s right.)

Female reporter: Do you consider the book to be autobiographical?

Jesse: Hmmm...well, I mean, isn’t everything autobiographical? I mean, we all see the world through our own tiny keyhole, right? I mean, I always think of Thomas Wolfe, you know, have you ever seen that little one page note to reader in the front of "Look Homeward, Angel," right, you know what I'm talking about? Anyway, he says that we are the sum of all the moments of our lives, and that, uh, anybody who sits down to write is gonna use the clay of their own life, that you can't avoid that. So when I look at my own life, you know, I have to admit, right...that I've... I've never been around a bunch of, a bunch of guns, or violence. You know, not really. No political intrigue or, uh, helicopter crash, right? (Nods at the bookstore owner, who nods back.)

But my life, from my own point of view, has been full of drama, right? And, uh, so I thought that if I could write a book that...that could capture what it's like to really meet somebody. I mean one of the most exciting things that's ever happened to me is to really meet somebody, make that connection, and if I could...make that valuable, you know, to capture that, that would be the attempt or...Did I answer your question?

Female reporter: I'll try to be more specific. Were there ever a French young woman on the train you met, and...spent an evening with?

Jesse: (Sighs.) See, to me, that...that's not important, you know?

Female reporter: So that's a "yes".

Jesse: (With great hesitation.) Alright, since I'm in France and this is the last stop on my book tour, "yes". (Light laughter from everybody in the room.)

Male reporter: Mr. Wallace, the book ends on an ambiguous note. We don't know. Do you think they get back together in six months, like they promise each other?

Jesse: Like they promised, uh... I think how you answer that, you know, is, uh...You know, it's... It's a good test. Right? If you're a romantic or a cynic. I mean, uh, you think (pointing at the female reporter)...you think they get back together, (pointing at a second male reporter) you don't, for sure, and (pointing at the questioner) you hope they do, but, you know, you’re not sure so that’s why you're asking the question.

Female reporter: And...do you think they get back together? I mean, did you, in real life?

Jesse: (Sighs.) Did I real...(Sighs again, then smiles.) Look, see, in the words of my grandfather, OK...to answer that, would take the piss out of the whole thing.

Female reporter: (Disappointed.) Oh, no...

Bookstore owner: We just have the time for one last question.

Male reporter: What is, uh, your next book?

Jesse: Ah...I don't know, man, I don't know...I've been...I've been thinking about this...Well, I always kind of wanted to write a book that all took place within the space of a pop song, you know, like 3 or 4 minutes long, the whole thing.

The story, the idea is that...there's this guy. Right? And...he's totally depressed. I mean, his great dream was to be a lover, an adventurer, you know, riding motorcycles through South America, and instead he's sitting at a marble table, eating lobster, and he's got a good job and a beautiful wife, right? But you know, everything that he needs. But that doesn't matter, 'cause what he wants is to fight for meaning.

You know, happiness is in the doing, right, not in the... getting what you want. So, he's sitting there, and just at that second, his little five year old daughter hops up on the table. And he knows that she should get down 'cause she could get hurt, but she's dancing to this pop song, in a summer dress. And he looks down, and all of a sudden, uh, he is sixteen. And...his high school sweetheart is dropping him off, at home. And they've just lost their virginity, and she loves him, and the same song is playing on the car radio, and she climbs up and starts dancing on the roof of the car. And now, now he's worried about her! And she’s beautiful, with a...a facial expression just like his daughter‘s. In fact, you know, maybe that's why he even likes her. You see, he knows he's not remembering this dance, he's there. He's there in both moments simultaneously. And just like for an instance (snaps his fingers), all his life is just folding in on itself and it's obvious to him that time is a lie...(Jesse motions to his right, and sees Céline standing against the wall, listening to him) uh...that's it's all happening all the time and inside every moment is another moment, all...You know, happening simultaneously.

And, anyway, that’s…that's kind of the idea...anyway.

Bookstore owner: Well, our author has to be going to the airport soon, so thank you all very much for coming here this afternoon. And a special thanks to Mr. Wallace for being with us. (Claps, and others join in clapping.) We hope to see you here again for your next book.

Merci a tous et a toutes d'etre venues. Comme vous voyez il y a du champagne, il y a des petites choses a grignoter, donc, servez-vous. (Thank you everyone for coming, as you can see we have some champagne and snacks, so help yourselves.)

Jesse: Thank you all. (To the bookstore owner.) How much longer before I have to go to the airport?

Bookstore owner: Oh, you should leave at 7:30. (Motioning with a program in his left hand.) 7:30 at the very latest!

Jesse: OK.

(Jesse walks to the back of the bookstore toward Céline. He smiles.)

Jesse: Hi.

Céline: Hello.

(Laughing, they exchange two French bisous – light kisses on the left and right cheeks.)

Jesse: How are you?

Céline: Good, and you?

Jesse: I'm...good, yeah, I'm great, I'm...uh...Do you want to...maybe get a cup of coffee?

Céline: Didn't you just say you have a plane to catch?

Jesse: Uh…yeah...(He looks back to the front of the store, then back at Céline.) But, I mean, I have a little time.

Céline: OK.

Jesse: Yeah? Well, let me um...(Motions to the front of the store.)

Céline: I'll meet you outside. (Nods.) OK.

(Jesse walks to the front of the store toward the bookstore owner.)

Jesse: Excuse me, I'm just gonna go out and get a cup of coffee, and be back at 7:15.

Bookstore owner: Did you sign all these? (Motions to a stack of books.)

Jesse: Um yeah, I sure did.

Bookstore owner: Well, get your driver Philippe's card so that you can call his cell phone if you're running late. And we will put your bags in the car so you are not! late! going to the airport!

Jesse: Alright, thanks for everything. (To the female reporter, as he quickly shakes her hand.) Merci beaucoup, mademoiselle.

(At this precise moment, Jesse passes up the chance to get the reporter’s number, who surely would have given it to him.)

Which one's Philippe?

Bookstore owner: Philippe, passe lui ta carte pour qu'il ait ton numero portable, hein? Merci. (Philippe, give him your card so he can call you on your cell phone, okay? Thank you.)

(Philippe searches for a card in his jacket pocket.)